A cistern and a pan make up a toilet. The cistern holds the flush mechanism and water, which empties into a pan attached to the waste. Cisterns either match the pan and sit on top of it (close-coupled), or are connected to the pan by a pipe. The are made of ceramic, acrylic or metal. Some cisterns are designed to be hidden in the wall. Pans are usually made from ceramic with a vitreous enamel or stainless steel. They can be wall-mounted or floor-mounted. All pans have an integral trap – a U-bend filled with water – to prevent bad smells escaping from the waste pipes. Toilets connect to the waste pipe horizontally or vertically – adapters are available if a new toilet is differently aligned to the old.

Replacing and existing toilet is a straight-forward task for our bathroom fitters, because the supply and waste pipes are already in position. Before we are replacing the toilet, we remove the old one, taking care not to damage the outlet to the soil stack.

Moving or adding a toilet is a more complex job. You will may have to notify your local building control office if you are planning to modify your main soil stack and/or install new toilet.