Cant find shut off valve any ideas

Tom_G_3

Ok I have a problem with the toilet in our bathroom, the cistern takes a lifetime to refill as it just fills at a very slow almost dripping rate, I have removed the little plastic part that the water feeds out into the cistern to check for any blockage as Ive seen this advised while looking on the net but no blockage. Then I figured to change the unit that part fits onto (the valve inbetween the water inlet and the rod holding the ball float). I checked my local DIY store when I explained the problem he told me to check that the valve fitted to the inlet had been opened properly, he showed me a new valve so I knew what I was looking for and seemed easy enough... Till I got in and checked! The inlet pipe, runs from the side of the cistern, out and down into the floor, no valve fitted. I have looked in the room directly below where this drops into the floor and no sign of pipes.
There is a water tank up in the loft and when I shut off the mains before one of the bathroom taps and the cistern were the only water sources still running (obviously from the above water reserve).
At a guess I think the pipes run down to the floor under it then back up to the loft but I cat tell where, there is a board fitted to the corner of the bathroom for no aparant reason from the floor to the roof, ironically this is directly below where the tank in the attic is situated. It has no screws or any obvious ways to remove it so I ask would you expect to find this valve behind here as I dont want to remove the panal and damage it for no reason if its highly unlikly the valve will be behind it.

Any ideas?

1984ReturnsForReal_2

You haven't got one.........

macman

Lots of older installations did not have isolator valves fitted, yours may come into this category. If so just tie up the ballcock in the loft tank and then drain down the tank to enable you to change the valve.

ormus

on old houses you shut off the water supply at the rising mains, or even outside.
then you drain down all the tanks.
do any repairs, and then refill the tanks.

most old houses have just the one shut off valve. stopcock.

kaya

shut water off at the mains, drain the tank in the loft by turning all of the taps in the house on, when the water stops running from the taps you will be ok to remove your cistern ballcock valve and replace it, there is no need to find the check valve if you turn it off at the mains, however , whilst you have the water mains turned off you may wish to fit a check valve in the pipe between the cistern and the floor for future use

Tom_G_3

Thanks everyone for your advise, I half expected that to be the case, will simply shut off the mains and drain the loft tank then get to work, I wont be installing a check valve as its just rented property and do not see a point, would do if it was my property. Once again thanks for all your quick advise.

Tom_G_3

Ok guys need an urgent reply if poss, I have just got into the loft, drained the tank (by holding the float in place). Cistern was emptied well mostly, I took of the valve and noticed what looked like wither a big hard bug or a stone jammed on the valve preventing the flow of water, stone removed problem solved no money spent.. Good times... BUT I have just refilled the tank and now I am getting little to no water at all from the cold water tapsor into the cistern, the tank is full. Im stumped any help please!

1984ReturnsForReal_2

Have you turned the stopc ock back on?

& where there any isolators (valves (tap handle/bar/ or screwdriver type)) next to the tank?

& did you go in the airing cupboard & turn anything in there?

shandypants5

Could be crap from the header tank in the loft got sucked down into the pipework when you drained it.

Try opening a cold tap upstairs and using a bit of hose to blow hard into the tap,
You should get bubbles in the loft tank if the blockage clears, then the water will flow again.

Tom_G_3

I didnt bother to shut off the stop C as I held up the float to shut off the flow of water into the tank, then drained it by running all the taps till it sat just at the outlet hole. I think I have spotted where I went wrong I left the taps on when draining the tank and then refilled with the taps still on, creating an airlock. I have read to fit a bit of hose between the taps to create bubble in the tank, when they stop airlock is gone, problem is I have no hose here is there any other steps I can take to remove the air lock, Ive even tried to use a brand new plunger over the outlet to force the water down is this a bad move?!

Tom_G_3

For the record there is absolutly no sludge in the tank a few bits of limescale thats about it. I watched as the water drained out to check nothing would go into the outlet and from what I could see there was nothing that passed into it.