Toilet cistern not refilling - water streaming into toilet

5starpool

We had a problem with our toilet cistern a while back which we got a plumber out to look at as we had a couple of other things for him to do as well. However, he did a poor job on a couple of things and we had to get him back to redo bits that were leaking, etc. The toilet in question was ok for a short while, but then started behaving as it is now and has been for a while.

It is a dual flush system (buttons on top) and when we flush (the full flush all the time, the short flush sometimes works ok) the cistern doesn't refill, the water stays streaming into the bowl. I have taken a picture of the cistern when empty and not refilling. When I flush, the grey cylindrical bit in the middle comes up to let the water out, but does not go down on it's own, I have to push it down to get it to refill. Obviously the thing that pushes it up in the first place sticks and doesn't allow it to fall on it's own. If I just pull it up (without pressing the flush) it will go down on it's own properly, no problem.

My main question is, will I need to get a plumber out to fix this or is it something that could be attempted myself? I'm not particularly handy and don't want to try to take something apart that I know nothing about, but if it is probably easy to do, I'm willing to give it a go. Can it be taken apart easily to see what the problem is likely to be?

Thanks for any help given.

K.Flyer

Most likely the flush valve is not seating properly in the receiver, or there is something caught between the rubber seal of the flush valve and the seat of the receiver.
Grip the outer white cylinder part of the flush valve and with a sharp anti clockwise twist you can undo the vave ftom the receiver and refit it at a different position to see if that resolves the problem.

Sofiztikated

We have the same in all 3 toilets in our house. Since we've moved in, 6 years ago, 4 have been replaced. Same issue, starts with not seating properly occasionally, then frequently, then breaks.

****ing nuisance is what they are.

5starpool

Thanks. I was able to take it apart a bit anyhow, but no change. There was still something sticking somewhere in the mechanism, but seemed to be more toward the top of it but I'm not sure. Are those things easy to buy in places like heat merchants and fit yourself or is it better to get someone proper to look at it? Would they cost much? Ideally I'd like one that is reliable, not the cheapest crappy one that is liable to stop working.

K.Flyer

That make is usually quite reliable having had no issues with them myself.
Check that no part should be touching the cistern wall.
The lifting prongs should move freely up and down when the button is pushed.
The prongs should be around the narrower section of the inner grey tube.

5starpool

K.Flyer wrote: »

That make is usually quite reliable having had no issues with them myself.
Check that no part should be touching the cistern wall.
The lifting prongs should move freely up and down when the button is pushed.
The prongs should be around the narrower section of the inner grey tube.

Nothing touching the wall. Since I took it off and put it back the red bit is more to the centre of the toilet. When the buttons are pressed everything goes up, but not back down again without being pushed down.

K.Flyer

If you disconnect the button from the cable and use the mechanism to lift the flush valve, does the valve drop freely or still stay stuck open.

5starpool

K.Flyer wrote: »

If you disconnect the button from the cable and use the mechanism to lift the flush valve, does the valve drop freely or still stay stuck open.

When I was trying to disconnect the button from the cable to check this (which I couldn't figure out how to do easily) I noticed that the cable wasn't clipped into the slot it should have been under the button. I have no idea how this makes a difference, but once I had seated that correctly, the flush works properly now. Strange to me, but I'm sure it makes sense somehow. I'm not going to argue anyhow.

Thanks for all the help.