Cistern not filling after mains water turned back on

FrasierCrane

I had to turn off my mains water supply to replace a pipe entering the house.

Since it got turned back on, my toilet cistern is not filling correctly. It's only filling with a drip. It's on the same line as the tap and bath in the same bathroom and both of those have a full water pressure.

It's a fully wall backed toilet so I can't see an easy way to stop the water going to the toilet to investigate further. When I fiddle with the valve it makes no difference.

Could the valve be blocked with some dirt from when the water was turned back on?

Any advice appreciated.

Thanks

greasepalm

Could be dirt entered the system and just happened to go there.By any other chance could the shutoff valve/washer be stuck in a closed position.Old cisterns near to the ballcock use to have issues with the valve and water would not stop.

FrasierCrane

greasepalm wrote: »

Could be dirt entered the system and just happened to go there.By any other chance could the shutoff valve/washer be stuck in a closed position.Old cisterns near to the ballcock use to have issues with the valve and water would not stop.

Thanks. Don't think it's an issue with the valve/washer being stuck. I have move it up and down no problem but it just doesn't seem to kick start the flow.

depcon

It's probably airlocked . Try running both the bath and sink at the same time opening both taps fully.

greasepalm

Can you upload a photo to show what its like in there,do you have a shut of valve near by .

depcon

If that doesn't work try using the pressure in the hot system to force out the air . Use a garden hose to join the taps . Might get a bit wet so best to do it in the bath.

greasepalm

Dare i ask do what in the bath:eek::eek::eek::D:D

FrasierCrane

greasepalm wrote: »

Can you upload a photo to show what its like in there,do you have a shut of valve near by .

I've attached a photo. I can turn off the water supply near by but it seems impossible to detach the valve without removing the toilet from it's position as it's fully wall backed.

FrasierCrane

depcon wrote: »

If that doesn't work try using the pressure in the hot system to force out the air . Use a garden hose to join the taps . Might get a bit wet so best to do it in the bath.

Tried running both taps and the shower all at the same time but no change. Your second suggestions sounds a bit tricky. Both the sink and bath are mixer taps so not sure it would work.

Could it be that the surge in pressure when the water came back broke the valve?

John.G

See if you can move that short little arm (with the screw) up and down about a inch, it should move quite easily with just finger pressure even with the water turned on, also just keep the "big" (white) and small (blue) flush buttons depressed, If it works like mine, this is a fast fill type and keeps filling the cistern at the full rate, unlike the ballcock type.

babi-hrse

It's probably your floating ball valve in the filling tank rusty and not going back down
We had ours tied up for plumbing work then after work was finished the tank filled up and the ball didn't come back down keeping the inflow closed. May need replacing

depcon

Run one of mixer taps so it's getting more hot than cold supply and block the water from coming out with with your thumb or palm of your hand. If there is more pressure on the hot supply it should force out any air in the cold supply and start filling the cistern.

FrasierCrane

depcon wrote: »

Run one of mixer taps so it's getting more hot than cold supply and block the water from coming out with with your thumb or palm of your hand. If there is more pressure on the hot supply it should force out any air in the cold supply and start filling the cistern.

Tried that but no joy.

Does the fact that there is the slightest trickle mean that it is not an air lock but more likely an issue with the valve?

depcon

Only going by my own experience had similar issues myself and was an airlock both times. You will still get a slight flow if it's airlocked . Try turning off the cold water supply to taps and toilet , drain the taps, then try the previous suggestion of blocking the tap and using the pressure in the hot supply. Trial and error.

FrasierCrane

depcon wrote: »

Only going by my own experience had similar issues myself and was an airlock both times. You will still get a slight flow if it's airlocked . Try turning off the cold water supply to taps and toilet , drain the taps, then try the previous suggestion of blocking the tap and using the pressure in the hot supply. Trial and error.

Unfortunately I can't turn off the cold supply and leave the hot on as the tap for stopping the supply is before the combi boiler which supplies the hot taps. It's all or nothing with controlling the supply I'm afraid.

FrasierCrane

All sorted this morning. Must have been an air lock that eventually cleared.

Thanks for all the help.

Mortelaro

babi-hrse wrote: »

It's probably your floating ball valve in the filling tank rusty and not going back down
We had ours tied up for plumbing work then after work was finished the tank filled up and the ball didn't come back down keeping the inflow closed. May need replacing

This.
It could be blocked there too,take it off and see if water flows