Setting up toilet fittings: how to properly adjust the drainage device

The internal filling of the tank is not a very complicated device, but its breakdown can significantly reduce the comfortable feeling for the residents of the house.It happens that everything looks normal, but the operation of the drain mechanism leaves much to be desired.

To eliminate problems, you will need to properly configure the toilet fittings. This procedure must be performed when installing plumbing fixtures, and later the drain operation must be periodically adjusted.

If you encounter such a problem, our material will help you quickly solve it, without even resorting to the help of specialists. We will tell you how to get your toilet flush working properly. For clarity, the material contains thematic photos and videos.

Types of fittings for flush cisterns

The principle of operation of a conventional tank is not complicated: it has a hole through which water flows and a place where water is discharged into the toilet. The first is closed with a special valve, the second with a flap. When you press a lever or button, the flapper rises and the water, in whole or in part, flows into the toilet, and then into the sewer.

After this, the valve returns to its place and closes the drain point. It works immediately afterwards drain valve mechanism, which opens a hole for water to enter. The tank is filled to a certain level, after which the inlet is closed. Water supply and shut-off are adjusted using special valve.

The fittings for the flush tank are a simple mechanical device that allows water to be drawn into a sanitary container and drained by pressing a lever or button.

There are separate and combined designs of fittings that collect the volume of water required for flushing and drain it after activating the flushing device.

Separate and combined options

Separate option has been used for many decades. It is considered cheaper and easier to repair and configure. With this design, the fill valve and damper are installed separately, they are not connected to each other.

The shut-off valve for the tank is designed in such a way that it is easy to install, remove or change its height

To control the flow and shutdown of water use float sensor, in the role of which even a piece of ordinary foam is sometimes used. In addition to a mechanical damper, an air valve can be used for the drain hole.

A rope or chain can be used as a lever to lift the damper or open the valve. This is a typical option for retro-style models, when the tank is placed quite high.

In compact toilet models, control is most often carried out using a button that needs to be pressed. For those with special needs, a foot pedal may be installed, but this is a rare option.

In recent years, models with double buttons have been very popular, which allow you to empty the tank not only completely, but also halfway, in order to save some water.

Separate option fittings is convenient in that you can repair and configure individual parts of the system separately.

Combined type fittings are used in high-class plumbing; here the drain and water supply are connected into a common system. This option is considered more reliable, convenient and expensive.If this mechanism breaks down, repairs will require completely dismantling the system. Setup can also be a bit tricky.

The fittings for a toilet cistern with side and bottom water supply differ in design, but the principles of setup and repair are very similar.

Materials for making devices

More often toilet fittings made of polymer materials. Typically, the more expensive such a system is, the more reliable it is, but this method does not provide clear guarantees. There are also counterfeits of well-known brands, as well as quite reliable and inexpensive domestically produced products. The average buyer can only try to find a good seller and hope for luck.

Bronze and brass fittings alloys It is considered much more reliable, and such devices are much more difficult to counterfeit. But the cost of these mechanisms will be significantly higher than that of plastic products.

Metal filling usually used in high-end plumbing fixtures. With proper configuration and installation, such a mechanism functions smoothly for many years.

In bottom-fed toilets, the inlet and shut-off valves are very close. When setting up the fittings, you need to make sure that the moving parts do not touch

Water supply point

An important point is where water enters the toilet. It can be done from the side or from below. When water is poured from the side hole, it produces a certain amount of noise, which is not always pleasant to others.

If water comes from below, it happens almost silently. Bottom feed water in the tank is more typical for new models produced abroad.

But traditional domestically produced tanks usually have side feed water.The advantage of this option is its relatively low price. Installation also differs. Bottom water supply elements can be installed in the tank before it is installed. But the side supply is installed only after the tank is installed on the toilet bowl.

For replacement, the fittings are selected taking into account the option of supplying water to the plumbing tank; it can be side or bottom

Typical problems with the tank

Problems with the tank most often arise for three reasons:

• due to improper installation;
• after incorrect setting of the fittings;
• as a result of wear or breakdown of individual components and elements.

If There is too much or not enough water in the tankFirst of all, it is recommended to check the condition of the float. If it is held by a thick wire lever, adjustment will be easy.

It is enough to slightly bend the metal so that the float changes its position. If more water is needed, the float must be moved higher. To do this, the wire is bent in an arc downwards.

If There is too much water in the tank, the float should be lowered slightly. To do this, the wire holding this element is bent upward in an arc. But in the new models, all elements are made of plastic that cannot be bent. Here, a special screw is provided to change the position of the float. By rotating it, you can move the float to the desired level.

Sometimes lack of water in the tank is not due to the incorrect position of the float, but to contamination of the flow holes through which water flows. In this case, you need to remove the float from the mechanism, then remove the membrane covering the hole and wash the mechanism.

In order to adjust the level of water entering a tank with a simple float tap, you need to do a few simple steps:

Of course, before starting any manipulations with the tank, it is necessary to turn off the water in the riser.

If water flows into the tank continuously, which means you need to check the condition of the membrane or valve with which the float valve is equipped, for this:

Prudent owners, even when installing a toilet, install a shut-off valve directly in front of it. In this case, there is no need to shut off the entire riser; it is enough to turn off only the tank and start repairing and setting up.

There is a rubber gasket at the lower end of the shut-off valve, the wear of which causes water to constantly leak into the toilet.

Sometimes the following unpleasant situation occurs: water constantly flows out of the tank, and the tank is either only partially filled or remains practically empty. Most likely, the culprit is a locking mechanism that is installed incorrectly or worn out.

We replace the water drainage mechanism as follows:

Most often, it is enough to simply tighten the mounting bolts that secure the locking device in the correct position.

If this does not help, you need to check the valve for wear and clogging. To do this, the valve is removed, disassembled and washed, and if necessary, the worn membrane is replaced.

In order to replace the elements of the drain and fill valve or carry out simple repairs, you need to study in detail the design of the device to be restored

Sometimes rubber gasket fails, which is installed between the tank and the toilet. In this case, water will flow out of the tank and accumulate on the floor near the toilet.

To fix this problem, you will need to completely dismantle the tank, replace the leaky gasket and install the tank in place.

The technology for adjusting the fittings installed for the operation of the drain tank is described in detail in the instructions attached by the manufacturer to the product offered to the buyer. The main thing is to strictly follow the manufacturer’s instructions

Construction and adjustment of the compact

Compact toilet models have recently become widespread. It makes sense to consider their design in order to understand the main features of adjusting and repairing the locking mechanism.

The compact toilet consists of the following elements:

• cistern container with lid;
• system for filling water into a container;
• shut-off device or water drainage system;
• control button or lever;
• toilet.

The tank in the compact is installed on a special shelf, which is located behind the bowl. Typically, adjustment of the fittings of such a toilet is carried out after the cistern bowl is installed, but before its lid is installed. Before starting work, it is recommended to carefully study the manufacturer's instructions. Usually there is detailed information about the procedure for performing the work.

Compact toilets are popular because they are convenient and take up little space. The tank of such a device is installed on a shelf directly behind the bowl

The overflow pipe of the device usually indicates the water level that is considered normal for that particular model. You need to find this designation, which is often made in the form of a strip or bead. Usually, if, when filling the tank, the maximum water level is below this mark, poor-quality flushing of sewage is observed.

To change the situation, you need to move the “glass” on the intake valve to a higher position. To do this, loosen the clamps holding this element located under the float. After the required level has been set, you need to check the result of the work, i.e. fill the tank and drain the water.

On the top of the toilet tank inlet valve overflow pipe there is a mark in the form of a dash or collar for adjusting the water level

When installing tank fittings, it should be remembered that all moving parts of the valves must be separated by a distance, at least small. If the valves come into contact during operation, this can disrupt the normal operation of the system, leading to its imbalance and breakdown. It is also unacceptable for the moving elements of the fittings to come into contact with the walls of the tank.

To prevent water from splashing when filling the tank, you most often have to cut or change the filling tube:

An important step in installing the tank is installing the lid with a push-button regulator. Before screwing it in, there should be a distance of no more than seven millimeters and no less than three between the cover and this unit. If these conditions are met, the cover will be fastened securely enough.

Before you start screwing the flush button, the instructions recommend making a couple of turns in the opposite direction, i.e. counterclock-wise.

To save water, modern tanks have a double flush button, which allows you to empty only part of the tank if desired.

This will center the thread position.After this, screwing the button assembly is carried out clockwise. You need to rotate it by hand until it stops; additional tools are usually not needed. Upon completion of installation, you should drain the water again to make sure that the button and all fittings are configured correctly and installed correctly.

Compacts are produced with both bottom and side water supply. With fittings designed for bottom water supply, a problem such as clogging of the filter installed at the water supply to the container may arise. After flushing, i.e. During the process of filling the tank, a characteristic, rather loud and unpleasant whistle is heard.

This situation most often indicates that the filter is clogged and needs to be washed. The debris accumulated inside reduces the clearance for water, which enters the tank with high pressure and accompanied by sound effects. In addition, due to this malfunction, the tank fills much more slowly than usual.

There is a filter located under the inlet valve float, a clogged filter that can cause the tank to malfunction. To wash the filter you need to remove it

To correct this plumbing problem, you need to flush this filter. To do this, turn off the water supply to the tank and press the flush button/lever. After this, remove the hose through which water flows to free access to the device. Now the filter just needs to be removed from the intake valve body, washed and installed back. The system is then reassembled in reverse order.

It looks simple in theory, but in reality there can be some complications. For example, you need to unscrew the plastic nut that secures the inlet valve. If this element does not have edges, the task may seem difficult.

You should not use an adjustable wrench in this situation, as excessive force may damage the fastener. It’s not always possible to just do it with your hands, especially if the plastic has become “burnt” as a result of prolonged use.

To ensure that the sediment that forms when low-quality tap water is supplied to the device does not cause a leak due to loose seals and failure of fittings, the tank and devices must be periodically cleaned

Experts recommend using other means; pliers with a large space between the “lips” may be a suitable option. Pliers can also be useful when removing the filter from the housing, since it usually fits tightly and will require additional effort for removal.

Where the quality of tap water remains consistently low (that is, almost everywhere), not only the filter, but also other elements can become clogged. The membrane bushing is at risk, as well as all the holes through which water enters.

If washing only the filter was not effective enough, it makes sense to rinse the entire device and clean all the channels. In this case, you will have to completely dismantle the inlet valve to provide access to the holes.

Unfortunately, washing the filter, and even the entire valve and ducts, does not always help. Low quality intake valves can completely fail within one and a half to two years after the start of operation. In this case, you will have to completely replace the valve with a new model. In such a situation, it is recommended to choose a higher quality filter.

The shut-off and inlet valves of modern toilets are usually provided with detailed instructions, with the help of which these mechanisms are not difficult to assemble, install and adjust

The additional costs will pay off, since there will be several times fewer problems with setup, flushing and repairs. Another way to prolong the operation of the tank fittings and prevent problems: install an additional mechanical filter on the water pipe in front of the toilet or even at the entrance of the system to the apartment.

If the compact has problems with the shut-off valve, i.e. water constantly leaks into the toilet, then the easiest way to fix the problem is to completely replace the device with a new one, exactly the same. To do this, you need to turn off the water and simply remove the valve from the tank.

The new one is installed in its place, fixing it in the holders of the receiving part. It is recommended to adjust the length of the valve in advance so that there are no problems with installing the flush button.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

The process of adjusting and repairing the shut-off valves of the toilet cistern can be viewed in detail here:

Setting up the tank fittings is not difficult. It is important to study the instructions and understand the general principles of operation of the inlet and locking mechanisms. Attention to detail and accuracy will help to complete all the work correctly.

Have you already encountered setting up drain fittings and were able to cope with this task yourself? Or maybe you know other ways to configure the drain? Please share your experience in the box below.