Toilet leak

[alexbabes]

folks, I now have the leak and know nothing about plumbing so bear with me.. the leak started this morning,

I've managed to get the cistern lid off to have a nose aroud but my expertise has ended there.. the hold mechanism on the very top of the stopcock valve thing has come off and I'm just not handy enough to refit it and the screw below... however reading these forums I am now thinking that it's the flushing valve that might be making the water drip down the bowl

it still flushes ok but alas I have the leak.. have compared with the internals of another toilet in the flat, but I just cant suss out what to do.

Should I replace both parts, and get a plumber round to fit??

Any easy going help would be great.. I am not paying the water bills here, but the noise is doing my head in!

 

[Burnerman]

As you are surely discovering, your loo has a fill valve and a flush valve - they are separate from each other and can be individually replaced or repaired.
The flush valve is the one in the centre - the fill valve to one side.

If water is constantly flowing into the loo bowl, then the flush valve is faulty - or the water level in the cistern is too high and automatically allowing things to overflow.
The cistern often has an engraved line on it to tell you where the ideal water level is.
If you can post a picture then we can identify the make.

From your description, it does sound as if the fill valve is constantly allowing cold water into the cistern - hence the overflow.
John

 

[alexbabes]

i have created a photo album with all the relevant pics.. including the bits that have come off.

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• 13 Jun 2010
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• 13 Jun 2010
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• 13 Jun 2010
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• 13 Jun 2010
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[Burnerman]

Nice pics, and thanks!
I personally don't recognise the broken fill valve (on the right) but it could be a Torbeck one.....maybe others could advise better. Anyway, as its come apart I think I'd be looking for an ordinary replacement such as the Torbeck adjustable (Toolstation 32033).
These only take a few minutes to fit, usually - even better if your loo has a water isolator valve on the supply pipe.
John

 

[alexbabes]

Nice pics, and thanks!
I personally don't recognise the broken fill valve (on the right) but it could be a Torbeck one.....maybe others could advise better. Anyway, as its come apart I think I'd be looking for an ordinary replacement such as the Torbeck adjustable (Toolstation 32033).
These only take a few minutes to fit, usually - even better if your loo has a water isolator valve on the supply pipe.
John

Looking back to yesterday, I tried to remove the lid to whack some bleach in the cistern, and didnt realise that the button mechanism was the key to getting the top off, this might have forced the flush mech, pulling it upwards as its attached to the button, the damage to the bit on the right happened today when I was fiddling around trying to get the water to stop.. so actually unsure as to which bit needs looking at... I'm such a tw*t, should have left the thing alone! It's a rented flat as well so will either have to grow balls to sort myself or tell the landlord.. groan!

I can switch the water off from a tap in the kitchen, so woud definitely have a bash.. no tools here at the moment though.. and with the above in mind.. dont want to waste money..

 

[Burnerman]

Don't worry, it happens to us all.....
Anyway, it seems like the flush valve may be ok, as it is still working.
However, if you intend to get someone out, explain that a push button flush could be needed (there are quite a few different designs) as well as a fill valve.
The fill valve can be fitted in a few minutes, but if the flush valve has to be done this usually involves splitting the cistern from the loo pan so this will take a bit longer.
Hoping its not too much of a chore!
John
PS putting bleach in the cistern can affect flush valves - just stick it down the pan next time.

 

[alexbabes]

haha, yeah.. I will just refrain from any type of cleaning and/or maintenance in the future I think..