Modifying a low-level WC to high-level.

[The Bedwetter]

Hi there

A mate’s parents live in a rather run-down ex-local authority property and have a plastic low-level WC cistern that requires replacement. Unfortunately it is only 120mm in depth and most others on the market seem around 145mm or more. Replacing the existing cistern with a deeper equivalent would prevent the bog lid & seat from resting against the cistern whilst various males point Percy at porcelain.

The loo has never had the strongest of flushes and rather than having a whole new bog I wondered if it might be worth considering a high-level cistern to the existing WC. Again it would still be a plastic cistern but these seem reasonably priced – clearly a consideration in this household.

I have fitted high-level cisterns in the past but have never made the described ‘adaptation’. Can anyone see any pitfalls with this task?

Thanks for any comments.

 

[PlumbBobBob]

won't work imho. you will need to change the whole toilet, the existing pan isn't designed for using with a high level cistern.

 

[lame plumber]

waste of time trying, go for broke and spent £90 on a nice new bog

 

[johnnyplumb]

can you not fit the deeper cistern and move the pan out to suit

 

[The Bedwetter]

steveb: OK, fair enough.

lame plumber: If they wanted to do that, then fine, but the reality is that the whole bathroom needs to be replaced.

Johnnyplumb: No, ‘cos it’s like this:

 

[stevetheplumber]

that pan was definately designed to take a high level flush probably why its poor on ll

 

[Ray Stafford]

I'm not seeing why he shouldn't convert that to a HL flush.

Its a bog standard S trap pan, should accept either cistern heights.

 

[PlumbBobBob]

thousand apologies i misread the op as a cc toilet lol. you should be fine changing it to a high level.

 

[The Bedwetter]

Thanks for all of the very useful comments, guys. :smile5:

thousand apologies i misread the op as a cc toilet lol. you should be fine changing it to a high level.

No worries. I might have made things clearer if I had placed the piccy in the opening post.:dizzy2:

 

[lame plumber]

nothing sounds better than the dull thud of a cistern lid landing on a head, followed by the thump of a body hitting the deck, accompanied by the swirling noise of the loo flushing away. 🙂

 

[The Bedwetter]

nothing sounds better than the dull thud of a cistern lid landing on a head, followed by the thump of a body hitting the deck, accompanied by the swirling noise of the loo flushing away. 🙂

I doubt if it will be quite so life-threatening as the cistern (and lid) will be plastic. :winkiss:

 

[Mickyplumb]

Hi there

A mate’s parents live in a rather run-down ex-local authority property and have a plastic low-level WC cistern that requires replacement. Unfortunately it is only 120mm in depth and most others on the market seem around 145mm or more. Replacing the existing cistern with a deeper equivalent would prevent the bog lid & seat from resting against the cistern whilst various males point Percy at porcelain.

The loo has never had the strongest of flushes and rather than having a whole new bog I wondered if it might be worth considering a high-level cistern to the existing WC. Again it would still be a plastic cistern but these seem reasonably priced – clearly a consideration in this household.

I have fitted high-level cisterns in the past but have never made the described ‘adaptation’. Can anyone see any pitfalls with this task?

Thanks for any comments.

You wanna try and get hold of a 9litre cistern as opposed to 7 litre Ray at Williams maybe able to point you in the right direct but i think you may struggle. You can obviously play about to get a bit more water in it, lengthen the overflow if it's bottom entry, taller siphon, adjustable torbeck etc, etc. Keep it well below lid level though.

How are you going to get a chain to fit it though, drill the flush handle ?

 

[lame plumber]

I doubt if it will be quite so life-threatening as the cistern (and lid) will be plastic. :winkiss:

bacolite was the first plastic and that bloody hurt 🙂

 

[The Bedwetter]

Mickyplumb: Yes, I’ve considered all of those points, thanks. Fortunately my plumbers’ merchant is trying to source a 9 litre cistern (plus chain & lever) which he hopefully should have by Friday. :smilewinkgrin:

lame plumber: On their heads be it. :reddevil:

 

[Mickyplumb]

Mickyplumb: Yes, I’ve considered all of those points, thanks. Fortunately my plumbers’ merchant is trying to source a 9 litre cistern (plus chain & lever) which he hopefully should have by Friday. :smilewinkgrin:

lame plumber: On their heads be it. :reddevil:

Well done mate.

One more thing, sometimes when you flush a wc with a h/l cistern, the water comes down the flush pipe with such force that it splashes out of the flush rim. You used to be able to buy what looked like tiny poly washers that sat inside the external flush come on the back of the pan. All it is is a medieval flow restrictor. See if your merchant has one, will only be a few pence.

 

[Ray Stafford]

See if your merchant has one, will only be a few pence.

Ask the bald guy in the merchants. Anyone young enough to have a full head of hair will just look at you blankly...

 

[Gas]

I would probably just throw a flap valve in if money is that tight for the client, puts you in their good books for when they want that mingin lot ripped out.

 

[PlumbBobBob]

I would probably just throw a flap valve in if money is that tight for the client, puts you in their good books for when they want that mingin lot ripped out.

good idea, then at least they get to use all the water in the cistern

 

[Gas]

Another thing you might want to check, see if the siphon wash or the jets (what ever they are called) are blocked, if so, it wouldn't matter if you put the cistern in the loft, it would still give a poor flush.

 

[The Bedwetter]

Mickyplumb: Good point, I have left a message woth the merchant to add one to my order.

Gas: I did think of a drop valve but they only seem available with 6 litre max capacity.

Another thing you might want to check, see if the siphon wash or the jets (what ever they are called) are blocked, if so, it wouldn't matter if you put the cistern in the loft, it would still give a poor flush.

Due to scale, presumably. I guess that this would be virtually impossible to clean?

 

[Gas]

Well let others answer.