Why water is not collected in the toilet cistern: options for breakdowns

Before proceeding with the repair of the drain tank, you need to familiarize yourself with its structure, basic elements and the principle of operation. This will facilitate quick fault detection. The cistern is most often located at a short distance from the toilet itself, in connection with which an intense flow of water washes everything from the toilet bowl. In this design, the pipeline is the connecting element between the cistern and the toilet.

Increasingly, in plumbing stores, you can find a model that is one whole. There are products, the cisterns of which are disguised as a decorative partition. But despite the different appearance, the internal structure of the cistern remains the same.

The tasks of the internal device of the drain tank are:

• fill the tank with water to the required level - this is the most common cause of breakdowns;
• access to full or selective flushing of water into the toilet.

The water is flushed into the tank as follows:

• in order to resume water supply, a float is used, which is fixed on the border of the lever;
• when the water is drained, the float goes down, sinks to the bottom of the tank and opens a channel through which water is supplied;
• as soon as it reaches a certain mark, the float returns to its original location and closes the water supply channel.

There is a model that supplies water from the bottom. In this model, the noise generated when filling the drain tank with water can hardly be heard. This model has a more difficult internal structure and high cost.

In the old model, in order to flush the water, the same method is used - the flush holes were covered with small valves or rubber bulbs. The lever, which extended beyond the boundaries of the body, was connected with a chain. Therefore, when the lever was pulled, the drain hole was opened and the water was flushed into the toilet.

Damage to these parts becomes the main factor provoking a long filling of water into the toilet tank., most of which will go through the not completely covered drain hole. The repair of this design usually does not cause any difficulties - it is a simple and understandable device. But this does not apply to the new modern model, where a different type of pipeline fittings is used. It will allow you to adjust the intensity of the volume of rinsed water. For the operation of this mechanism, a button is involved, which consists of two parts, and each part is responsible for a different intensity of flushing.

A fairly common phenomenon - it is impossible to drain water in the drain tank or it does not fill with water.

These defects can be caused by:

• the float is incorrectly positioned - one of the reasons for an endless flow of water or a small volume of water when flushing;
• skewed float - this can happen in the case of a very long operation;
• too slow filling of the tank with the lower eyeliner with water, also sometimes the water is not poured at all;
• contamination of the internal parts of the water-folding device;
• continuous flow of water into the drain tank. The water goes to the toilet constantly and does not stop. This is bad because all water has to be paid for.

The cause of the malfunction may lie not only in the internal structure of the tank, but also outside it. For example, a blockage or pinching of pipes can be a source of slow filling of the tank with water.

Before starting the repair of the tank, it is necessary to shut off the water supply from the water supply system.

Next, a certain algorithm of actions is performed:

• Using a wrench, unscrew the hose that connects the fluid line to the drain tank. Then check the water supply ability.
• Remove the blockage that appears. Recommended for those faults where fluid flows through the hose but does not fill the reservoir tank. A blockage can form in the area of ​​the pipe or in the area where it connects to the drain hole. Clean it using a long nail or any other sharp object.
• After all the performed manipulations, connect the hose to the drain tank and check if the barrel is filled with water.

The float stops working for two reasons. First, the float does not supply water to the tank and does not tightly cover its flow. In both faults, both the float and the valve can be involved. The structure of the float may vary depending on the model of the cistern. It can be hollow on the inside or resemble an inverted glass. A hollow float is usually the fastest to malfunction. This is due to the fact that drops of water fall into it. In this situation, its complete replacement will help. After a short period of time, the float in the form of a glass begins to actively accumulate dirt particles on its surface, which also provokes the failure of the entire drain device. Repair in this case consists in thorough washing of the float.

If the pipeline fittings, which are designed to shut off the water, become dirty, they may not cope with their functional purposes. This is due to clogged membranes or a hole that allows fluid to move. To solve the problem, you need to disassemble the float. All membrane channels are flushed and inserted in their original place, then the cap is screwed on. Despite the simplicity of this repair process, it is much more practical and expedient to replace the membrane. This element is often an optional accessory in a kit with a new float.

It is recommended to do some simple steps to adjust the position of the float. First, fill the cistern and track the level to which the water rises. Ideally, water is located five centimeters below the side hole of the cistern. Make sure the water lightly covers the drain body. To obtain the required water level and for the correct operation of the cistern, it is possible to achieve by raising and lowering the float. Raising the float will increase the volume of water being filled, and releasing the float will lower it accordingly.

In the event of a malfunction with the drain mechanism, the difficulty arising from a malfunction of the drain device leads to an endless flow of water. There are times when the lowering of the tube is lower than required, which allows the float to collect an unnecessary volume of water. The tube is adjusted by lifting it. Sometimes this is enough, but in other cases, a specialized reconfiguration of the location of the overflow parts will be required. In a situation where the rubberized valve ceases to hold back water, it is either clogged or dry. To solve the problem, it is recommended to disassemble the drain tank device. In this case, it is not at all necessary to remove it. The drain tank can be easily separated into two parts. It is necessary to clean the drain hole and the valve itself. After that, the drain tank is collected in its previous state.

It is necessary to do something if the tank breaks down and the water stops flowing correctly. In case you notice that the cistern is faulty or does not do the job as well as before, do not neglect to repair it. In addition to the fact that most likely you will harm all the equipment in your bathroom, there is a possibility of damage to the bathroom of the people living below you. In other words, a cistern that is unable to fill itself with water provokes the flow of water into the area that is intended for the waste products of the human body. It is connected to the cistern with a tube. There is a possibility that the pipe may start leaking, which will definitely provoke flooding of your neighbors.

In addition, if you ignore the first signs of too slow filling of the cistern with water, after a while you may face the fact that water will stop flowing altogether, which is an unpleasant pleasure, given the main function of this device - flushing.

You should know that a completely neglected device cannot be repaired. Consequently, there is a need to purchase a new mechanism and then mount it. And this is new troubles and expenses.

It is possible to repair the unit if you constantly monitor it and, if necessary, use our recommendations.

To replace the reinforcement, you must:

• Start dismantling the fittings by determining the inner diameter of the sewer pipe that supplies the water. Finding the correct diameter will make it easier to buy new parts.
• In case of difficulties in determining the required diameter, a visual inspection will help. Lift the tank cap and purchase an identical design from a plumbing store. Cistern fittings are often sold as a set.
• Before installing a new device, it is imperative to turn off the water supply that enters the toilet bowl, remove the roof of the cistern and flush out any remaining water.

• To dismantle the old device, unscrew the flexible hose while holding the old fitting.
• Inspect used gaskets and rubber seals, if unsuitable, replace with new ones.
• Install the new water taps so that it does not touch the walls of the cistern and does not touch the drain mechanism.
• Open fluid supply.
• After connecting the water, some adjustment of the new mechanism may be required, for example, tighten the nut at the diaphragm or minor adjustments to the position of the float.

One of the reasons for the malfunction of the drain tank is the clogging of the internal parts in the water fittings. In order to avoid this kind of trouble in the future, it is necessary as a preventive measure to clean off the deposited limescale or rust that has settled on the walls of the cistern.

To start cleaning, it is recommended to turn off the water and rinse out the water remaining in the tank. For convenience, you can remove the float and release lever. It is also recommended to rinse them thoroughly with any cleaning agent. To clean the tank, fill it with soapy water or a specialized cleaner and let it sit for 30-60 minutes. After the expiration of the time, the walls of the tank are cleaned using a brush, a hard cloth or sponge. If you have achieved the desired result, reinstall the float and the release lever.

For stubborn dirt, use more aggressive cleaning agents.

• Detergents with abrasive particles that contain tiny grains of chalk, quartz sand and pumice.
• Means based on acids.The most practical and effective is the use of hydrochloric acid. It is recommended that all contaminated areas be thoroughly acidified to effectively remove rust and deposits. Remember to rinse off the water beforehand. Then leave the solution for half an hour. After this procedure, there is usually no difficulty in further cleaning. It will be enough to run a hard rag over the surface of the entire tank. Repeat the procedure if necessary.
• Cleaning agents based on alkali, such as sodium hypochlorite. The cleaning method is similar to acid-containing products.

Most of the malfunctions in the drain tank device do not require specialized intervention in the face of a plumber. There are many things you can fix yourself at home. This will save you from unnecessary expenses and will give a guarantee for the correct operation of the water-folding fittings, which work incorrectly for some reason.

For information on why water is not collected in the toilet cistern, see the next video.