Leaking Toilet Cistern

Phonesis · 16 Feb 2017 at 10:02

I just had a dripping ball valve in my toilet cistern replaced by Dyno-Rod. It would drip internally for hours after each flush. They put in a much better bottom fill type valve (with no ball at all). Happy with that. Refills after a flush so much faster!

However, it doesn't look like the new valve was fitted tightly enough to the base of the cistern where the pipe connects to the mains water isolating valve. It appears to be leaking water slightly. Not enough for me to worry too much but it builds up after few hours and eventually will drip slightly.

I'd rather not arrange a new call out for just this (although I suspect they'd sort it no problem). Just wondering what I can do. Guess just a case of tightening the bolt where the mains water pipe connects to the cistern pipe? It's rather tight already though. Does it go clockwise to tighten or anti-clockwise?

LeeUK · 16 Feb 2017 at 10:27

How much did you pay Dyno-Rod?

They are expensive and never do a good job in my experience.

I had a local old school plumber fix my toilet once, replaced syphon, £20 all in.

Phonesis · 16 Feb 2017 at 10:56

LeeUK said:
How much did you pay Dyno-Rod?

They are expensive and never do a good job in my experience.

I had a local old school plumber fix my toilet once, replaced syphon, £20 all in.

I wouldn't use them if I had to pay but got it as part of my British Gas homecare cover. Plumbing and Drains coverage. Worth it for my boiler more than anything as it's been a bit unreliable over the years. Plumbing cover isn't much more on top for a year.

Mahonyy · 16 Feb 2017 at 14:27

Sorry for the off-topic but Dyno-Rod are the biggest thiefs I've ever met!!!. They quoted me 6 hours of work (at 100£+/h) to fix a simple 22mm copper leaking pipe.

LeeUK · 16 Feb 2017 at 15:12

Mahonyy said:
Sorry for the off-topic but Dyno-Rod are the biggest thiefs I ever met!!!. They quoted me 6 hours of work (at 100£+/h) to fix a simple 22mm copper leaking pipe.

Charged me twice as much to rod my blocked drains 7 years ago as it did for an indie drain man to do it last year. Plus Dyno-Rod didn't clean up where as the indie jet washed the manholes out and the whole yard.

Screenbeat · 16 Feb 2017 at 15:22

Can you provide a picture? should be easy enough to reseal yourself. Could it be condensation?

Phonesis · 16 Feb 2017 at 16:30

Screenbeat said:
Can you provide a picture? should be easy enough to reseal yourself. Could it be condensation?

Will post one when I get home from work this eve. Could be condensation I suppose. Hard to say.

Phonesis · 16 Feb 2017 at 23:14

Well here it is. I tightened up the top bolt on the isolation valve a bit. It didn't take much effort. Gonna leave the bowl overnight and assess in morning! Touch wood that's all it needed.

LeeUK · 17 Feb 2017 at 09:51

I would have had a bit of flexi hose in between from the wall to the cistern. Looks like that valve only just fits.

Phonesis · 17 Feb 2017 at 13:16

LeeUK said:
I would have had a bit of flexi hose in between from the wall to the cistern. Looks like that valve only just fits.

I did consider it but not much space to add any really. The mains water pipe is plumbed into the wall. Not much room between the valve and the pipe coming down from the cistern. So far it's holding up ok so I think it's solved.

Lumeycom · 17 Feb 2017 at 23:03

That will leak again in time. No give in that and given that the pan will move a little as you sit and stand the flex will cause leaks. as mentioned above you'd be better off with a bit of flexi in there. Its not helped by the plastic fitting either - the fill valve you have is also available with a brass fitting for a few pounds more that is way more robust.

Phonesis · 18 Feb 2017 at 11:11

Lumeycom said:
That will leak again in time. No give in that and given that the pan will move a little as you sit and stand the flex will cause leaks. as mentioned above you'd be better off with a bit of flexi in there. Its not helped by the plastic fitting either - the fill valve you have is also available with a brass fitting for a few pounds more that is way more robust.

Yeah I guess the Dyno-Rod guys go for the cheapest one when they do these jobs covered by British Gas HomeCare. I'll keep an eye on it. If it does leak again I'll be straight back on phone to them and demand a brass version and more care when fitting it.

Zefan · 18 Feb 2017 at 11:33

If had almost this exact same thing recently. I'd suspect the washer in the isolation valve as having perished over time, and after refitting it is now compromising the seal between the valve and the plastic connector of the fill valve. You can get new isolation valves for a fiver, and you might want to PTFE the connection as well for belt + braces.

Disclaimer: I am absolutely not a plumber, in fact, I am truly terrible at plumbing. It is a nightmare.

ANDARIAL · 18 Feb 2017 at 16:10

Does not look like enough room for a flexi anyway(to my eyes anyway)So the pipe method used would be the only way unless the plumber moved pipe coming out of wall down quite a few inches