Sodding cistern - again

[Alison556]

I appear to have the most expensive and crap (pardon the pun) in Scotland.

The cistern was really slow to fill and just wasn't flushing properly - you were having to stand and push and push the button multiple times to get it to flush and it was singing at me as well - sounded like a high pitched foghorn going off.

So I dismantled it and replaced the entire float valve assembly and it seemed to rectify the problem - till yesterday when it's started being difficult to flush again and the dreaded howling from it started at 3.30am - just as well my neighbour is deaf.

I also need a new toilet seat and a replacement seat for it it £115!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, the question is, do I haul the gubbins out of the cistern and replace it all, do I get a new cistern and try to find a compatible toilet seat or do I call it quits and just replace the toilet and cistern?

For information - it's an Ideal Standard Create BTW toilet but not sure if the cistern is specific to IS or if it's some kind of generic

 

[Mr.B]

I've got three Ideal Create toilets in my house. Mine are called "Square".

They've all been there 15 years - I fitted them myself.

All three have had replacement flush diaphragms and replacement diaphragm washers in the fill valves and on one of them the plastic body of the flush valve started to degrade and get brittle and weak - but I orderd a replacement from Amazon and fitting it was easy.

In addition all three have had several replacement toilet seat hinges - they're a bad design and aren't cheap ... but there's no option ... the phillips screw that tightens the hinge down on to the porcelain of the WC base is always coming loose causing the seat to move from left to right.

And finally one of the toilet seats cracked and need a complete new seat (definitely not cheap).

But they're 15 years old and nothing lasts indefinitely without attention and to replace them is a faff and not at all convenient and much of what was required is routine maintenance.

You can get replacement washers or complete vaves (both flush valve and fill valves) so the choice is yours but either way you should be able to restore the thing to good working order. Be sure the isolation valve to the toilet is convenient to operate (and does actually turn the water right off) ... but this applies to all the water based items in the house ... taps etc.

 

[Alison556]

You've had exactly the same problems it sounds. The seat is currently mobile - the hinge on one side just won't stay attached at all and you risk life and limb trying to use it. I didn't realise it was possible to hate a toilet so much. I only replaced the cistern bits a year ago. It probably would be more cost effective to replace the whole lot with new bog and cistern but it's the thought of hauling it all out again - but I'm going to have to take the worktop and panels off anyway irrespective of what I do.

 

[Mr.B]

Do what you think best ... all I would say is if you get the right internal parts and fit them correctly and have the right restrictor for the water pressure ... and have the water set to the right level in the cistern ... then, by rights, it ought to last a decent length of time before new flush and fill washers are needed again. And be aware the fill washer/diaphragms had a change of design a few years ago and aren't interchangeable. The seat hinges are just dreadful but new ones will last several years. (I oil them occasionally - the action is poorly designed and manufactured and the threaded pin tends to undo itelf so when fitting new ones (or refitting old ones) tightem them with pliers.)

 

[Keithmac]

If it's as bad as you say I'd be ripping it out and replacing it.

Spending £115 on a seat for a toilet you don't like sounds like a waste of money to me.

 

[Alison556]

If I replace both toilet and cistern, are there any brands better than others? I'm seeing kits of BTW toilet, seat and cistern for what seems like really reasonable prices, but not sure if they're any good or not or whether I'd be better getting the pan and cistern separate

I don't want to be having to haul the toilet out after this for a very long time................

https://www.victorianplumbing.co.uk...-shape-soft-close-seat-with-concealed-cistern

https://victoriaplum.com/product/or...led-cistern?options=inlet_location|side_inlet

https://www.plumbworld.co.uk/cerami...oncealed-cistern-soft-close-seat-1641-1264057