Toilet trouble

[CadwellParker]

Hi all,

The toilet cistern in the photo continues to drain after flushing. Water flowing in just flows straight out of the bottom. If I push down on the blue plunger in the middle of the white housing in the centre of the photo it stops emptying and fills normally until the next time you flush. I'm guessing the mechanism just needs lubricating somewhere to get it to work properly again but can't see where. Can anyone tell me what I need to do to get it working again? Do I just have to but a new flush assembly or can this one be sorted out?

 

[Newboy]

It is probably just the cable not sliding through the sleeve in which case a spray of silicone lubricant usually does the trick. Alternatively it could be scale build up on the plunger section of the flush valve. From memory, if you twist the top section of the valve anti-clockwise then it will release from the cradle and you can give it a clean - this assumes that the cradle has been properly fitted to the cistern and doesn't loosen when you twist the valve assembly (if it is loose then there is a chance of the cistern leaking)

 

[CadwellParker]

Thanks newboy. Will get a look at that. Does the housing at the end of the cable just twist off somehow to enable me to spray lube inside the cable outer? Do I need to use silicone stuff or would WD40/ACF 50 do the same job? I have both of those but no silicone.

If I need to twist the valve I'll empty the cistern first to minimise any possible leakage. I didn't fit the valve so have no idea whether it was fitted properly. The house is empty just now and being readied for renting out. I'll be there on Saturday so will get a look at it then. Thanks.

 

[Newboy]

If you're renting it out then change the whole valve assembly - otherwise it will be an emergency call when your tenants have moved in and can't flush the toilet - much easier to do the job in an empty bathroom.

 

[CadwellParker]

It's not that old, maybe 7 years. I'd have thought it'd have a good few years use left in it yet and maybe a bit of lube would keep it working but I take your point re emergency call outs. I guess the expense of a new cistern valve every 5 years is preferable to paying a plumber to come out at 3am.

 

[Madrab]

7 years out of something that cost £15 and is used many times a day. Don't think it owes you anything really

 

[CadwellParker]

HA ha, yes, fair comment

 

[longdogs]

It's not that old, maybe 7 years. I'd have thought it'd have a good few years use left in it yet and maybe a bit of lube would keep it working but I take your point re emergency call outs. I guess the expense of a new cistern valve every 5 years is preferable to paying a plumber to come out at 3am.

7 years for a modern valve is good going.

 

[Newboy]

7 Years for a modern flush valve.

Makes you think about progress - recently went to a job where a bell cistern had failed. The flush lever had sheared and wouldn't lift the bell. The cistern was probably around 85 years old and had failed once. Life expectancy of a new flush valve?!