| Handyman tips-How to keep your W.C Cistern in | | | | from the cistern. When the cistern is emptied and |
| good working order | | | | the water level falls and the suction has been taken |
| | | | | out or the diaphragm then the metal or plastic plate |
| The most common and annoying problem with | | | | goes down again, when the cistern is refilled the |
| WC’s and cisterns is that they tend to | | | | water rises through the holes in the plastic or metal |
| overflow and pour out from the side of your building | | | | plate ready to start the process all over again |
| or onto the property below, or else they just do not | | | | Maintenance |
| flush . | | | | 1.Replacing the wire link: Remove the old wire link |
| Another problem is that they fail to fill up or empty | | | | that is attached to the flush arm. If the has corroded |
| .Do not panic at this stage because with a little | | | | and fallen into the cistern then remove before it |
| maintenance you can easily fix these problems. The | | | | rusts in the cistern. Cut a wire long and strong |
| beauty of the modern cistern is that they have an | | | | enough to withstand several hundred flushes, an old |
| overflow system that diverts the overflow back into | | | | coat hanger is usually the best form of wire for this. |
| the W.C instead of pouring out from the side of the | | | | Push the wire through the hole in the flush arm, twist |
| building and creating an eyesore, basically if your | | | | it round and then insert it into the lifting rod, this |
| property had an overflow problem then everyone on | | | | should work well and be a cost effective method of |
| the street would know about it because the white | | | | getting you out of a sticky situation. |
| pipe leaking water from the side would stick out like | | | | 2. Replacing a worn flapper valve or diaphragm:a. with |
| a sore thumb, this newer method is more discreet | | | | the water supply to the cistern turned off or the |
| and silent-your W.C could be overflowing and you | | | | float arm held up by a string to stop water going |
| wouldn’t even know it. | | | | back into the cistern, flush the cistern to empty the |
| How it works | | | | remaining water. Make sure you use a bucket or old |
| When you depress the flushing lever or chain, a | | | | towels to catch the water that might fall on the |
| diaphragm opens within the main siphon housing which | | | | floor.b. remove the nut at the bottom of the cistern, |
| empties the water in the cistern. When you keep | | | | there will be some amount of water from the cistern |
| flushing continuously and nothing happens then the | | | | that will leak out so be sure to catch this.c. Remove |
| “flapper valve” or diaphragm is faulty and | | | | the flush arm and wire. Remove the siphon by just |
| needs to be replaced. When the diaphragm is | | | | lifting it out.d. Replace the siphon by inserting the new |
| pressed down by the weight of the water in the | | | | siphon in the place of the old one. Tighten the nut at |
| cistern it seals the inlet hole in the plastic or metal | | | | the bottom of the siphon to the cistern and make |
| plate and carries the water upwards into the siphon | | | | sure that the nut is tightened securely . |
| crown to start the action that empties the water | | | | |