Constant run from the cistern

[Steve Bremner]

Hi Guys,

I'm looking for some advice. The cistern seems to be letting a steady trickle of water into the pan, it's no biggie (I think!) but as it's an en-suite toilet it does my head in at night!

The cistern is one of these ones with a button flush on top, I had a chat to some friends about it and they had some ideas of their own, but I thought it wiser to come to you guys first!

Apologies for my layman's descriptions here, when I open the top, there is a white fitting in the centre of the cistern, within in that white fixture is a blue cylindrical object. To the right of the central fixture there is a float.

Any advice on any diagnostic measures to take would be really appreciated.

Cheers

Steve

 

[shorticus]

Little difficult to exactly pinpoint the problem without getting up close and personal with your toilet but a good guess would be that it requires a strip and clean, could be scale or maybe the push button needs adjusting or the float valve is letting by. Does it stop when you remove the lid?

 

[dontknowitall]

If the inlet valve is not dripping then the flush valve needs re-seating or probably replacing. Push button valves are nothing like as good as the old fashioned syphons on a handle but all close coupled WCs now come with push button and there's not much that can be done except to keep replacing the flush valve.

It's an inbuilt design to make sure they don't last forever.

 

[Steve Bremner]

Little difficult to exactly pinpoint the problem without getting up close and personal with your toilet but a good guess would be that it requires a strip and clean, could be scale or maybe the push button needs adjusting or the float valve is letting by. Does it stop when you remove the lid?

Nope keeps on going I'm afraid.

If the inlet valve is not dripping then the flush valve needs re-seating or probably replacing. Push button valves are nothing like as good as the old fashioned syphons on a handle but all close coupled WCs now come with push button and there's not much that can be done except to keep replacing the flush valve.

It's an inbuilt design to make sure they don't last forever.

Sounds a bit grim really, bit of a pain in the arse I suppose.

 

[garrywhite]

2 things could be happening here. If the float valve isnt shutting off properly then the water level will rise and then pass down inside the valve into the bowl. Or the drop valve is not seating. Washer worn or dirt grit preventing the seal. You should be able to twist the valve out by turning it out of the lugs (like a bulb bayonet fitting) which will expose the washer and the seat.

 

[Steve Bremner]

2 things could be happening here. If the float valve isnt shutting off properly then the water level will rise and then pass down inside the valve into the bowl. Or the drop valve is not seating. Washer worn or dirt grit preventing the seal. You should be able to twist the valve out by turning it out of the lugs (like a bulb bayonet fitting) which will expose the washer and the seat.

Thanks Gary, I'll have a peek and let you know how I get on.

 

[Steve Bremner]

I twisted the top off the drop valve, and had a peek, but should I have tried to physically try and remove the entire valve from the base of the cistern?

 

[dontknowitall]

You need to remove the cistern from the pan. It's not a five minute job I'm afraid!

 

[Steve Bremner]

Ah ha I see! Probably not worth my while messing about with it to be honest! I'll only end up flooding the house! Cheers for the advice guys.

 

[herbert]

You need to remove the cistern from the pan. It's not a five minute job I'm afraid!

not always, you can normally just twist the top of the flush valve from the cistern coupling best way is take a picture and post it up

 

[dontknowitall]

If you can isolate the supply easily (isolation or service valve on incoming pipe) then it shouldn't be too much of a problem if it takes a while.

1. Turn off water (isolation valve)
2. Flush WC
3. Sponge remaining water from cistern into pan
4. Undo butterfly nuts underneath
5. Unscrew cistern screws into wall behind
6. Lift off cistern
7. Make a note of how the large doughnut washer sits
8. Remove doughnut washer
9. Remove large plastic nut holding flush valve.
10. Remove flush valve.
11. Take it to plumbing merchant and buy a replacement.
12. Buy a replacement 15mm fibre washer
13. Fit flush valve as per instructions
14. Fit doughnut valve
15. Screw cistern butterfly nuts but don't tighten
16. Screw cistern back wall nuts
17. Tighten butterfly nuts and cistern wall screws making sure you don't crack cistern
18. Remove old fibre washer from infill pipe.
19. Fit new fibre washer
20. Tighten connection.
21. Turn on water
22. Check for leaks
23. Flush
24. Check for leaks
25. Go to pub to celebrate


SIMPLES!!!