Loo flush question

[Gem1983]

Hi. Plumbing question. My toilet is leaking into the pan at a very slow trickle. Not causing ripples in the pan.

Plumber removed flush valve.. not the basket.. fitted a flush master onto the random basket as the leak is still present. He determined it must be residual water sitting from the flush… even after 2-3 hours??



Can this be right?? Ive got food dye coming tomo to see if residual really is the case. I personally think the basket is letting by. Is that a thing??

 

[Aquarius]

If you mean the bottom section of flush valve (the bayonet cradle), the yes let by can occur - usually caused by poor seating.

 

[Gem1983]

The cradle is what I meant by basket.
2 leaking loos. Plumber removed 2 valves, fluid master in one which hadn’t cured anything.
The other, after two supplier runs, had the old valve put back in as no replacement available.
I’ve found it online and ordered.

 

[Aquarius]

Re-reading what you’ve put, I’d say he should have fitted the fluid master onto a fluid master cradle. If it’s not resolved get him back at no charge to yourself because it’s not fixed.

 

[Gem1983]

Re-reading what you’ve put, I’d say he should have fitted the fluid master onto a fluid master cradle. If it’s not resolved get him back at no charge to yourself because it’s not fixed.

I haven’t paid for today yet. Waiting for an invoice for 2 hours labour and 2 sets of flushes where only the valve of 1 was used.
They’re doing me a quote for a whole replacement on my concealed loo, not the one they’ve worked on today.
I will have to raise it with them. So annoying.

 

[Gem1983]

I’m confused. When I leave it overnight, it stops leaking.

 

[Aquarius]

I’m confused. When I leave it overnight, it stops leaking.

So it could be the upper seal as opposed to the seal on the cistern.

 

[Gem1983]

So it could be the upper seal as opposed to the seal on the cistern.

The upper seal? Is that the moving seal on the flush valve or the one that holds the basket in place?

 

[Aquarius]

The upper seal? Is that the moving seal on the flush valve or the one that holds the basket in place?

The moving seal, if any dirt or debris has got underneath, it doesn’t always seal.

 

[Gem1983]

The moving seal, if any dirt or debris has got underneath, it doesn’t always seal.

It's a brand new valve only put in yesterday. When he pulled the old one out, the whole cistern emptied through the cradle. Would that have not cleared out anything icky?
I last flushed it 8am and it is still leaking albeit not as much.
When the food dye gets here I'm going to put that in the cistern post flush to see if the drips turn pink.

 

[Ben-gee]

Wait for the cistern to fill before you add the dye, the weight of the water is often required to seat the washer in these flush valves.

It is important to clean the surface of the cradle where the washer will sit, any limescale/debris/scratch here will result in letting by.

 

[Gem1983]

Wait for the cistern to fill before you add the dye, the weight of the water is often required to seat the washer in these flush valves.

It is important to clean the surface of the cradle where the washer will sit, any limescale/debris/scratch here will result in letting by.

Thanks Ben.
I didn't see him do that but there isn't much room in a downstairs loo for 2 people. The fact that the old valve leaked before he removed it, then he put it back in, then he put in a new one and the leak hasn't changed makes me think it's not the valve but the cradle. Guess I get to pay all over again to sort this out! Blasted things.

 

[Ben-gee]

Worth just taking this valve out and cleaning up the cradle first.

Is it a cable flush or one that’s directly screwed to the button?

If it’s a screwed one the height may need adjustment as if they’re set too low then the action of screwing in the button can lift the valve slightly off its seat.

Better to have a syphon - they’ll be back ....

 

[Gem1983]

It's one with a cable. It was originally a dual push button with stems. The flushmaster he has put on is a cable button kind.

 

[Gem1983]

Well I've put a whole load of food colouring in the cistern. The leak is down to a tiny drip but it's still clear. Maybe it really is residual?

 

[Gem1983]

Breakthrough!!! I've worked the little blighter out!!! Handmirror under the rim shows that at least 4 of the rim holes are totally scaled up. It looks like water from the flush is soaking into a 5 inch long piece of calcium build up and working it's way out through the nearest hole!
Kilrock gel on order

 

[rpm]

Very much doubt the holes are backed up by 5"

 

[Gem1983]

Very much doubt the holes are backed up by 5"

Its around a 4-5 inch length of the rim that is 100% blocked with limescale. 5 holes are mere dents in that section.
In a stupidly hard water area and the owner of this house before us, did literally nothing to it. 18 years of limescale right there.

 

[rpm]

Its around a 4-5 inch length of the rim that is 100% blocked with limescale. 5 holes are mere dents in that section.
In a stupidly hard water area and the owner of this house before us, did literally nothing to it. 18 years of limescale right there.

My error, thought you were thinking each hole was backed up by 5"

 

[Tteedd]

Surely the plumber should have removed the lime scale before fitting the new seal?
Mine dribbled a little after changing the seal. All I did was push down hard on it and it has been OK ever since. (My flush).
A drop of loo cleaner every so often removes the lime scale.

 

[rpm]

Surely the plumber should have removed the lime scale before fitting the new seal?
Mine dribbled a little after changing the seal. All I did was push down hard on it and it has been OK ever since. (My flush).
A drop of loo cleaner every so often removes the lime scale.

The limescale under the rim of the toilet pan you mean.