Replacing the toilet bowl: how to remove the old tank and put in a new one

The most vulnerable component of the toilet is a container for collecting water. Most often it is her who has to be changed. Replacing the toilet bowl is much cheaper and much more practical than acquiring a new plumbing kit. In addition, you can save money if you find a suitable tank and install it with your own hands. Do you agree?

We will tell you how to correctly select a tank for restoring the functionality of an important plumbing facility. Here you will learn how to dismantle a used tank and install new equipment. Subject to our recommendations, replacement activities will be seamless.

We offer proven methods, provide detailed training. Visual perception of information will provide illustrations, photo and video guides.

Types of toilets and flush tanks

Over the centuries of the existence of toilets, the principle of their engineering structure has changed little. Current manufacturers produce four types of sanitary ware for toilets.

Compact. In this version of the toilet, the back of the bowl has a platform for installing a removable tank, the fastening of which is done using two long bolts. The advantage of the compact is the convenience of repairing drain valves in case of breakage.

The disadvantage of the Compact is its structural angularity, due to which hard-to-reach dirt and fungus constantly accumulate on its back surface

Monoblock. This type of toilet has the appearance of a single ceramic block combining a bowl and a water tank located behind. This design is easy to mount, and it is possible to lean on the toilet while sitting.

When choosing a monolithic toilet bowl, it is recommended to buy models that have standardized drain fittings, otherwise if one of the drain valves breaks, it may be necessary to completely replace the plumbing

Separated. This design of the toilet involves placing the tank at a certain height and connecting it to the bowl with a hose or pipe. Separate plumbing is characteristic of public places where there is a high probability of tank displacement and leakage.

Separate toilets are convenient if there is no possibility of bringing a water hose near the bowl, because you can even hang the tank on the side of the toilet seat

Hidden. This type of toilet is also called suspended, it is mounted on a frame hidden behind the casing - installation. Only a bowl is visible, and the drain tank and other structural elements are hidden in a decorative box or behind a wall.

It is advisable to check the operability of the toilet bowl prior to covering the installation, because the equipment laid down by the tiles will be very difficult to repair

The tank in the installation separately is almost never replaced, therefore, in the event of a breakdown in the internal mechanism, the main problem is the dismantling of the wall or plasterboard box to access the frame.

The most difficult is the dismantling of the compact toilet flush tank. This is due to the peculiarities of the location of the plumbing and the minimum free space for work.

Scheme of the toilet bowl

A standard home drain tank consists of:

• housing;
• float mechanism;
• trigger mechanism.

The tank can be attached to the toilet in various ways. Manufacturers usually do not place fasteners directly on the drain hole, but instead fix bolts on their sides.

Plastic and brass bolts are preferred for fixing, because the steel rusts quickly, and subsequently there may be problems with loosening the nuts

To seal the tank between it and the toilet bowl lies a rubber gasket, which is then simply pressed by the side fasteners.

Internal complete drain tank different in different models. The mechanism can be either an elementary plug with a float, or a cartridge that includes all the necessary tools for draining at the same time.

The cartridge does not require adjustment and is easy to install, but if any internal part breaks, you will need to buy a new device

The cover is fixed on the outside by a clamping decorative nut near the drain button, which a novice plumber might not know about.

When replacing the drain tank, the scheme of its operation is not so important, because the internal mechanisms in a new product are usually either installed inside, or an individual installation instruction is attached to them.

Reasons for replacing the drain tank

Direct failure of the drain tank rarely causes its replacement due to the fact that it consists only of a ceramic container with a lid and fasteners. There is simply nothing to fail.

People are forced to change the drain tank, leaving the old toilet bowl in place, such reasons:

1. Mechanical damagethat lead to the destruction of the drain tank or carry the risk of subsequent injury to people.
2. Obsolete design. Separate tanks for this reason are easiest to change because they usually do not require structural compatibility with the toilet bowl.
3. Damage to the internal drainage mechanism with the impossibility of replacing it. This annoying reason is typical for exclusive toilet models, whose components are difficult to find even on the Internet.

Replacing the toilet flush cistern is always cheaper than acquiring a new complete plumbing kit. The only problem may be finding a model compatible with the old toilet bowl.

It often happens that instead of installing a new flushing tank, only repair the tank. Check out repair options for breakdowns. It is possible that your option is described there.

Choosing a new drain tank

The attachment points of the drain tank to the bowl are not standardized, so there is no guarantee that it will be possible to find the necessary tank on the old toilet bowl. You can choose a similar model of the same company, but over the years of operation, usually all labels are erased, and it is impossible to determine the name of the device.

But you can find the company name on a decorative washer near the drain button. In an extreme case, you will first need to dismantle the drain tank, photograph the shelf of the toilet bowl, take the dimensions, and then with all this go to the store and try to find the necessary model.

It is also required to measure the distance between the axes of the two holes for mounting the tank to the toilet bowl.

Replacing the compact type drain tank

Toilets with an attached flush cistern are the most common because of the cheapness and ease of mounting. They can be installed on any section of the toilet, where it is possible to organize the supply of water and drainage.

Stage # 1. Selection of tools and materials

To independently change the drain tank, a person must take care of the availability of such tools and materials:

• new tank with internal drainage mechanism;
• gaskets and fasteners;
• spanners;
• silicone sealant;
• Screwdriver Set;
• new flexible hoses;
• hacksaw for metal (if necessary).

The proposed list is minimal and does not imply the presence of serious problems when dismantling equipment.

Stage # 2. Dismantling the tank on the Compact

Removing the drain tank from the ceramic bowl begins with draining it and turning off the water supply. To do this, the water supply pipe or hose is closed and a complete drain is made. At the bottom of the tank a little water remains, which can subsequently get wet with a rag.

The second step is to remove the cover, which is fixed with a decorative nut-button. It does not perform the sealing function, therefore, it must be unscrewed by hand without effort

After removing the cover, unscrew the water hose. Its location can be completely different. The nozzle of the drain mechanism can be located on the side, at the bottom or behind the drain tank.

When loosening the nut with a wrench with your second hand, you must hold the water supply mechanism inside the toilet.

Using old hoses is dangerous because their rubber tubes are short-lived and can leak at an unexpected moment.

Then you need to unscrew the fixing nuts under the toilet bowl. If the plumbing has been in the toilet for many years and the room is constantly damp, then the bolts with the nut can rust so much that their unscrewing becomes impossible.

In this case, it remains only to carefully cut the bolts. There is no other way to dismantle the tank.

When the edges of the nut are completely eaten with rust, you can moisten the connection with a special solvent liquid, and then try to unscrew the fastening with pliers

After loosening the fixing bolts, the drain tank can be lifted up and removed. A rubber gasket should remain on the toilet bowl, which is recommended to be replaced with a new one. A set of rubber bands is usually included with the purchased drain tank.

Be sure to wipe the shelf of the toilet from dirt, fungus and rust.

A good cleaning of the rubber pad prevents potential water leakage during subsequent installation of the drain tank on the toilet

After installation and mounting a new drain tank to the toilet casing there is no convenient opportunity to wipe this place

Stage # 3. Installing a new drain tank

After selecting and acquiring a new suitable drain tank, you can proceed with its installation.

There are two openings in the toilet flush tank: for the fill valve (A) and for the drain valve mechanism (B)

Before mounting the float and trigger mechanisms into the tank, it is advisable to check the structural compatibility of the lower outlet with the gasket and toilet bowl.

If all the elements are compatible and the tank stands firmly and firmly on the toilet, then you can proceed with its step-by-step installation.

Step one. Install the drain valve mechanism. To do this, put a sealing ring on the valve pipe and insert the device into the bottom hole of the tank.

Then you need to put on another sealing gum from the outside and fix the drain mechanism to the toilet bowl with a plastic nut

The final clamping of the plastic nut must be carried out in the vertical position of the drain tank, in order to avoid distortions and subsequent leakage of water

It is not necessary to clamp it tightly with a key, manual effort will be enough.

Second step. Installing a filler valve. Its branch pipe can exit from either side of the tank, depending on the model.

Fixing takes place according to the same method as the drain valve mechanism: the nozzle with a sealant is protruded into the hole and fixed with a special nut

The pipe coming out of the toilet is made of plastic, so you should not pinch it excessively - you can loosen the threaded connection

If water is supplied from below, there is a risk of water leakage. Therefore, it is recommended that you lubricate the outer gasket and the threaded connection with silicone before tightening.

Step three. Installation of a sealant. A rubber sleeve is put on the outlet pipe of the drain valve. In some models, it is more convenient to put it in a groove on the shelf of the toilet bowl. Although this large sealant will not be pressurized, it is recommended to lubricate it on both sides with a thin layer of sealant.

Before installing the gasket in the inlet of the toilet bowl, it is possible to install flow extensions that contribute to an even distribution of water around the perimeter of the seat

Fourth step. Fixing the drain tank to the bowl. It is necessary to smoothly and clearly align the outlet of the tank with the corresponding opening of the toilet bowl. Through channels for fixing bolts can serve as an excellent reference point for the correct location: if you look at them exactly from top to bottom, the floor should be visible.

We stick plastic or metal bolts into the mounting holes and gently tighten them with nuts from the bottom.

Tighten the nuts, alternating efforts on both sides of the drain tank. The slightest misalignment can lead to the dislocation of the rubber cuff and leakage

Do not forget to put cone-shaped gaskets on the bolts on the inside of the drain tank.

Fifth step. Screwing the flexible hose to the filler valve.

In a new tank, the location of the filler pipe may be different, therefore, it is necessary to choose the length of the flexible hoses taking into account the changed distance between the tank and the water system

After attaching the hoses, you can open the water and look at the work float mechanism with an open tank lid. If the float worked normally, then a test discharge of water should be carried out.

Sixth step. Screwing on the cover and drain button. The drain valve mechanism is actuated by a button, which is usually screwed into its upper part. As a result, the valve body is stretched between the drain hole at the bottom and the button at the top.

The mechanism for fixing the cap may differ from the above, so carefully read the instructions attached to the tank. On installation of a cover of a tank its installation comes to an end.Subsequently, you can install the toilet seat, clean the bathroom and comfortably use the new equipment.

PORTA toilet bowl installation photo guide

We begin the process of installing the drain tank with an introduction to the components and with the assembly of the drain valve. Its feature is a non-separable button mechanism, which will have to be completely changed in case of breakage, and the presence of a pear in the water collection system.

Before starting work on installing a new drain tank, you need to familiarize yourself with the equipment, check the availability of all required parts and assemble the drain valve

Having successfully completed the valve assembly steps, we proceed to install the tank and attach it to the toilet:

We check how smoothly the tank is installed. We fix it by tightening the nuts evenly. In order to avoid complications during the installation of fittings, we study the components:

For the proper installation of the locking device, we get acquainted with its design details

Then proceed to the installation of fittings:

Replacing a separate toilet flush tank

Replacing the drain tank on separate toilets is much easier than on Compacts. The equipment is either fixed to the wall with special fasteners, or the case is screwed directly to a vertical concrete slab.

Screws or bolts must be loosened carefully, because the holes in the wall can come in handy for fastening a new drain tank

After removing the old tank, according to the instructions, it is necessary to assemble a new one.

In the store, you can ask sellers to install all the insides of the drain tank, so that at home just hang it on the wall and connect it to communications

In the already assembled form, the purchased hinged tank is mounted on the wall and connected to the water hose. The drain pipe is inserted into the corresponding hole in the toilet bowl and this completes the installation of the separate toilet bowl.

Due to the noise and external unattractiveness, these types of drain tanks are practically not found in houses and apartments.

If replacing the tank was only a partial solution to the problem, and the bowl also needs to be changed, then useful information and detailed toilet installation instruction, you will find the same on our website.

Installation of a new tank for installation

Serious damage to the drain tank during installation is a very unpleasant problem. To eliminate it, the dismantling of a decorative box or tile in the bathroom is required.

Extensive repair work when dismantling the casing can be avoided if it is made of collapsible wooden panels. But the surface of the tree must be protected from moisture in the bathroom

The fixation of the plastic case to the metal frame is usually done with latches.

When replacing the drain tank, the installation will have to either buy equipment from the same company, or completely replace the sanitary design

After disassembling the installation, you only need to remove the old one and fix the new tank on the frame. The installation of a new tank is carried out after inspection of the supporting frame of the hanging toilet and repair installation in case of breakdowns.

Next, the installation is attached to the wall, after which a water hose is attached to the tank.

Then you can again mask the support frame and install a toilet bowl on mounting studs fixed in it. In wall mounted toilets, the drain tank is only a block component, the replacement of which lasts several minutes. But the dismantling and installation of the decorative box can drag on for weeks.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

The presented videos will complement the understanding of the sequence of actions when replacing the drain tank and introduce you to the nuances of this process.

Video # 1. Installing the drain tank:

Video # 2. Dismantling and assembling the toilet tank:

Video # 3. Installation of a flush toilet wall mounted toilet:

The process of replacing the drain tank on the toilet is quite simple and does not require specific knowledge. The main difficulty is finding the right model of equipment in the store. Solving the remaining problems will help to carefully follow the above recommendations.

You can tell about the experience of replacing the flushing tank and share interesting subtleties in the block below. Ask questions and comment on the information we offer here.