World Toilet estimates that people visit the toilet an average of 2,500 times every year. Since you're going to use this essential facility quite so much, you might as well invest in the best possible design. The good thing about buying good quality toilets exposed cistern series is that they are quite hardy and won't need repair too often. However, in the rare occasions that problems arise, your plumber can easily access and service it.
There are several typical problems that normally arise in toilets. Whatever the situation, you should always repair it as soon as possible to avoid wastage of water, especially since toilets and bathrooms use up approximately 40% of the water in homes (based on data from Save Water). In fact, a leaking toilet can lead to wastage of more than 16,000 liters of water annually. This will not only be hazardous in terms of environmental conservation, but also an added financial cost in water bills.
One example of a common problem is the case of the cistern taking long to fill up. In case your toilet seems to be taking ages before it fills up, the most possible cause would be a hole in the diaphragm. The only solution is to replace it with a new one.
When you go out to purchase a new diaphragm, make sure to go with the old one so that you are sure of getting the exact replacement. You can also take note of the make, since replacement spares are available for specific manufacturers.
Replacing The Diaphragm
Once you get the right part, you're ready to do the replacement. The process is as follows: first, make sure to switch off the water supply. Then flush out all the water from the cistern. If this is not possible, you'll have to use other means to empty all the water.
If you have a modern design, you'll not need to disconnect the cistern, but simply disconnect the siphon unit to access the diaphragm from within the cistern. In the case of older versions, you will need to go through a long process of disconnecting the cistern, as well as many other parts within it.
Actually, it would be more preferable if you could completely replace old style toilets. This is because the old versions are characterized by single-flushing, which can use up to 12 liters of water every time you flush. Modern types are more efficient and have the capacity to use a quarter of this amount during a half-flush (The dual flushing in new designs use only 3 liters for a half flush and 6 liters for a full flush).
Within the siphon you'll find a plastic floppy washer - the diaphragm. All you need to do is inspect it to identify any damage. This part usually disintegrates over a period of time. You may also need to inspect the siphon for any signs of damage. If damaged you need to replace it too. Once you replace the worn out part with a new one, all you have left is to reconnect all the parts.
ACS is a leading supplier of bathroom fixtures in Australia. ACS has a wide collection of high quality toilets exposed cistern series. Visit http://www.acsbathrooms.com.au/toilets/exposed-cistern-series.html for more ideas regarding on toilets exposed cistern series.
