Insulated toilet cisterns provide a way to combat sweat baths, which commonly occur in areas with high temperatures and humidity. You can use a toilet with an insulated tank and not realize it, unless you know where to look for the insulation material. Insulating a toilet tank will help prevent serious damage, not only to the bathroom, but the structure of the house.
American Standard 3483001.020 Cadet Right Height Elongated Universal Bowl in White
The sweat baths
Toilet cisterns contain cold water, that is, the tank is also cold from contact with water. In areas that have hot, humid climates, tank sweats like hot, humid air come in contact with the cold toilet tank. The air condenses in the tank, creating sweat. If a house has a dehumidifier or air conditioner, the tank does not sweat much or nothing at all.
Potential water damage
As the water in the air condenses into the toilet tank more and more, the water mixes into larger droplets and starts running down the sides of the tank. The water droplets eventually drain off the toilet tank and fall to the ground. This accumulation of water leads to water damage to the floor of the bathroom, as well as the subfloor and the room below. The constant humidity from the sweat tank can also lead to the growth of mold in the bathroom.
The insulation kits
An isolation kit prevents sweating, covering the inside of the tank with foam or rubber. The insulation material keeps the sides of the tank from becoming as cold as before, since the tank no longer has contact with cold water. An owner installs the kit by draining all the water out of the tank. Next, cut pieces of foam or rubber to fit the walls of the tank. An adhesive that comes with the kit contains the pieces on the sides of the tank.
The anti-sweat valves
An alternative to tank insulators, anti-sweat valves introduce some hot water into the water supply of the toilet. This hot water is mixed with cold water, raising the temperature enough to avoid any future ideally odorless sweat. Some anti-sweat valves come with an adjustment option, which allows the user to increase or decrease the amount of hot water entering the water supply of the toilet. These valves also allow the user to close the valve during the cold times of the year.