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Valve type cisterns- a useful tip (hopefully)

oldwiring
oldwiring Posts: 2,452 Forumite
Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
This was in the latest blurb from my local water co. I hope someone will find it helpful
Leaks on valve-type toilet cisterns

Some of our metered customers have been surprised by large water bills. The reasons for the high consumption have been traced to valve-type cisterns not working correctly. The flush valves have stayed partially open, not sealing, allowing a small amount of water to run into the pan continually between flushes. Often this is not easy to notice. With this constant flow from the cistern a large water and sewerage bill is the result! No refunds are given for such wastage of water. if you have had a cistern fitted since 2001 it could be a valve-type cistern. You are unlikely to have this type of problem with the siphon type cistern. if it is a valve type, you can save yourself the risk of a large bill by undertaking a simple check. Place a small amount of toilet paper on the back wall of the pan below the rim and above
the water level. You can then see if it is washed off between flushes when the pan is no tin use.

Comments

  • david29dpo
    david29dpo Posts: 3,984 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    good tip. this is caused by the overflow float being to low and rising the float before the inlet float has closed. i have fixed loads of these fitted to new builds fitted by so called professionals!
  • Nicholas
    Nicholas Posts: 630 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts
    I had exactly this problem last year. I suspected there was a leak somewhere as we seemed to be using a lot of water (although we had only been on a meter a few months so had nothing to judge it by).

    One day I was staring into the toilet pan and wondered where the ripple effect was coming from. That's when I realised I had an overflow that dripped into the toilet. Pure chance I noticed. Adjusting the valve did not help, but a replacement valve did.

    Water bills much lower now.

    NB Another reason why a meter is a good thing. If I was unmetered, I probably would not have done anything about it.
  • David29DPO

    Can you please provide more info on how to adjust the overflow float. My overflow unit has a lever on the top which links to the barrel of the unit lower down but its not immediately obvious to me where I can adjust it. I can prise a cap off the top of the assembly but this only reveals plastic retainers at the top.

    Thanks in advance
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