toilet cistern, can't stop water drip

enigma52

water is constantly dripping from toilet cistern onto garden outside through overflow pipe. I have taken cistern lid off and the ballcock is looking ok as if I try to lift it I can't so it is at its highest. However this doesn't stop the drip coming into the cistern through the valve/ballcock. Any advise greatly appreciated, thanks in advance.

todolistsocd

Hi my friend,

Had the same problem myself, here is what to do:

All bullcocks have a plastic lever with a little pin that sticks out with a small nut usual plastic, sometimes metal about 10mm.
Everytime you pull your lever to flush, the arm moves away from the pin, thus fills up the system.

The pin itself with the nut around it, basically acts as a tap.
As your system fills up, the lever gets closer and closer to the pin till eventually the lever pushes the pin thus the water fill up slows down and eventually stops.

Use a pair of pliers, a small adjustable spanner, undo the nut and adjust it either left or right depending on what side your flush handle is.
You'll know if you've gone the right way for example,
If you have done it right, the lever will hit the pin beforehand and your system will stop filling before the last time and there will be no overflow.
If you haven't, then your overlow will still be there, if not worse.

It may sound it, but it is not complicated and literally a 5 minute job.
Hope this helps, all the best
Todolistsocd.

penrhyn

Have you tried changing the washer in the flow valve?

Dave_C_2

You need to replace the washer in the ballcock valve It's a fairly easy job, especially if you turn the water off first!
If you google Change washer in ballcock there are videos to show you how to do it.
Failing that you can buy a new one from Wilkos.:)

Dave

Wookey

Its either the washer as others have said or dirt stuck in the orifice which the washer is pushed against, an incorrectly adjusted float height which is what i think todolist is getting at, or if its a bottom connection ballvalve then it maybe that the small adjustable plastic piece which is suppose to strengthen the ballvalve against the side of the cistern as it fills is missing.
If its an old cistern with a brass ballcock then to adjust the height will usually involve bending the brass arm down slightly, the washer in these is usually harder to remove/replace as it will appear to sit inside a small cavity. Dirt in either type's orifice will over time damage the washer.