brian777999 Posted December 19, 2019 Share Posted December 19, 2019 Our toilet cistern has developed a ''dribble'' : there is water leaking from under the red cap in the photo. I have fiddled about with it but I cannot get it to stop. Does anybody have a fix for this or will I need a new part ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold RFS Posted December 19, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 19, 2019 I would suspect there's a rubber washer inside the red cap that has perished and it's no longer able to cut off the inlet supply completely when the ballcock rises back up. Looks different to UK ones but I think the principle is the same. Have replaced a few of these washers over the years! 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gordon s Posted December 19, 2019 Share Posted December 19, 2019 (edited) Not familiar with cisterns in Australia, but would suspect it's the washer under the red cap. Turn off the water and the cap will probably unscrew to reveal a washer beneath.... Of course I could be miles out, but something to check first. Edit: At least two of us are suggesting the same thing.... Edited December 19, 2019 by gordon s Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
34theletterbetweenB&D Posted December 19, 2019 Share Posted December 19, 2019 Not seen that arrangement before (never taken the lid off an Oz cistern). Another possibility, presumably there's a float on the bottom end of the wire that goes into the water? If the float is leaking slightly such that water has got in and reduced its buoyancy so there is insufficient force to shut the admission valve, that might lead to the trickle. If not that, then I suspect component replacement as suggested above. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Enterprisingwestern Posted December 19, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 19, 2019 (edited) Quite common in the UK too. See fix 2 and 3 here; https://www.familyhandyman.com/plumbing/toilet-repair/parts-of-a-toilet/ or this; Mike. Edited December 19, 2019 by Enterprisingwestern Additional video. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Nick C Posted December 19, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 19, 2019 12 minutes ago, Enterprisingwestern said: Quite common in the UK too. See fix 2 and 3 here; https://www.familyhandyman.com/plumbing/toilet-repair/parts-of-a-toilet/ Agreed - I've done a couple of similar fixes, and replaced the whole inlet valve, both are quite easy with basic tools. We live in a very hard water area, so limescale buildup is a big problem here - any plumbing fixtures don't last long... 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baby Deltic Posted December 19, 2019 Share Posted December 19, 2019 (edited) 33 minutes ago, brian777999 said: Our toilet cistern has developed a ''dribble'' : there is water leaking from under the red cap in the photo. I have fiddled about with it but I cannot get it to stop. Does anybody have a fix for this or will I need a new part ? Can we have some more photos of the arrangement inside the cistern please? It Certainly has a strange look to it. Is the dribble on the filler into the tank or is water dribbling down the flush pipe into the pan? Edited December 19, 2019 by Baby Deltic Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brian777999 Posted December 19, 2019 Author Share Posted December 19, 2019 (edited) Water is dribbling from under that red cap into the tank. I have tried to unscrew it but no luck doing that ; it does not look like something that is meant to unscrew. I might have a go at pulling it straight up and off. Ha....I just watched the video so DO NOT PULL IT ! I will try to pull the arm up and push down on the cap at the same time and turn 1/8th turn anticlockwise as per the video. Edited December 19, 2019 by brian777999 error Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baby Deltic Posted December 19, 2019 Share Posted December 19, 2019 I reckon there's either a washer worn, or limescale buildup stopping the valve from seating properly and getting a good seal (if you done have soft water, that is). What's that thing in the centre of the tank I've never seen a flush mechanism like that before. Can we have some more pictures? Just curious, is all. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
APOLLO Posted December 19, 2019 Share Posted December 19, 2019 Aussie toilets scare me !! Brit15 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brian777999 Posted December 19, 2019 Author Share Posted December 19, 2019 Upon closer inspection I can now see that the water is coming up through the middle of the red cap then flowing down the side ; that made it look like it was coming from under the cap. I have not been able to remove the red cap even after watching the above video. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Nick C Posted December 19, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 19, 2019 Definitely a problem with a seal inside then - but if you can't get the cap off it might require replacing. Often these things aren't designed to be user-serviceable. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium kevinlms Posted December 19, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 19, 2019 3 hours ago, brian777999 said: Our toilet cistern has developed a ''dribble'' : there is water leaking from under the red cap in the photo. I have fiddled about with it but I cannot get it to stop. Does anybody have a fix for this or will I need a new part ? Take a look here at the section on the float valve. https://mottplumbing.com.au/plumbing-tips/how-to-fix-a-leaking-toilet-or-cistern/ I suspect the valve is not seating properly and looking at the inside of your cistern, it does look like some mould or similar may be causing that. Try jiggling it around & perhaps it will clear. You can get replacements at Bunnings and the like. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium kevinlms Posted December 19, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 19, 2019 2 hours ago, Baby Deltic said: What's that thing in the centre of the tank I've never seen a flush mechanism like that before. Can we have some more pictures? Just curious, is all. That is a dual flush toilet. There are two buttons on the top of the cistern lid. Pressing one only delivers about 1/3rd of the contents (for number 1's), the other delivers it all (obviously for number 2's)! The intention is to save water. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRman Posted December 19, 2019 Share Posted December 19, 2019 I had a different problem recently, with the yoke-shaped lever which transferred the push on the flush button to movement of the column creating the flush of water: the lever broke in the middle, completely cracked through. After trying various search terms, I found that the part was available from bunnings for around $13 (certainly not enough to break the budget!). The part was duly identified, purchased, and fitted. The part was listed as a "Caroma Single Flush Lever Bar and Weight", even though ours is a dual flush cistern, and I found that the weight was not required. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonny777 Posted December 19, 2019 Share Posted December 19, 2019 If the installation is similar to mine, the whole unit should unscrew from the bottom, once you have turned off the water supply and drained the water. However, depending on the length of time the unit has been in the cistern, the whole thing might be difficult to move and being plastic it will be quite fragile if the thread part is jammed by limescale or other debris. However, if you can get it off in one piece you will probably find it is seated on a large doughnut shaped washer which has developed blemishes and is not providing a true seal. The first thought would to throw this washer away, and replace it with a new one; but sometimes just turning it over (assuming the other side is unblemished) and re-seating the syphon unit works just as well and costs nothing. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Enterprisingwestern Posted December 19, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 19, 2019 Speaking with my trade hat on, these things aren't usually worth the faffing about, for some of the reasons previously mentioned. Personally, I'd just hoik the the whole valve out and replace it with a similar one, I don't know what brands you have in upside down land, but I only used Fluidmaster in the UK, additionally the "professional" version with the brass inlet thread. Mike. 4 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brian777999 Posted December 20, 2019 Author Share Posted December 20, 2019 (edited) I have been at work all day today. I will check out Bunnings tomorrow and see what they have on the shelf. Looking online I see that they do have the Fluidmaster brand. Edited December 20, 2019 by brian777999 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Dave 46 Posted December 21, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 21, 2019 On 19/12/2019 at 10:02, Nick C said: <snip> We live in a very hard water area, so limescale buildup is a big problem here - any plumbing fixtures don't last long... I also live in a very hard water area. I fitted a softener and have had no subsequent problems with fixtures leaking, and I've had it for so long I can't remember how long (does that make sense? Dave Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold russ p Posted December 21, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 21, 2019 Probably caused by water rotating anti clockwise when it was designed for clockwise flushing! 1 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold tomparryharry Posted December 21, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 21, 2019 It would appear that the black portion is a float operated valve. Try lifting the float, and see if, or when, the dribbling stops. If it stops, the chances are that the valve is 'letting by'. , or the float is leaking, giving a false level. Either way, I'd have the lot out and replace with new. Cheers, Ian. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Davis Posted December 21, 2019 Share Posted December 21, 2019 Glad that this question has been asked, I have the same problem and now the RMweb Hive mind has provided the answer - Thanks Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brian777999 Posted December 22, 2019 Author Share Posted December 22, 2019 I have bought a complete float valve from Bunnings ($20/ Fluidmaster) but my wife is giving a dinner party tonight so I thought I would wait until after that is finished. I would not be popular if I stuffed things up and we had no toilet at all while having eight people over for dinner ! In the mean time I have turned the tap right down to the minimum ; it fills very slowly but it is not so noisy. 1 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRman Posted December 22, 2019 Share Posted December 22, 2019 9 hours ago, russ p said: Probably caused by water rotating anti clockwise when it was designed for clockwise flushing! Yeah but, yeah but ... the water is also upside down so it weighs less and rotates anti-anti-clockwise upside down! 2 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DougN Posted December 22, 2019 Share Posted December 22, 2019 Brian rather than reading all this take a photo of the part, go to tradelink or Reece.. the trade desk will generally explain what is going on and sell you the exact part to fix it. Bunnings isn't good as you want exact advice from tradies.... which generally tradelink and Reece have on the trade desks. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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