What is a toilet cistern?
The cistern is a vital component of the humble toilet; without it, waste would have no way to reach the sewer. The toilet cistern is essentially a small tank which allows you to store cold water locally to the toilet. When we flush the toilet, this stored water flows through the toilet pan, rinsing it and pushing the waste through the U-bend and on into the sewer. Once emptied, the toilet cistern will automatically refill, ready for the next user.
How a toilet cistern works
The toilet cistern is connected to a water feed, which allows water to enter and fill up the cistern. There is a valve that will shut off the water when it is full. When we flush the toilet, the controls open an outlet at the bottom of the cistern, known as a syphon, allowing the water to flow through an opening into the toilet pan. When emptied, the opening closes to create a watertight seal, and the mains feed is triggered to begin refilling the toilet cistern.
Types of toilet cistern
Close Coupled Cisterns
You’ll be most familiar with the cistern on a close-coupled toilet. This is the large rectangular section of the toilet that you lean against when seated. This is most commonly ceramic and used in domestic bathrooms, and provides easy access to the cistern's internal plumbing. However, close-coupled toilets are not widely used in the commercial setting because they are often less durable than back-to-wall and wall-hung toilets.
Concealed Cisterns
For both back-to-wall and wall-hung toilets, a concealed toilet cistern is usually required. In most cases, this is hidden within a small void, or DUCT set away from sight. This is known as an integrated plumbing system (IPS). The benefits of using this setup are far-reaching. By concealing all the mains services, waste and toilet cistern behind a false wall, they are protected against accidental damage and tampering. They also leave the room with a hygienic, easy-to-clean wall surface, with the toilet pan neatly situated against it.
Low-Level and High-Level Cisterns
Low-level toilet cisterns are very similar to close-coupled cisterns, but instead of the cistern sitting on the rear of the toilet pan, an extended flush pipe allows the toilet pan to be positioned further away from the wall. The low-level toilet and cistern setup is used when the waste point the toilet connects to is not flush to the rear wall, allowing the installer to locate the toilet pan further from the wall while still connecting the cistern to the wall. The space between the all-mounted cistern and the toilet is bridged using a flush pipe.
High-level toilet cisterns are very similar to low-level cisterns, as they allow the toilet pan to be positioned further from the wall than a close-coupled toilet set-up. High-level cisterns are mounted at a high level, creating a "head of pressure" that ensures the water flushes the toilet with greater force. This can be a great solution for washrooms prone to blocked toilets, as the high-level cistern's head of pressure will clear the toilet bowl and the immediate pipework much more effectively.
Toilet cistern flush controls
To release the stored water in the toilet cistern, the flush control needs to be activated. This might be a lever, a push button or a sensor. Sensors allow users to flush the toilet without physically touching the controls, making them a strong move if you are looking to reduce contact points in your washroom and improve personal hygiene.
Our best-selling sensor flush kits include the Delabie DVS Automatic Toilet Sensor Flush Kit and the Armitage Shanks Sensorflow 21 Electronic Sensor Toilet Flush Kit.
If you need further advice on which toilet cistern is needed for your washroom, or to discuss a wider washroom refurbishment, please get in touch with one of the team on 01202 650900.
