Bog fitting

[GMM]

Only a few weeks into the new house and a leaking bog rears its ugly head. It seems that it's cracked on the outlet, so definitely time for a new one (which was going to happen anyway, just not so soon).

Being a Victorian house, nothing's ever what you expect and it looks like the socket the waste goes into is lead (can't be sure as it's painted over but has a couple of bare areas). The existing bog is ~1970's so presumably the bore is close to standard but I've never had to deal with a lead one before. Is it likely to be lead and are there any gotchas that I need to bear in mind when I do the replacement?

Of course there is a case for replacing all the way back to the down pipe but looking at the route it takes, that would turn a quick replacement into a major piece of engineering and, with a stack of other jobs to do, I'd rather make this as simple as possible.

Whilst on the topic, can anyone recommend a good replacement? Although style can be important, function is key and my experience to date of new sanitary ware is not good: The small flush volumes mean that things don't always (ever?) get flushed properly in one go, rather missing the water conservation point as people flush twice, three times etc.

[Tim Watts]

I *think* a suitable pan connector will mate to the lead pipe OK. Measure the outside diameter of the pipe (not the flange), subtract about 10mm and look for a pan connector with fins that are larger diameter than this figure. They do make varying sizes to cope with different (ie old) pipe sizes. A real plumbers merchange would be a good idea here, if you explain what you have. Be sure that the pan connector is sized at the other end for your pan too (the spigot has varied in histor).

You could apply liberal amounts of silicone plumbers grease to the fins that go into the lead pipe too (will help with fitting too).

I got a high level from Bathstore.com (they have showrooms). It is the best big I have ever used. It never blocks and the high level flush does compensate for the low flush volumes.

[GMM]

Thanks Tim: Looks like I shall have to see my local plumbers' supplier for the fitting solution. He'll probably recommend rebuilding the whole house.

I think the high level one would do a good job - it does have gravity on its side. Sadly, there's a window behind the existing bog so I can't have one without a major reorganisation of the smallest room. I'm wondering whether their low level ( as against close coupled) version would give some benefit.

[sm_jamieson]

My old outside loo was a monster. High level and huge flush volume. Niagara Falls for a good 10 seconds. Simon.

[Paul - xxx]

Dunno about the fitting, but even a low-level cistern can supply a large volume, but they mostly come setup for small volumes. If you look down the siphon tubes, towards the bottom are (on those I've seen/used) three holes to cutoff the siphon action when it reaches that level. Simply block the hole, rubber bung etc, and the siphon action continues right to the bottom of the pick-up tube.

Some cisterns come with bungs fitted in the bottom two holes with the top hole (least volume flush) left open, just move the bottom bung up, or add another in the top.

[Chris K]

+1 for Bathstore, I've been surprised how well our replacement bog works with low volumes of water. It seems to achieve this by using a narrow pool at the bottom which is more centrally placed than more traditional designs leading to an effective swirl action.

Downside is seems more prone to 'skid marks' as the 'target zone' is not the water :-(

Chris K

[Tim Watts]

I found that lobbing a "Bloo" in the cistern greatly helps here - skids are gone in a couple of flushes.

[Dave Liquorice]

Just mount the cistern to the side of the window and run the down pipe to the bog in a suitable manner. Nice bit of copper tube with pulled bends? Yes you can get copper in a suitable OD.

A pipe bender with suitable formers might be harder to get hold of and getting say 2 45 degree bends to do the offset, 2 more to bring the pipe away from the wall into the bottom of the cistern and then the 90 degree to bring the pipe from the wall to the pan all in the right alignment and position might be tricky. B-)

[John Williamson]

Nah....

Make the pipe *then* site the cistern to suit. It might end up in the middle of the ceiling, but that's art.