I have a toilet with a 9 litre cistern. It has developed a crack:
It leaks about four pints of water overnight which is pretty bad and I have learned from other posts it could disintegrate at any time, deluging house and home. I know either the cistern or the whole toilet have to be replaced. The problem is the cistern is a 9 litre type and I do not want a toilet with a lower capacity. My understanding is that 9 litre toilets can be repaired but if completely replaced the new one must be a lower capacity. So repair it must be even if it costs more than a new toilet!
First question is about the possibility of patching it up while I'm waiting for a plumber to do the replacement. I was at the shops today and bought something called Araldite Repair Aqua. According to the box this works underwater and is suitable for ceramics. Can anyone confirm this is the right stuff, and if I have to drain the cistern and let it dry out before application? I don't think the crack goes right the way down because if I flush and don't refill the leakage stops completely. [n.b. we have a second toilet so can leave this one unused for a while]
Second question is about replacing the cistern, for which I will certainly call in a plumber. Here is a portrait of the offending khazi:
The lid on the cistern is a DIY job in wood after the old one shattered. The dimensions excluding the lid are width 19.5" (49.5cm); height 13.5" (34cm); depth 7.75" (19.5cm).
The main question is, is it replaceable? If it isn't, I'm doomed. I'm not bothered what the replacement looks like and if ceramic is no longer available I will settle for plastic or whatever. Also; will any low-level 9 litre bottom-entry cistern do? I have no idea how the cistern connects to the pan. Does it just sit on top or is there a manufacturer-specific connection? Last question is, should I be trying to locate a replacement myself (ebay perhaps) or would I be best leaving that to the plumber? I would much rather leave it to the plumber.
Thanks in anticipation.
It leaks about four pints of water overnight which is pretty bad and I have learned from other posts it could disintegrate at any time, deluging house and home. I know either the cistern or the whole toilet have to be replaced. The problem is the cistern is a 9 litre type and I do not want a toilet with a lower capacity. My understanding is that 9 litre toilets can be repaired but if completely replaced the new one must be a lower capacity. So repair it must be even if it costs more than a new toilet!
First question is about the possibility of patching it up while I'm waiting for a plumber to do the replacement. I was at the shops today and bought something called Araldite Repair Aqua. According to the box this works underwater and is suitable for ceramics. Can anyone confirm this is the right stuff, and if I have to drain the cistern and let it dry out before application? I don't think the crack goes right the way down because if I flush and don't refill the leakage stops completely. [n.b. we have a second toilet so can leave this one unused for a while]
Second question is about replacing the cistern, for which I will certainly call in a plumber. Here is a portrait of the offending khazi:
The lid on the cistern is a DIY job in wood after the old one shattered. The dimensions excluding the lid are width 19.5" (49.5cm); height 13.5" (34cm); depth 7.75" (19.5cm).
The main question is, is it replaceable? If it isn't, I'm doomed. I'm not bothered what the replacement looks like and if ceramic is no longer available I will settle for plastic or whatever. Also; will any low-level 9 litre bottom-entry cistern do? I have no idea how the cistern connects to the pan. Does it just sit on top or is there a manufacturer-specific connection? Last question is, should I be trying to locate a replacement myself (ebay perhaps) or would I be best leaving that to the plumber? I would much rather leave it to the plumber.
Thanks in anticipation.