Household DIY help ?

[jackarmy]

Noisy bathroom/toilet pipes ?


Had this problem a couple of weeks ago, thought the house was falling down.
Turned out it was a dodgy washer in my case, but if not this may help.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrluLxHLwQM

[Potstubsdustbins]

Perhaps he forgot to show you he had syphoned the WC cistern dry before he loosened to retaining nut.

These Americans will believe anything.

[Scarlet]

Pots, I have a question. Why does my toilet start flushing on its own, I'm sure I havent got a ghost?

[bearded bloke]

These Americans will believe anything.

You mean it's not the ghost of Christmad Past using a water hammer ...... that's another myth gone

[Potstubsdustbins]

Depends on what kind of syphon you have.

All modern syphon's have an internal overflow therefore if your ball valve is not closing properly water will run down inside the basin.

Is it a full flush or just a trickle or is it your ball valve you can hear running?

[Scarlet]

Hmm, it's not a full flush but I can hear the water, there's no ball in the cistern.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Scarlet lift off the lid and take a pic for me. Sounds like you have a modern cistern that has a bottom entry fill valve.

Whilst you are there take some talcum powder and sprinkle a little on the back face of the pan, this will show you if you have a trickle of water from the internal overflow.

[Scarlet]

I didn't have any talcum powder but I sprinlked flour yes it's slowly running water.

[seasprout]

I have a trickle of water from my internal overflow.

Can I claim a badge.?

[Potstubsdustbins]

Very modern indeed. Yes it has an internal overflow and the old ball has been replaced by a float operated fill valve which most people would not recognise.

I would suspect that either (a) the float is wrongly adjusted or (b) the valve is leaking.

There should be a line in the ceramic on the inside of the cistern to denote water level, if the water is above this level it will run down the inside of the pan to overflow and the fill valve will constantly run this is what you can hear and not good if you are on a water meter.

Before you consider changing the valve try the water level adjustment screw. If you look at the middle pic you will see the chrome braided hose which connects to the fill valve, just after the white plastic connection is a blue operating lever at the front of this is a white screw head this adjusts the water level float.

Do this carefully the screw is plastic and they can break if put under to much stress. I cannot tell you which way to turn the screw because they vary, so with the cistern full take your screw driver and carefully turn the screw keeping mental note of how far you have turned it.

If you turn it two turns and no water starts to enter the cistern stop there, flush the cistern and after 10 minutes do the flour test. Post the results.

If you turn the screw and the fill valve opens letting water into the cistern just turn it back to the starting point and add another two turns. and then do the test as above.

If when you try to turn the screw it is stiff, turn the water of, flush the cistern and apply WD 40. Give it a couple of minutes and try the screw again if all is OK turn the water back on and precede as above. If it still does not turn and you don't feel able to change the float valve you will need one of me.

[Scarlet]

Thanks Potty, I'm out at the moment but will try it as soon as I've plenty of time. I'm rubbish at DIY. I am on a water metre
I have tried to get a plumber out but they don't seem to like little jobs ...

[Potstubsdustbins]

Seasprout

Could we ask you to be a little more careful with the wording me eyes went all funny