Cistern, what's broken?

[diy_fun_uk]

Went into my BTL today, the toilet was sitting in silence.
I used it, pressed the flush, it flushed no bother.
While later, I realised the water hadn't shut off, was tricking into the bowl.
Lifted cistern lid, discovered the float ball had come loose from the float arm.
Cistern was full and going into the internal overflow.
I reconnected the float ball, flushed the toilet and thought all would be well.
Nope.
After flushing, the water started to enter the cistern as normal but was still trickling into the bowl. So the cistern wasn't filling.
I've managed to stop the flow of mains water by jamming the float arm in its up position.
It's almost as if me flushing it today (and the float ball coming off) has created the problem.

Is it a broken flush valve? Or is there something I can do to 'reset' the current setup?

Cheers.

 

[Wayners]

Maybe the float arm is worn out and fell off.
You can try to fix with new inlet rubber that's inside the float valve and clean parts and see how that works out, but I nearly always buy a new Fluidmaster inlet with brass thread.
You need to think about what's best.
The inlet connection thread can often be a different length causing swapping problems so I stick to same brand (Fluidmaster) or the cheaper plastic connection threads leak if you aren't careful.
Compatible parts means it's not always an easy straight swap where 15mm copper pipe joints inlet

 

[denso13]

After flushing, the water started to enter the cistern as normal but was still trickling into the bowl. So the cistern wasn't filling.

Flush valve problem. Sometimes just needs replacing/cleaning the valve washer but sometimes just as cosy effective to replace the flush valve

 

[diy_fun_uk]

Maybe the float arm is worn out and fell off.
You can try to fix with new inlet rubber that's inside the float valve and clean parts and see how that works out, but I nearly always buy a new Fluidmaster inlet with brass thread.
You need to think about what's best.
The inlet connection thread can often be a different length causing swapping problems so I stick to same brand (Fluidmaster) or the cheaper plastic connection threads leak if you aren't careful.
Compatible parts means it's not always an easy straight swap where 15mm copper pipe joints inlet

The float arm didn't fall off as such, it was the ball that had obviously worked its way loose so the arm was just hanging down in the water.

I'm convinced (maybe wrongly!) what's caused it to go wrong is the float ball coming off, causing the cistern to fill and then overflow.

Yeah I'll prob look to replace

 

[denso13]

Did you not say it was trickling into the bowl but the cistern wasn't filling?

 

[Alec_t]

Tie up the arm of the fill valve. If that stops water entering the system and water is still trickling into the bowl then it's the flush valve which is faulty.

 

[diy_fun_uk]

Tie up the arm of the fill valve. If that stops water entering the system and water is still trickling into the bowl then it's the flush valve which is faulty.

It's weird, if I pull the float arm up the water stops completely, no water entering from mains into cistern, no water entering bowl. If I let the arm go, the mains water starts to flow and water also trickles into bowl, so cistern doesn't fill.

Like I say I'm convinced the float ball coming loose when I flushed has caused the fault, however I'll prob just need to buy new kit to solve it as nothing I'm trying is working.

Thanks again all.

 

[foxhole]

Some float valve arms can rotate, meaning the ball is now sitting higher if you moved it during refitting .

 

[denso13]

Like I say I'm convinced the float ball coming loose when I flushed has caused the fault, however I'll prob just need to buy new kit to solve it as nothing I'm trying is working.

Then you'll need both a flush valve and fill valve. I suspect the fill valve just needs adjusting though.

 

[diy_fun_uk]

Then you'll need both a flush valve and fill valve. I suspect the fill valve just needs adjusting though.

I should have taken a video, pic/vid speaks a 1000 words and all that.

When I press the flush, the cistern empties as normal. It then starts to refill but at the same time water starts to trickle into the bowl. So the cistern doesn't fill as water's leaving it as quickly as it's entering (it's never been a rapid filler). Water level doesn't get above maybe 3-4 cms, so isn't getting anywhere near the float ball or arm.

Because of this, the only way I can fill it is manually (with water jug) and when the float ball/arm is high enough, the water completely stops (from mains and trickle into bowl). However when I flush I'm back to square one.

 

[denso13]

Because of this, the only way I can fill it is manually (with water jug) and when the float ball/arm is high enough, the water completely stops (from mains and trickle into bowl). However when I flush I'm back to square one.

The flush valve is not closing correctly/letting by. The pressure may hold it closed when the cistern is full.

If it is fully filling and overflowing then it's the fill valve. If it isn't fully filling and running into the pan then it's the flush valve.

 

[ChrisJP]

It's weird, if I pull the float arm up the water stops completely, no water entering from mains into cistern, no water entering bowl. If I let the arm go, the mains water starts to flow and water also trickles into bowl, so cistern doesn't fill.

Well, yes, if there's no water entering the cistern when you pull the float arm upwards, there's no water to leak through the flush valve into the bowl.
When you release the float arm, this allows water to enter the cistern so it's there to leak through the flush valve. It's not weird at all!
You need to clean or replace the flush valve.