DIY Problems with and after Replacing Toilet Tank

If you find a problem with a leaky or old toilet tank that needs replacing there are a few things to do. Of course it is not one of the best jobs to do in your home either but, someone has to do it. 

Or maybe you have decided to replace that old tank for a more modern twin flush system.  Whichever reason, you still have som work to be done.

Here are a few things to do before you purchase a new one:

• You should have a look and see if you can find the name and model of the tank.  If you can it will be a lot easier, if not it may mean a lot of extra work, fitting a different sized one could be more complicated. We learnt this the hard way as nothing fitted.
• If the tank does not have a main tap then turn off the water supply to the house from the meter. If it does have one beside the tank, turn the tap off.
• Now empty the tank by flushing the toilet.  Soak up any extra water and disconnect the pipe line to the tank.
• Under the tank you will find some nuts that hold the tank to the other part of the toilet.  You have to remove these nuts.
• It would be a good idea to replace the valves and washers while you have it all apart.
• Now lift the old tank off and replace with the new tank. Remember to put the rubber cushion in between the two. Insert the bolts and screw the nuts onto the bolts underneath the toilet and tighten them up.
• Turn the tap or the mains tap back on and check for any leaks.  That wasn’t too hard after all.

Now if you could not buy the same one you will still need to remove it in the same way. If by any chance the tank is smaller or larger than the one you removed you may have to drill two new holes in which to attach to the wall.

You may also have to paint around where the old one fitted. That is why it’s better to get the same one if possible.

Ours was smaller and that is not where the problems ended.

A few weeks after replacing the new tank we had a big problem. We were blaming each other for not flushing the toilet properly. You guessed it. We found some floaters in the bowl when the next person returned. It was embarrassing.

We had put the blue blocks in the new tanks and at the same time we bought some of those nice smelly things that you put in a cage and hook into the toilet bowl. They looked and smelt great. But with this new problem we could not work out what was wrong. We thought maybe there wasn’t enough water flow.

When the smelly was empty we took it out. And presto, the problem vanished. We then realized it was evidently interring with the way the water was flushed directly down the bowl. Breaking that needed pressure flow.

We have since found a new idea.

Duck Fresh Discs

This cage less rim block, stamps directly onto the bowl from a dispenser. It is a gel which you press and hold button whilst pushing dispenser against inside bowl until button clicks into next hole.

It will be interesting to see how long this one gel lasts. So far it has been a week and it is still there. The advertising says each disk lasts up to 1 week so we are on target. It dispenses six applications.

If anyone else is having this problem then you will now know what to do. Good luck