The Hidden Hero of Your Bathroom: Why Cistern Design Matters
If you are installing a new toilet cistern, it is important to know that there are several options available. These include the traditional cistern and the modern in-wall design. Each type has its own advantages, so you should carefully consider them before making a choice.
This post will help you understand how different cistern designs can impact the efficiency and convenience of your toilet.
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The Critical Roles of the Toilet Cistern
A toilet cistern is a small water storage tank that flushes water in force when the cistern mechanism is activated. It is usually positioned above or behind the toilet bowl. The flushing mechanism helps keep the bowl clean and prevents unpleasant odors from accumulating in the bathroom.
The cistern operates through mechanisms that activate the flush and automatically refill the water after each use.
The Main Types of Toilet Cisterns
Toilet cisterns have evolved over the years, resulting in different designs. Here are the main types:
- High-Level Cistern
This type is installed near the ceiling and is common in traditional-style bathrooms. It features exposed piping. High-level cisterns are less efficient than modern options. Due to their bulky appearance, they look good in large traditional-style bathrooms.
Source: qssupplies.co.uk
- Close-Coupled Cistern
A close-coupled cistern is directly attached to the toilet bowl. This compact design makes it more efficient and easier to install. It is one of the most common types found in modern homes. Its simple structure also makes it easy to clean and maintain.
- Wall-Hung or Wall-Mounted Cistern
This cistern is mounted on the wall and connects to the toilet bowl with a pipe. Its elevated position keeps the floor space open, making
Wall-hung cisterns offer a balance between a traditional and modern look. They provide flexibility in design while maintaining accessibility for maintenance.
- In-Wall Cistern
An in-wall cistern is concealed within the wall, with only the flushing buttons visible. This design gives a sleek and modern appearance.
Since it is hidden, it saves space and creates a clutter-free look in the bathroom. However, installation and repairs can be more complex compared to exposed cisterns.
The Significant Effects of Toilet Cistern Designs
The design of a toilet cistern influences the flow of water, which directly impacts its performance. Additionally, its design plays a crucial role in long-term convenience, particularly in terms of maintenance and upkeep.
Depending on the toilet design you select, you may experience the following factors in different ways:
Water Consumption
One of the major differences between toilet cistern designs is their water consumption. Older high-level cisterns are notoriously inefficient in their water use per flush.
Meanwhile, the other designs may have dual flushing options, so you can opt for high or low water usage depending on your needs.
Alternatively, they can be low-flush cisterns that never use large quantities of water.
Ease of Installation and Repairs
A cistern's design can greatly affect how easy they are to repair and install. Firstly, their position will affect how easy they are to reach.
Therefore, high-level, wall-mounted, and in-wall are difficult to reach and repair or install, with the latter being the most difficult.
The in-wall cistern is also difficult to inspect, and you are less likely to notice an issue until the problem becomes more serious and costly to repair.
Meanwhile, the closed-coupled cistern is easy to access and is popular, ensuring you can easily find a plumber who can repair it, unlike more modern in-wall cisterns.
Difficulty of Cleaning
The design of a cistern can also influence whether it is convenient to clean. Although cisterns flush waste, you will still need to regularly clean them and the toilet bowl.
However, if the cistern is installed very high, such as with high-level cisterns and some wall-mounted cisterns, they will be hard to reach. Therefore, dust is more likely to accumulate on them, and bacteria may grow inside the cistern.
On the other hand, closed-coupled cisterns are low to the ground and easy to clean inside and out. Interestingly, the in-wall design only has the flushing button exposed, which makes it very quick and easy to clean.
Noise Level from Flushing and Refilling
Whether a cistern is exposed will greatly affect the noise level during flushing and refilling.
Wall-mounted, high-level, and closed-coupled cisterns all usually make more noise when flushing and refilling themselves.
By comparison, the in-wall design is more efficient at reducing noise levels because the wall muffles the sound.
Aesthetic Appeal
Each cistern design has its own aesthetic appeal. Although they are the oldest design, high-level cisterns have an intrinsically charming vintage appearance. They fit in well in older homes with more traditional decor.
If you want a more modern design, the wall-mounted cistern and in-wall cisterns are great modern options. However, the in-wall cistern is a better choice for a more minimalist décor.
Lastly, the closed-coupled cistern offers a wide variety of styles to pick from. This is because this design is popular, and so it has more styles on the market.
Optimization of Space
Lastly, these cisterns each take a different amount of space. Even though the closed-coupled cistern is compact, it still takes space at the back of the toilet that pushes the toilet bowl forward.
Therefore, a wall-mounted, in-wall, or high-level bathroom would be more space-efficient for a smaller bathroom.
If you want to use the space above the toilet for storage, lighting, or decoration, the in-wall cistern will ensure you have the most available space.
Wrapping up
This post discussed the different ways toilet cistern designs affect the functionality of your bathroom. While the high-level cistern is difficult to reach for repairs, it has a charming vintage appeal.
Meanwhile, the wall-mounted cisterns are a more modern version that emphasizes a sleek appearance. Although the closed-coupled cistern is popular for its easy repairs and installations, it can be noisy, lack aesthetic appeal, and be difficult to clean.
For the most convenient to clean, modern appearance, and optimized space usage, you should consider the in-wall cistern. However, you should keep in mind that it is more expensive and inconvenient to repair it since it is behind a wall.
Which cistern design appeals to you the most and why? Write a comment in the section below.
