If you’re wanting a modern bathroom then the focus is on open space, light, functionality and minimalism. A concealed toilet cistern saves valuable space as well as offering a range of possibilities for you when you’re having your bathroom renovated.

Before we explore the world of hidden cistern toilets, let’s explain how they are concealed in the first place.

How do concealed cisterns work?

Typically, the cistern is positioned at the rear of the toilet bowl. It might be where you put your spare toilet paper or a diffuser to keep everything smelling nice.

The concealed cistern comes in two main forms: the fully concealed cistern based within a partition wall, and a furniture-based version in which the toilet cistern is hidden in a furniture or storage unit.

It’s rare to be able to hide a cistern in the wall of a typically English home unless you are building the wall, and that wall would have to be thicker than normal. If you’re able to hide it in a wall it would save space but, in most cases, you’d build a stud wall for it to be hidden in. Building a stud wall means the projection is more than a normal toilet but can give the appearance that it saves space.

The furniture-based cistern is excellent for its built-in design when the basin is in a matching unit to the rest of the bathroom furniture. While the furniture option doesn’t give you any storage behind the toilet, it adds shelf space for a little more bathroom space, while also giving you the aesthetics of a hidden cistern toilet.

Will concealed cistern maintenance be easy?

It’s a common misconception that maintenance for a concealed cistern toilet must be difficult. If you need to complete some maintenance on one of the cisterns we have installed or supplied, we’ll be able to advise you on how to do it.

It’s vital to consider access when installing your concealed cistern. If something goes wrong, will you be able to access it quickly and efficiently? Can you get to the flush pipe and isolate the water easily?

In most cases where we conceal a cistern, we don’t leave an access panel.  We’ve been concealing cisterns for over 30 years, and we believe if you install a quality cistern it shouldn’t need changing. In all the years we’ve been concealing cisterns we’ve never had to replace one we’ve installed.  We use high-quality, reliable cisterns that don’t need replacing in order to make your life easier.

If there are no removable worktops to get to the cistern, then all the components can be changed in the cistern through the flush plate used to flush the cistern. Don’t let myths about un-serviceable toilets stop you from styling your bathroom your way.

Are concealed cisterns universal?

As you can imagine, there isn’t a universal fit across concealed toilets yet, as there’s a range of different sizing across our hidden cistern product range. Don’t worry! It’s not as hard as you might expect. With concealed cistern compatibility depending mostly on the toilet you pick, you can determine a concealed cistern type and size then, so when it comes to installation and maintenance it makes your life easier.

Benefits of concealed cisterns

• A simple way to provide a stylish and contemporary look to the bathroom
• Concealed toilets can save a lot of space compared to back-to-wall style toilets as the pipes and cisterns are hidden neatly inside the wall or furniture.
• The cistern or tank can harbour dust and bacteria and with these parts being hidden, it’s a more hygienic option.
• They’re easy to clean.
• Concealed toilets are a sought-after style, installing one could potentially increase the resale value of your property.
• This style of toilet offers personalisation options as the toilet and push plates are available in various options to suit your dream bathroom.

Cons of concealed cisterns

• It can be more expensive compared to non-concealed toilets.
• Replacing the cistern can be difficult but having a wall void or access for the plumber to get behind the wall works around this.
• The cistern can’t be manually refilled with water, but you can use a bucket of water to flush down the toilet bowl if the situation is dire.
• It requires specific toilet pans or brackets that can handle the weight of the person using the toilet and the bowl itself. This can be expensive to install.

Concealed cisterns work best in bathroom renovations where all the walls have been removed and the space is back down to the stud work, or in brand-new house builds.

Do you like the design of the concealed toilets or need help with your dream bathroom? Contact us today.