Slow Filling Cistern (30 mins) Have Pictures

[GoodTimes]

Hi folks,

The cistern in my bathroom takes about 30 mins to fill after a flush. I've heard this can be potentially quite easy to fix, but also potentially quite expensive if pipes need to be cleaned out.

By any chance do any of you any knowledge of how I would go about trying to fix this myself? Pictures of my cistern are below. Any help would be really appreciated, thanks.

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[seco services]

Has it always been a problem or just started ?

 

[JohnD]

You can rewasher float valves but it is about as easy to fit a new, quiet-fill one by Torbeck or Fluidmaster. They are not very expensive

Ascertain first if yours is high pressure (mains) or low pressure (from tank)

You will need to turn off the water supply to the cistern first, but after removing the top part of the valve, turn it back on briefly to flush out any grit from the pipe.

If there is not already a service valve under the cistern, fit one (ball-o-fix type) to make it easier next time.

It makes it easier to have a connector with braided flexible hose, these can be bought with a tap connector at one end (fits the stem of the valve) and a service valve at the other.

 

[GoodTimes]

Hi, thanks for your reply.

It's always been a problem (3 years or so). I also wanted to add, in case it's relevant, that there's a tap coming out of the wall just behind my toilet to the right.

The water just trickles out of the orange 'tap'. I tried turning the orange tap and it cuts the flow if I have it in any other position.

 

[seco services]

Orange tap give us a pic.

 

[GoodTimes]

Sorry seco services I meant the orange piece of plastic that's pointed south west in the above pics.


Here is a picture of the tap going into my Cistern. Does this mean that it's from the mains and high pressure?

 

[JohnD]

that's a stopcock. It is correct to use on mains supply, but you have no way of knowing if the plumber just happened to have it in his bag the day he fitted it.

You don't need to add a new service valve, and you haven't got room to add a flexi hose.

Once you take the old valve off, then open that stopcock a fraction, you'll soon know if it's high pressure.

 

[seco services]

The water just trickles out of the orange 'tap'. I tried turning the orange tap and it cuts the flow if I have it in any other position.

It shouldn't stop flow have you tried removing and cleaning it out.

 

[GoodTimes]

Thanks a lot JohnD and seco services.

I have mixed feelings right now.. on one hand I feel great because I simply turned the tap going into the cistern anti-clockwise and it's working fine now. On the other hand this has been happening for ages and I never even thought to try that!

Ah well, cheers!