A modern water closet is made of the three pieces of ‘ware’ closet or a pan that we sit on, the cistern that carries the flushing water and flushing mechanism, and the cistern lid. There are six basic types of water closet listed below:

Close-Coupled.

This type of WC is typically floor mounted with the water cistern resting on an extended platform at the back of the WC pan. The cistern is fixed directly to the WC using a washer to provide a watertight seal. In other words there is no visible pipe between the cistern and pan. A Southwark Plumber is familiar with the close-coupled WC.

Low level.

This refers to the height of the water cistern and carries the water to flush the pan. In the case of a low-level WC, the pan is floor mounted with the cistern mounted separately on the wall. A short flush pipe connects the cistern to the WC. When it comes to the height of the seat, the most common height for the pan of that type of WC is 400 mm, but if you need a higher seat position, for taller people with difficulty sitting or rising, there is a growing variety of heights and shapes produced to suit individual needs.

High-level.

The pan is exactly the same as a low-level arrangement but the cistern is mounted high on the wall with a longer flush pipe. This is more commonly used in commercial establishments, although some nostalgic styles are still arranged with high-level cisterns, usually with a polished brass delivery pipe connecting the pan to the cistern. Southwark Plumbers can fit all types of WC.

Back to wall (or concealed).

This design, the pan stands on the floor but the cistern is hidden behind a false wall with just the flush mechanism showing.

Wall hung.

The pan is mounted on brackets fixed to the wall, which leaves an open floor space beneath the toilet. Usually only used on the continent but with some popularity growth in Britain. Many designers see this toilet as the definition of a stylish bathroom.

Squatting.

The WC pan is mounted at floor level, the user must straddle the unit. This is usually used in ethnic minorities whose culture stems from Asia, they can however be found throughout Europe.