Choosing the right toilet fittings for side water connections

A toilet with a cistern is a familiar and seemingly simple device. In the event of a breakdown, it is required to repair it urgently, it is not always possible to wait for the master or consult with him. In some cases, you can do it on your own, for example, if the drain mechanism at the tank with a side water supply breaks down. It is quite simple to choose and replace fittings for him, in any plumbing store you can find a huge selection in various designs and variations. This is what will be discussed later.

There are several types of waste tanks.

Depending on where the water is supplied from, tanks are distinguished:

• with bottom liner (a hose with underwater water is attached to the bottom of the drain tank);
• with side connection (the hose is attached above the water level of the filled tank).

Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages.

One of the advantages of tanks with a bottom eyeliner is the noiselessness of filling. In addition, fittings for such tanks allow you to give it an unusual shape, which makes the design of the bathroom unique. The disadvantages of such a system are the complexity of installation and repair. The dense completeness of fittings requires certain skills in working with it.

The main advantages of barrels with side liner:

• low cost;
• simplicity of design;
• no need to seal the inlet hose connection.

Of the minuses, only the noisy filling of the tank can be noted. Some manufacturers extend the water supply hose to eliminate noise so that water flows from the bottom, not the side. The simplicity of the design of the cistern fittings with side connection allows even a layman to install and repair them. But before starting work, you need to understand how the drain tank itself and its mechanism are arranged.

The drain tank is a container filled with water, which contains:

• two holes on the sides for fitting the fittings;
• two holes at the bottom for connection to the toilet;
• armhole for the drain fittings themselves.

The basis of the drainage structure is the drainage device and filling fittings. The descent device can be unscrewed. In addition, it can be attached to a hydraulic cord. In the second case, when you lift the tank lid, the button rises. With the help of the filling fittings, the tank is recruited, the water level in it is set.

There are several types of fittings:

• rod device (liquid is lowered by lifting the handle on the tank lid);
• push-button mechanism (draining occurs by pressing a button).

Today, the latter option is mainly used. It will be considered in more detail.

Let's analyze the components of the drain structure.

• inlet valve;
• a lever with a float;
• trigger device;
• filler tank;
• trigger control lever.

The simplicity of this design guarantees its durability, provided that the parts are of good quality.

For proper installation of fittings and repair in case of breakdown, it is important to understand how the drain mechanism itself works.

Let's consider it in more detail:

• When the drain button is pressed, a draft appears, under the action of which the drain valve opens.
• At the same time, the drain into the drain mechanism is blocked, a drain occurs.
• When the water in the tank reaches a minimum, the release mechanism closes, blocking the drain.
• The float opening is then opened.

• The vertical valve snaps into place, blocking the descent passage.
• When the water level decreases, the float is lowered, opening the passage through which the drain container is filled.
• When the water level reaches its maximum, and with it the float rises, the float valve is closed, limiting the flow of water.

It is quite simple to understand the device of the drain mechanism. For clarity, you can remove the cover of the drain tank.

In the event of a breakdown, it becomes necessary to replace the drain device. At the same time, the new one should be chosen carefully enough so that the mechanism will last for many years. The purchase must be made at a trusted store. If you carry out the installation yourself, you must correctly determine the diameter of the tank.

When choosing a manufacturer, preference should be given to domestic brands. These devices are adapted to the properties of the water and its quality. Foreign products (especially European ones) are designed for better quality water. As a result, they fail faster.

The fittings themselves can be plastic or brass. The service life of the latter is higher, but its cost is also higher. When choosing a plastic structure, preference should be given to polypropylene or made of low-pressure polyethylene.

It is also worth paying attention to several nuances:

• All reinforcement elements must be smooth, without deformation or burrs.
• All seals must be of the correct shape, softness, visible cracks during tension are excluded.
• Fasteners should have two or more seals. The elements themselves can be plastic or brass.

• The trigger valve must run smoothly (without jerking).
• Components must be tightly attached to each other, free play is excluded.
• You should carefully check the completeness of the mechanism according to the instructions, you need to make sure that all elements, gaskets and nuts are in place, and the equipment corresponds to that specified in the installation instructions.
• Reinforcement should be purchased if it meets all of the above requirements. Otherwise, it will not last long.

To begin with, you should carefully study the instructions attached to the fittings. Let's consider in detail the general scheme of its installation.

• The first step is to unscrew the drainage nut.
• Then you need to lay the gasket on the bottom of the tank, fix the drain mechanism with a nut on it.
• After that, you need to remove the fixing nut from the inlet valve located on the side.
• A rubber gasket must be placed on the hole where the fittings are installed.
• A filling valve must be installed inside the tank and secured with a nut. At this stage, the nut should not be tightened too much.

After making sure that the inlet and outlet mechanisms do not touch each other and do not touch the walls of the tank, fasten the nuts.

If they touch each other, you should first turn them in different directions from each other:

• Then the water liner is installed. Always be aware of the presence and correct location of the O-rings.
• After this, you should check the operation of the drain mechanism.
• The last step is to install the release button on the tank lid.

When adjusting the drain fittings, it is important to adjust the maximum water level. It should be 5 cm below the edge of the tank. To adjust it, the float moves along the guide. The float must be fixed in such a way that from the upper edge of the float to the edge of the tank is at least 40 mm. After that, the location of the overflow tube should be checked.

Not always a small breakdown requires a complete replacement of the drain fittings. Sometimes a small tweak and partial replacement of elements is enough to fix the problem. When partly replacing elements or mechanisms, it is important that the new parts are similar to the previous ones in shape, material and dimensions. Only in this case the fittings will function correctly and will last a long time. Let's take a look at common problems.

If a murmur is constantly heard in the tank, water leaks, this indicates a leak in the drain tank. To eliminate this problem, you must first reduce the drainage rate. To do this, you need to adjust the damper. You can bend the lever a little if its material allows, while controlling the position of the damper. The latest models of plastic closures have a special regulator that regulates the force of the drain.

If these measures do not work, the cause of the breakage may be the abrasion of the pear. You can try adding the weight of the pear to make it fit more snugly against the locking hole. But it's better to replace it. The general condition of the drainage system should be assessed. Sometimes it is enough to replace the gaskets, remove rust, adjust the position of the drain and exhaust mechanisms. If the above measures did not help, it makes sense to replace the drain mechanism.

When water enters the drain tank, but is not collected, the cause of the breakdown lies in the float. To eliminate the problem, it is necessary to adjust the water level in the tank by moving it along the guide. Alternatively, you can replace the entire assembly, including the lever.

This is due to a poorly regulated water level. How to set it up is described in detail above.

The cause of the problem is a blockage between the pipe and the exhaust mechanism. To eliminate it, it is enough to replace the float valve.

First you should try to tighten the driving arm. If this does not help, then the flap valve is out of order, it must be replaced.

To eliminate it, it is necessary to disassemble the intake mechanism and remove rust or dirt in the valve. If this measure did not help, then it makes sense to replace the rubber gasket blocking the water pressure from the connecting hose.

For information on how to fix the toilet with your own hands, see the next video.