Toilet cistern leaking

[John Rumm]

The amount left varies with the design of syphon and cistern... tis why I said container rather than cloth for catching it.

(I sometimes suck it dry with a wet'n'dry vac first)

[alan]

Probably OK

see

fluidmaster/torbeck do a range of valves so there may be instructions for your exact model on the same web site

[Bert Coules]

Thanks for the link. My model is very similar to that one, except that mine doesn't have the connector on the vertical column and the removable inner section. Looking at the others on the site they all have that feature, so it seems to be a range-wide improvement from a time after mine was manufactured. A sensible change, since it means that a certain amount of inspection and maintenance is possible without taking out the whole assembly.

[Bert Coules]

Good idea. I'll do that if I have to remove the entire fill valve. At the moment, I've disassembled the top part with the diaphragm and needle and have it all soaking in a solution of kettle descaler. No holes were actually completely obscured but the whole thing was pretty furred up. I'll see what I can do with the rest of the valve in situ and then test it. If it still leaks I'll remove the whole thing and see if it's saveable or has to be replaced.

[John Rumm]

It also gives you more height adjustment than that available from the float stem alone...

[Bert Coules]

Well, it's now over an hour since I reassembled the fill valve and tested everything. There's no sign of the leak and the water level in the cistern hasn't increased one millimetre, so I think the operation can be deemed a success. Many thanks to everyone who helped.

[Bert Coules]

Good point. It would be a sensible replacement when that becomes necessary, but it might not be just yet. As I've just posted separately, an hour after getting everything back together there's no leak and there's been no rise in the water level in the cistern.

Many thanks to you, John, and everyone else who chipped in.

[The Medway Handyman]

Are you now flushed with success?

[Bert Coules]

Oh yes: it's all cisterns go.

Or some other equally lame pun in lieu.

[newshound]

Even easier to use a "wet and dry vac", if you have one.

[John Rumm]

in loo surely?

(drives you round the bend huh?)

[Bob Eager]

Just let him regain his equilibrium.

[Bert Coules]

Well, I sort of thought my version was subtler...

Oh no, I'm not getting drawn into a bathroom-based pun fest. But you go ahead: have a ball, c*ck.

[John Rumm]

My cup overflows, I laugh like a drain! ok stick a plug in it or I will be all tapped out of puns, and have to sink into the background.

[The Medway Handyman]

Washer have to say that for?

[polygonum]

We're trapped in this thread forever! Oh well, needed somewhere to vent.

[DerbyBorn]

"Bert Coules" wrote in news: [e-mail]:

Beear in mind that some valves can leak whenever a tap elsewhere in the house is suddely closed - due to the shock wave in the water. OK when yo ulook = but after a few hours it can raise the level.

[Bert Coules]

I didn't know that. Thanks.

[Bob Eager]

Although the Torbeck valve - that you have - doesn't tend to suffer from that as far as I know. The water pressure - rather cleverly - keeps it closed!

[Bert Coules]

It's now more than a day since I reassembled the valve after cleaning it. Happily, the problem hasn't returned. Interesting about the design.