Lever vs Button Toilet?

Jeepers_Creepers

twopenny said:

I've gone for a lever for the same reason as the OP. So many I know don't work.

Here's one for£60......the toilet base is about the same price. So yes they are a bit more expensive but only by the price of a plumber call out to repair the button flush

https://www.cityplumbing.co.uk/Twyford-Option-Dual-Flush-Lever-Cistern-OT2421WH/p/403939?gmcpid=403939&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIsM2Ekeyo7wIVFoFQBh2BdADNEAQYASABEgJw9_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds#fo_c=2832&fo_k=58f6dc6e11e2a83bfac0eac83190ad39&fo_s=gplauk

And you can change the lever if you want to match your taps when you decide on a redesign a few years on.

I'm sure he can get a button flush one for that price. City Plumbing, Travis Perkins and probably some others always have offers and sales every month which if you're not fussy about what you install can be incredibly cheap.

Just don't go for Victorian Plumbing - the plumbers pension fund it's called here.

I haven't looked inside a dual-flush syphon-type cistern, but I suspect it's essentially a 'button' mechanism connected to the lever! Ie, just as likely to fail and let-by :-(

frogglet

There was a programme on the radio about push button vs lever. Push buttons give the option for water saving flush.
 However they aren't consistent and the small button doesn't always mean small flush. 
The siphons sonetimes get stuck with stuff, so try taking it out and moving it up and down a few times.
That said, make sure the siphon is removable from the top of the tank.

Jeepers_Creepers

frogglet said:

There was a programme on the radio about push button vs lever. Push buttons give the option for water saving flush.
 However they aren't consistent and the small button doesn't always mean small flush. 
The siphons sonetimes get stuck with stuff, so try taking it out and moving it up and down a few times.
That said, make sure the siphon is removable from the top of the tank.

Yes, on Radio 4, I think - 'costing the earth', perhaps. They had a plumber on there explaining why the 'button' or 'flap' valves were a nice idea as they provided the dual flush, but ultimately caused more water usage due to leaks.

greyteam1959

If you have reduced mobility in your hands then the push buttons ones a useless.
I recently bought a new dual flush unit from Toolstation 4hat had a button or lever option in the box.

neilmcl

Jeepers_Creepers said:

Most cistern are now button because some EU directive (I think) insisted on the dual-flush aspect, and this is much easier with button-operated flap-types. However, guess what? Yup - they are very prone to leaking and will let-by with the teeniest bit of grit caught in the seal. Lever-operated syphons, on the other hand, simply do not 'leak' - they just cannot. Ergo, overall water savings are zero or worse.

Well actually they can, and do. All it takes is the gasket seal to fail on the flush valve and the cistern will eventually overflow.

frogglet

Jeepers_Creepers said:

frogglet said:

There was a programme on the radio about push button vs lever. Push buttons give the option for water saving flush.
 However they aren't consistent and the small button doesn't always mean small flush. 
The siphons sonetimes get stuck with stuff, so try taking it out and moving it up and down a few times.
That said, make sure the siphon is removable from the top of the tank.

Yes, on Radio 4, I think - 'costing the earth', perhaps. They had a plumber on there explaining why the 'button' or 'flap' valves were a nice idea as they provided the dual flush, but ultimately caused more water usage due to leaks.

Yes that's the programme I heard. The plumber wasn't very supportive of push buttons if I remember.
In our last house, being on a water meter, we turned off the isolator valves till we found out how to fix them.
Most people don't bother and let all that clean water run away. 
 Screw in type are very easy to fix once we knew how and relatively cheap at screwfix.
 

getmore4less

We have a mix in our house   and wishing I had not replaced the last siphon that failed with a dual flush it has been a lot of bother in our hard water area.

Our  Macdee Metro(round) 3 part  siphon dismantles  really easy without any "plumbing" disturbed.
The only tool needed is a screwdriver to release the lever inside the cistern from the handle.

They are so simple the only thing that can go wrong is the diaphragm that cost more to post than to buy.
if really stuck you can make your own out of a sheet of plastic using the old one as a template.

If it is your flush that has gone check out what's wrong with it,  could be a cheap easy repair, no plumbing required.

This was same as ours
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rye_XdFQHCA

coffeehound

Another thing about the button type is they seem to have been designed with no thought given to the fact that they need to be regularly cleaned.  A proper polished smooth lever is much easier to keep hygeinic

twopenny

9 times out of 10 i found the water saving button didn't work so had to use a whole flush.
Depending on who uses the loo you can twiddle the mechanism on a lever flush tank so it uses less water -as I was taught to do on this forum. Or do as the aussies do.
I'd suggest the op goes down to a builders merchant and looks at the stock where type and odders sit boxed. Still allowed. Travis Perkins have a stack of basic but fine white ware.
Also good quality taps and shower at good prices. 

Jeepers_Creepers

neilmcl said:

Jeepers_Creepers said:

Most cistern are now button because some EU directive (I think) insisted on the dual-flush aspect, and this is much easier with button-operated flap-types. However, guess what? Yup - they are very prone to leaking and will let-by with the teeniest bit of grit caught in the seal. Lever-operated syphons, on the other hand, simply do not 'leak' - they just cannot. Ergo, overall water savings are zero or worse.

Well actually they can, and do. All it takes is the gasket seal to fail on the flush valve and the cistern will eventually overflow.

MOOOOOO-ha-ha! Fell into my trap! It's not the syphon that leaks or lets by, it's the inlet valve!

OOOOOOooohhHhhhaaAAaHHhhhaaaaaa. Oh my - I'm gonna get mileage out of this.

cough