Seperating a SEREL dual flush cisten from its toilet base All aspects of plumbing questions and answers, help, tips and information

[Brett Sellars]

In order to change over the inlet pipe to the cisten I need to seperate the cisten from the base, so that I can get at the plastic nut which is trapped between the cisten and base unit on the bottom of the inlet pipe.
The cisten has two wall mounting screws which I can take out and then two screws which go through the bottom of the cisten into the base unit. In between the cisten and the base unit there appears to be a nut, which without loosening the cisten you cannot get a spanner on to loosen it!!!!!
If you turn the screws from the top they just turn and so does the nut.

AAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Barry Bunsen]

Hi Brett
Usually if the 2 screws go downwards through the cistern there are 2 wingnuts or similar underneath the pan base unit. These hold the cistern and base unit together. When these are removed and the cistern unscrewed from the wall the 2 should separate and you can get at any fixings sandwiched between the pan and the cistern. You may need to unscrew the overflow pipe if there is one and from what you describe undo or even cut the water supply pipe to the cistern (turn off the mains first of course).
Also, you can get some hassle from leaks when you fit everything back together. Are you sure you need to change over the inlet pipe to the cistern