Toilet not flushing properly
Mentalguy2k8
takes 2 or 3 flushes to clear the bowl. It also takes forever to fill up
accompanied by a humming from the loft (which I think is probably a separate
issue), so it's a little uncomfortable for visitors when it doesn't clear
the contents. I've adjusted the ball so that more water fills the cistern,
but still the same, although sometimes a very quick sharp turn of the flush
handle works well. Is there anything I can adjust or replace, and how much
of a "big job!" (sorry!) would it be?
Illuminated
The flap valve inside the siphon mechanism (white plastic bit in the middle
that the handle connects to) has failed, (often it is just a bit of
polythene film and eventually it tears/splits but a fast use of the handle
still achieves a flush).
A new siphon is easy to fit and available from the local DIY sheds for
under a tenner probably.
Regards
robgraham
"Illuminated" <as...@getreal.com> wrote in message
news:gvb6df$66o$1...@aioe.org...
If this plastic flap has gone, then it's free to replace. Simply cut out a
circle of plastic from a thick plastic bag - the sort you'd buy 15kg of dog
food in.
Rob Graham
The Medway Handyman
The diaphragm in the siphon has failed. It will only get worse. You can
just change the diaphragm, but I always change the complete siphon - about
�12. A couple of times when I've changed diaphragms it still wouldn't
flush, found small splits in the old siphon.
Purchase siphon; http://www.wickes.co.uk/Toilet-Repair/WC-Syphon/invt/421647
Depends on whether you have a low level or close coupled. e.g. cistern,
short pipe, bowl or cistern mounted directly on bowl. The former is much
easier.
Anywho, turn off water, empty cistern. Assuming close coupled;
Undo two wingnuts securing cistern to bowl (from underneath), you may find a
metal plate that holds the bolts, or they may go through the cistern. You
will also find a rubber 'donut' which seals the cistern to the pan. Worth
replacing if its at all dodgy.
Disconnect water supply pipe & overflow pipe, remove any screws holding
cistern to wall. Lift cistern off.
Undo big plastic nut holding siphon into cistern.
Replace the siphon, bit of silicone around the seal does no harm.
Put the whole lot back together - reversal of above. The water supply
connector should be very easy to screw on by hand, and should only need a
spanner for the final turn. If its at all difficult to do up, its not
aligned properly & will cross thread & leak.
I can do them in about 45 mins, but then I do 3 or 4 a month. Not really
difficult though.
HTH
--
Dave - The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk
Ret.
All of the other responses relate to either fixing the syphon - or replacing
the syphon. IME it is the syphon itself that causes these problems. Having
to 'lift' a quantity of water over the top of a loop, and requiring the
falling water to drag more water after it, inevitable reduces the force of
the flush. The syphon mechanism is now outdated and antiquated. Very few
modern WCs come with syphon flushing mechanisms.
IMO, your best bet would be to get rid of the syphon completely and replace
it with a simple 'flapper' type flush. I have done this in the past and the
new flush was considerably more effective than the syphon system it
replaced.
You can see a 'flapper' type flush mechanism here:
This one has a top-button operation but there are other flappers that use a
normal handle - or a button that replaces the old front-fitting handle. You
can buy these in B&Q.
In fact Screwfix also have a front-handle operated flapper mechanism here:
http://www.screwfix.com/prods/36240/Plumbing/Toilet-Fittings/Flapper-Toilet-Cistern-Valve-Handle
And a front-button operated flapper that replaces front-handles:
The new device also has the advantage in that the overflow pipe directs the
overflow into the pan, rather than outside through the house wall.
It is a simple job to replace the syphon with one of these devices. I don't
think you will be disappointed - and the flapper mechanism is virtually
maintenance free for life. This mechanism *will* increase the power of the
flush!
Ret.