These can give considerable trouble and annoyance such as: (1) Uncertainty of action ; (2) Leakage through overflow pipe or discharge pipe ; (3) Length of time taken to refill ; (4) Will not refill.

All these troubles are due to simple causes, easily recognised when the action of the internal arrangements is understood. Practically all such house fittings are now designed to act when a sy-phonic action is started in the discharge pipe, so that the water in the cistern or tank is caused to pass into the discharge pipe. This syphonic action is started when the water in the cistern is caused to pass into the end of the discharge pipe which end is above the water level in the cistern. This is generally done in one of two methods, i.e., either the end of the discharge pipe is turned over vertically into a cylinder which is attached to the cistern bottom, in the cylinder is a form of piston which by means of the operating chain is caused to rise, and discharge the cylinder contents into the discharge pipe end, this water travels down the discharge pipe and draws with it all the water in the cistern. The other general method is to arrange the end of the discharge pipe vertically with an open end above the water level, over and around it is placed a tube or cylinder with the upper end closed, water can enter freely into the space between the discharge pipe end, and this tube or cylinder. The action of pulling the operating chain raises this cylinder, and on the release of the chain and the dropping of the cylinder the water is forced over the end of the discharge pipe and the syphon action is started. The design used may be ascertained without internal inspection as the first described causes the cistern to operate when the chain is pulled and held, whereas the method employing the moving cylinder requires that the operating chain be pulled and then released. Now the water in all such cisterns has to be regulated so that it enters the cistern immediately it is emptied, and is shut off when the cistern is full. This is done by means of a float (generally a hollow metal ball) secured firmly on the end of a metal lever which is pivotted at the remote end so that the float may rise and fall according to the water level. On the lever end remote from the float is formed a short lever projecting upwards and approximately at right angles with the float lever. This short lever projects into a metal casing holding a metal plug or valve (generally with a rubber end), which valve can be pressed against the end of the water supply pipe, and so stop the water delivery to the cistern. The complete action is therefore-the operating chain being pulled causes the water in the cistern to be discharged in the discharge pipe, the float falls in the cistern, as the water disappears, and by the time the cistern is emptied, it is again receiving water (at the maximum rate) from the supply pipe, when full the float causes the valve to shut off any further supply.

Fig. 42 shows the arrangement of a cistern as described above as the first of the two usual arrangements, i.e., that from having a piston in a cylinder which piston is moved by the operating chain. Fig. 43 shows the arrangement of a cistern having the second method, i.e.. that in which a cylinder is raised and lowered over the vertical end of the discharge pipe. In the event of trouble or complaint re a flushing cistern, it is always useful to know whether the fault has always been present, or has only recently occurred. Taking the first named complaint, i.e., " uncertainty of action," this may be caused by shortage of water or not sufficient time allowed for the cistern to refil. Now an ordinary usual size flushing cistern should refil in 11/2 minutes. Allow therefore say 2 minutes for the cistern to refil, and operate again, if it does not work with certainty, then examine the water level inside the cistern when the water is at its highest level. This should be about 1/2 inch below the level of the overflow pipe opening. If the level is lower, then the float shuts off the water too soon, the remedy is to turn off the water outside the cistern,then takeout thefloat and its lever (the withdrawing of a split pin used as the pivot will generally allow this) and file the side of the small lever which operates the water valve so that it does not shut off the valve so soon, care being taken not to take too much off. Warning should here be given that it is a risky proceeding to attempt to bend the float lever or rod, these are generally of cast brass, and emphatically do not bend readily without a great risk of breaking, it is far safer to file the small lever as above described. If the complaint is "discharge through the overflow pipe," or constant leakage through the discharge pipe, this is due to the valve not shutting off the water at the correct level, and is caused either by the valve not being operated at the proper water level, or by the valve leaking and never really shutting the water off. If it is that the valve is not operated at the right water level, this may be due to the float being punctured and containing some water. Test for this by shaking and listening for the sound, if water is present, the easiest way to get rid of it is to make two pin holes, one on either side, and blow hard through one, the water will leave by the other hole if properly placed, solder up both again.

Fig. 42.

Fig. 43.

Another reason that the water may not be shut off soon enough is that the rubber or other valve seatings may be worn too low, and if worn badly, that is, in an irregular manner, will produce a continual leak. The remedy is to fit a new valve seat or face. The metal plug will generally be found to consist of two parts, screwed together, holding a plug of rubber, which can protrude through one end of the metal plug, a new plug of rubber can be cut and fitted. If the fault be found to be that the short operating lever has worn, and so does not shut the valve soon enough, then arrange the rubber plug to protrude enough to compensate for such wear. If the cistern " takes too long to refil," this may be due to insufficient water being available, or the pressure of supply being too low, or that the valve is blocked up or even does not open far enough. Take out the valve plug, it can then be seen at once whether the water supply is sufficient and has enough pressure and also whether the valve is blocked up in any way, and the remedy is obvious in such cases. If all is correct, then it must be that the float lever does not open the valve wide enough, examine the movement carefully and note the amount of valve movement, it should be at least 1/8 inch. If it is appreciably less, then the reason why it cannot open more ought to be obvious by inspection and easily remedied. One possible cause is that the float does not fall to the full possible amount being prevented by rust, etc., inside the cistern. A cistern that " will not refill " may have the water supply turned off or blocked up, or that the float shuts off the water too soon, simple inspection will quickly show which it is. There are but few mechanical troubles common to flushing cisterns which cannot be seen at once on inspection, and the general troubles are due to worn valve seatings. On the other hand few plumbers appear to be capable of properly dealing with flushing cistern troubles, and a plumber who states that the cistern cannot be put right because it is " old-fashioned " can safely be dismissed as incompetent, actually these appliances are ingenious pieces of mechanism which are often subjected to very rough treatment, and never looked at until a fault occurs.