Toilet replacement - need advice

Chris1895 · May 2, 2022

Might be a very silly question, but have an old cistern toilet. Connects to the pipes as follows(see pic) - want to know if I can do a like for like replacement with any toilet type, or I'm limited for options.

Reason for changing is that toilet is getting blocked every 2-3 months - no issues unclogging(for now), but suspect it could be to do with the uneven flushing pressure the toilet is providing.

Thanks in advance!

Ric2013 · May 2, 2022

Slightly limited in that it may be hard to get a close-coupled toilet to connect to that existing sideways soil pipe without spacing out the wall behind or using a flexible pan connector (which may cause blockages in itself).

Unlikely that the uneven flush pressure (if you only mean you have more pressure at the beginning of the flush) is a cause of blockages as that is standard for any toilet. If blocking is in the pan, most likely cause is limescale in the pan itself. Overnight soaking with citric acid (very cheap if you don't go for food-grade) may help significantly and, seeing as it's your own toilet, perhaps some scraping with a large washer by hand would also assist in its removal.

You seem to be using bleach to clean. I would recommend a dedicated toilet cleaner that contains some form of acid. Most supermarkets have at least one product that matches this description.

There is something Heath Robinson about how that flush pipe is connected, though. The pipe may insert too far into the pan and be obstructing flow. Equally, it may not be causing a problem.

Chris1895 · May 2, 2022

Ric2013 said:
Slightly limited in that it may be hard to get a close-coupled toilet to connect to that existing sideways soil pipe without spacing out the wall behind or using a flexible pan connector (which may cause blockages in itself).

Unlikely that the uneven flush pressure (if you only mean you have more pressure at the beginning of the flush) is a cause of blockages as that is standard for any toilet. If blocking is in the pan, most likely cause is limescale in the pan itself. Overnight soaking with citric acid (very cheap if you don't go for food-grade) may help significantly and, seeing as it's your own toilet, perhaps some scraping with a large washer by hand would also assist in its removal.

You seem to be using bleach to clean. I would recommend a dedicated toilet cleaner that contains some form of acid. Most supermarkets have at least one product that matches this description.

There is something Heath Robinson about how that flush pipe is connected, though. The pipe may insert too far into the pan and be obstructing flow. Equally, it may not be causing a problem.

1) "Slightly limited in that it may be hard to get a close-coupled toilet to connect to that existing sideways soil pipe without spacing out the wall behind or using a flexible pan connector (which may cause blockages in itself)."
Does that mean I'd have to re-do the pipes to have more options, or some kind of redesign with the toilet?

2) If blocking is in the pan, most likely cause is limescale in the pan itself. Overnight soaking with citric acid (very cheap if you don't go for food-grade) may help significantly and, seeing as it's your own toilet, perhaps some scraping with a large washer by hand would also assist in its removal.
Will give this a go -cheers! Usually unclog via drain cleaner or caustic soda with a plunger, does the trick until we get 2-3 months down the line and it clogs up again.

Ric2013 · May 3, 2022

Chris1895 said:
1) "Slightly limited in that it may be hard to get a close-coupled toilet to connect to that existing sideways soil pipe without spacing out the wall behind or using a flexible pan connector (which may cause blockages in itself)."
Does that mean I'd have to re-do the pipes to have more options, or some kind of redesign with the toilet?

Yeah. Either redo the cast iron soil stack and what looks to be possibly a secondary vent (expensive) or, if you just find your proposed new close-coupled toilet needs to be a few inches away from the wall to be able to come out with a bent pan connector, then you could build a sort of box behind it or fit panelling etc on the wall behind the cistern (cheap). The latter, done with care, can be a perfectly decent solution.

Ben-gee · May 3, 2022

Consider building a box with a useful shelf on top at about 1100mm height. This box could contain a concealed cistern. Then fit a back to wall pan up to your boxing, this would connect to your cast iron and all pipework would be hidden away and everything easy to clean.

Timmy D · May 4, 2022

Easiest to build a box but bear in mind it looks like you’ve got a high level cistern. A low level won’t have as much force.

Here’s a box I did.

Welcome to PlumbersTalk.net

American Visitor?

Toilet replacement - need advice

Chris1895

Attachments

Ric2013

Plumbers Arms member

Chris1895

Ric2013

Plumbers Arms member

Ben-gee

Timmy D

Similar plumbing topics