Toilet feed leak

[Jimmynrg]

Hi all,

Good start to a Sunday. The feed to the toilet has started to leak. I have closed the valve but thats as much as i've done. Google tells me this part is prone to leaking? Any suggestions would be great, thanks

 

[stani]

Needs a new washer

 

[stani]

1/2" Red Fibre Washer for Tap Connector | eBay

Similar to this, goes between the nut and the plastic fitting,don't tighten too much as you will strip the plastic thread.

 

[rpm]

Welcome to the forums Jimmy, undo the top nut whilst holding the thread above with a pair of grips then you will see a Red fibre washer under the nut, this is most likely the cause of the leak and needs replacing.

(Cross posting with stani here)

 

[Jimmynrg]

Cheers guys. Slight update I think I may have tightened it too much as it now looks like theres a crack in the thread. Simple parts?

 

[rpm]

Cheers guys. Slight update I think I may have tightened it too much as it now looks like theres a crack in the thread. Simple parts?

In that case you`ve turned a simple job in to a larger job. Need you to remove the cistern lid and photograph the other end inside the cistern first.

 

[Jimmynrg]

I like a challenge. Yh on that, struggling to get the lid of as its a button push. Will post a photo when I manage to achieve that.
Thanks again

 

[stani]

Send photo of lid and pushbutton

 

[rpm]

I like a challenge. Yh on that, struggling to get the lid of as its a button push. Will post a photo when I manage to achieve that.
Thanks again

Some simply unscrew others the buttons lift out first to reveal a screw underneath, go gently now we don`t want you breaking anything else do we?

 

[Jimmynrg]

Right.....

 

[rpm]

stani, I`m thinking fluidmaster cistern fill valve?

 

[stani]

Best bet with brass shank

 

[rpm]

No chance of splitting it then. :wink_smile:

 

[rpm]

Jimmy, best pop out to your nearest diy shed, be around £20 mark I think.

 

[Best]

As to the washer, - Hepworth do a flat 'rubber' washer for their plastic equivalent fittings. They can be got in a packet full.
They are identical size as the red fibre washers and a lot better, - especially where you tighten on to plastic tails. Rubber seals just need a gentle nip up.

 

[Best]

Here is the washers I was talking about,
http://www.plumbcenter.co.uk/product/hepworth-hx58-15mm-flat-tap-conn-washers-20pack/

 

[rpm]

Hopefully Jimmy has learnt that "real tight" isn`t always the way to go but hey everyone has to learn. Had a newbie the other month wanted to use 2 pairs of grips on a 32mm plastic compression fitting.

 

[Best]

Bloody plastic tailed fill valves are nearly always terribly brittle plastic.
I use the brass tailed valves, - even fitting one on a brand new toilet I was installing in a flat recently. The thought of the plastic tailed valve supplied with the toilet cracking and flooding the flat and others below put me off fitting it.
Those Hepworth rubber washers can be bought in 22mm also. They are obviously supposed to do hot pipework, so should be good.
Never use tap connectors with any flat washers on valves that have a taper designed for an olive though, - too sharp an edge. Brass ballvalves seem to vary, - some are flat ended tails, some are tapered. I carry spare brass tails to use for nut and olive connection, which I prefer.

 

[rpm]

Have to admit I carry 1/2" Brass tap extension pieces in the van for days when I`m pushed for time and the pubs open.

 

[Jimmynrg]

The washer looks fine, although wouldnt hurt installing a better one if I can. Theres a tiny split in the pipe. Off to B&Q for a new fluidmaster filler, hopefully they'll do a brass extension? My mate has advised wrapping some PTFE tape on the thread before doing the nut up?

 

[rpm]

The washer looks fine, although wouldnt hurt installing a better one if I can. Theres a tiny split in the pipe. Off to B&Q for a new fluidmaster filler, hopefully they'll do a brass extension? My mate has advised wrapping some PTFE tape on the thread before doing the nut up?

PTFE tape shouldn`t be required if you use a new washer and fill valve.

 

[Best]

The washer looks fine, although wouldnt hurt installing a better one if I can. Theres a tiny split in the pipe. Off to B&Q for a new fluidmaster filler, hopefully they'll do a brass extension? My mate has advised wrapping some PTFE tape on the thread before doing the nut up?

Don't put ptfe tape on the threads! The threads purpose is not for sealing!
Try Screwfix for a Fluidmaster Pro 45b I think it is called. If you have a local place

 

[Jimmynrg]

Ok no PTFE tape then. Yh unfortunately I can only get to a B&Q, I'm relying on them to give me an equivalent part

 

[JCplumb]

stani, I`m thinking fluidmaster cistern fill valve?

Looks a bit tight against the inside of the citern for a fluidmaster, float may catch but hopefully not. Like most of us on here I fit fluidmasters if possible every time.

 

[rpm]

Looks a bit tight against the inside of the citern for a fluidmaster, float may catch but hopefully not. Like most of us on here I fit fluidmasters if possible every time.

That wasn`t one of mine, I would of rotated it a little bit

 

[Best]

Wirquin do fill valves, both in a plastic tail or a brass tail version, which have a float that doesn't protrude backwards much, plus it has the great design of having the float inside an outer shell, therefore allowing the outer piece to touch the cistern if it has to.

 

[rpm]

Just like the one in Jimmy`s photo. Admit they are handy sometimes.

 

[Best]

Here is a Wirquin valve from above photo

 

[Best]

Just like the one in Jimmy`s photo. Admit they are handy sometimes.

True! Same sort of design. I don't really like the Wirquin valve and it took a few times installing a few before I got used to adjusting them, but they work in very well in tight spots where a Fluidmaster would have jammed.

 

[Jimmynrg]

Toilet update. Puchased a Dudley Brass Tail Delay Float Valve? Thats fitted, seems ok. Cheers for all your help guys

 

[Stigster]

Cheers guys. Slight update I think I may have tightened it too much as it now looks like theres a crack in the thread. Simple parts?

There's a good chance the crack was there before you touched it and was what was causing the leak. I've been to so many jobs where the plastic tail on the valve has degraded and a crack has appeared even though the pipe is properly clipped and undisturbed. If a toilet comes with a plastic tail on the inlet I bin it and use a Fluidmaster with brass shank.

 

[JCplumb]

I used one of these today, seemed decent enough and has the float encased in an outer shell. Worth a punt for less than £7 for a brass shanked one.