Toilet button stuck because of too much water in tank?

D

Dave_North

Messages

6

• Mar 24, 2019

• #1

I have a Wirquin Jolly flush, and the flush button doesn't work, it sometimes gets stuck, which I think is due to too much water being in the tank, putting too much preassure on the cheap plastic mechanism with lifts the (red) plunger - see pictures below.

The top picture is the tank after a flush, which stops filling just below the lifting (flush) mechanism. If I flush when the water is at this level it works fine. However, if the flush is not used for a few hours or overnight (see bottom picture), the tank very slowly fills up further, stops at the top of the red plunger (6 litre). When the water level is this high, the flush button doesn't work, it seems stuck, due to the extra weight of the water on top of the lifting mechanism.

I can't afford to replace with a better system, so trying to fix it. Is there a way to keep the water level at the same height after a flush (guessing around 4 litre), so no extra water feeds into the tank?

 

Best

Esteemed

Plumber

Subscribed

Messages

10,026

• Mar 24, 2019

• #2

The blue coloured fill valve is what determines the water level.
The white bolt in bottom right of picture can be adjusted using a Phillips screwdriver.
Anti-clockwise to give less water in cistern

 

moonlight

Plumbers Arms member

Plumber

Gas Engineer

Messages

948

• Mar 25, 2019

• #3

By reducing the water level to the level in your first picture. I don't think it will flush the bigger job away. You could replace the middle section. It could be its perished and brittle and wont give the lift?

 

D

Dave_North

Messages

6

• Mar 25, 2019

• #4

So I used a Philips screwdriver to give less water to the system, this did not help, as after flushing the water level ended at the same level as the top photo - which is fine, but left overnight the water level rose back up to the 6 litre level (same as water level in bottom photo), which makes the flash button unable to press down.

It seems water is somehow leaking into the tank after the system has finished filling after a flush. When the flush ends I can't hear any noise, or see any water flowing into the tank.

Any ideas where the extra water might be getting into the tank after the flush has ended?

 

D

Dave_North

Messages

6

• Mar 25, 2019

• #5

moonlight said:

By reducing the water level to the level in your first picture. I don't think it will flush the bigger job away. You could replace the middle section. It could be its perished and brittle and wont give the lift?

Click to expand...

I replaced the middle section about 7 months go, so should be ok. The water level in the top photo does flush everything away no problem.

 

moonlight

Plumbers Arms member

Plumber

Gas Engineer

Messages

948

• Mar 25, 2019

• #6

The blue fill valve is not shutting off properly. Need to replace the diaphragm in the fill valve.

 

D

Dave_North

Messages

6

• Mar 25, 2019

• #7

moonlight said:

The blue fill valve is not shutting off properly. Need to replace the diaphragm in the fill valve.

Click to expand...

Thanks. Is this easy to do?

 

JCplumb

Esteemed

Plumber

Messages

2,773

• Mar 25, 2019

• #8

It can be if it's a known brand or has a generic washer in there.
Could also just have a bit of something stuck in there and needs a clean. Does the blue cap come off the top easily, is there a brand name on it?

 

D

Dave_North

Messages

6

• Mar 25, 2019

• #9

JCplumb said:

It can be if it's a known brand or has a generic washer in there.
Could also just have a bit of something stuck in there and needs a clean. Does the blue cap come off the top easily, is there a brand name on it?

Click to expand...

Don't know what brand it is, the blue cap doesn't come off easily. No brand name I can see.

 

JCplumb

Esteemed

Plumber

Messages

2,773

• Mar 25, 2019

• #10

Well best bet is to change the valve, looks like a fluidmaster would fit nicely in your cistern.
If you're not confident then get a plumber in, if you want to have a go we'll talk you through it.

 

moonlight

Plumbers Arms member

Plumber

Gas Engineer

Messages

948

• Mar 26, 2019

• #11

It looks like a fluid master? But can't be sure, I have never seen a blue one. The top should come off and then it will twist. Make sure you hold it further down, last thing you want is it coming loose at the bottom.

If you decide to replace the whole thing go for one that has a brass tail, less chance of cross threading.

 

D

Dave_North

Messages

6

• Mar 26, 2019

• #12

moonlight said:

It looks like a fluid master? But can't be sure, I have never seen a blue one. The top should come off and then it will twist. Make sure you hold it further down, last thing you want is it coming loose at the bottom.

If you decide to replace the whole thing go for one that has a brass tail, less chance of cross threading.

Click to expand...

Thanks very much. On thinking about it the weakest link is the wirquin jolly flush, as the cheap plastic lift mechanism isn't very good. I think replacing that would be much easier than the fill valve.

What is a good (cheapish) dual button flush valve, maybe something concealed, so the water level won't make a difference?

 

JCplumb

Esteemed

Plumber

Messages

2,773

• Mar 26, 2019

• #13

The flush valve you have is a good one, your fill valve needs sorting.
The constant slow trickle of water will be keeping your feed pipe and cistern cold which will attract condensation and eventually cause damp issues and mould.