Noisy (Torbeck valve) cistern

[Lobster]

We have one toilet cistern which is terribly noisy to fill - you hear it throughout the whole house and it would wake the dead at night-time - so after n years, SWMBO has decided that Something Must Be Done (she's now threatening to go to B&Q and just buy a whole new loo for me to fit).

ISTR the problem dates back to when we changed our DHW to a sealed, mains pressure system throughout the house about 6 years ago. Can't recall all the details now but I do remember changing the cistern valve for a Torbeck job - I think that might have been because of noise but can't remember.

Anyway, currently I have to have the service valve for this cistern cranked right down, otherwise it's far worse - we get the most amazing banging and reverberating noise from the pipework as the cistern fills. As it is, with the service valve almost closed, it takes a very long time to fill (7-10 mins) and the water still makes a hell of a noise (ie hissing) during that time... and no matter how finely adjusted the service valve, I can't avoid the almighty 'thunk' as the Torbeck valve finally closes, when the cistern is full: and that if the hissing hasn't woken her already, that certainly will!

So what to do?

My thought is that the Torbeck valve I've got is inadequate for the water pressure (ISTR it's a fairly standard 2-3 bars) - I can't particularly rememember any issues over pressure rating etc when I fitted it, and would certainly have been wise to it had it been mentioned or whatever. Are there specific versions for high and low pressure or do they have swappable components?

I'm thinking of buying a new Torbeck valve and fitting that from scratch: does that sound sensible or am I missing something?

Thanks David

[John]

The service valve could be contributing to the noise if it is partly closed I guess.

[Bob Eager]

You *did* fit the flow restrictor if you have high-ish pressure, didn't you?

Or has the polythene tube rotted/come off?

[<me9]

There should be restrictors (a plastic spiral -- supplied with the valve) to insert in the inlet for high pressure use.

I had banging in mydownstairs torbeck, cured by fitting a new washer. Similarly a washer change cured a severe vibration (water hammer) when, loft tank and upstairs bog were filling together.

[Andy Hall]

Several things here:

- The service valve will create a hissing noise if substantially restricting the flow.

- Torbeck valves come with two flow restrictors - little spiral things that go into the inlet. There are LP and HP versions. Perhaps you have the LP one in there or none at all?

- If there is banging from the pipes, this is usually because they aren't supported properly,

- You could try adding a surge arrestor. (A little pressure vessel about the size of a fist)

- Replacing the toilet is unlikely to solve a valve problem, but you know that.

[Anita Palley]

Half a bottle of gin and a pair of earplugs should see her through to morning.

[Lobster]

Had a looksee, and can't see anything in there so I guess I must have bought an LP version. Sounds like it's worth investing 6 GBP in a new valve, anyway!

But unfortunately they are very inaccessible where they bang, too: behind a finished plasterboard wall. It's only an issue if I let the cistern fill too quickly though.

I do indeed, but SWMBO doesn't: or if she does believe me she reckons that the threat of pitching up with a new loo will spur me into action. And whaddyaknow...

Thanks all

David

[Andy Hall]

Ah. If there's nothing in there, then on a decent mains supply you will certainly get thumping as the valve closes. It might even vibrate. I have a fairly peewilly supply and still can't get away with no insert at all - it has the LP one fitted for the loft tank. I added a second valve and improved the supply though.

Just to be clear, the valves are normally supplied with both restrictors - often the mains one is fitted - I imagine because that's the fail safe; i.e. tank fills slowly.

That's a shame. You might be lucky after fitting a new valve with restrictor. Don't forget to put on and finger tighten the tap connector nut first then the backnut onto the cistern. Less risk of crossthreading.

Seems to have done :-)

Of course if she did and it still made a lot of noise, you'd be in even more trouble and she'd want to "get a man in"

I hope you have a lampost in the garden to mark your territory accordingly :-)