Toilet VERY slow to fill - How to fix?

_Kaiser_

... Hopefully without a plumber! 🙂

So my ensuite toilet (toilets actually as both are impacted) have gradually become slower and slower to refill after flushing, to the point where the one in the picture is taking hours at this stage.

I live in a very hard water/limescale heavy area so I'm guessing this is the cause of the problem, but if anyone can suggest a solution or what needs replacing (in very simple I'm-an-IT-guy-not-a-plumber language) that would be very much appreciated!

Pics below...

This house is probably about 20 years old and was one of those pretty much thrown together in the boom times (and it shows), but if I just need to replace something there I will start with that.

Thanks in advance!

Calahonda52

Can you isolate / cut off the water to the cisterns: any sign of anything like this

if not there m ay be vales in the hot press and then you could open the green connection as see if it s choked with lime scale

There may be a fine mesh filter in there..

[ re I'm-an-IT-guy has you tried Ctrl=Alt-Del !]

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FREDNISMO

I've seen the rubber diaphragm washer go hard over time in these valves you need to open valve at the green connection once you have the water feed turned off, you may as well get a new washer they are only a euro or so to have and change it if you go to the trouble of dismantling the valve.

mickdw

100 percent its the rubber washer in that setup.

Pennies to fix.

kirk.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121524298#Comment_121524298

How ?

mickdw

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121524355#Comment_121524355

New rubber from hardware store. They all keep them in stock.

It gets stiff and so doesn't allow the water to flow when ballcock drops away.

It's right behind that green threaded connection.

_Kaiser_

Sorry guys.. Didn't get any notifications from the thread (stupid "new" site) and been busy with the Christmas stuff the last few days.

Thanks for the replies above though. I guess I need a few new washers then.

There's no cut off that I can see near the toilets anyway so it's probably in the hot press - another mess of unlabeled wheels/valves (will add a pic later on or more likely tomorrow).

The only other thing is those green plastic connectors aren't budging (probably a result of the limescale that's probably caked on the inside?) and I'm wary of breaking them in the attempt.. Any suggestions for that one?

Thanks again for the feedback and suggestions so far!

mickdw

Channel lock pliers is what you want. Minimal pressure will grip those lugs on the green threaded fitting and open them without damage. Use 2 pliers if needed.

I've done these with water live but you might want to switch it off.

The Continental Op

OP whats your water pressure like? The diaphragm seals against a nozzle which comes in two sizes. One with a small orifice for high pressure and one with a much larger orifice for low pressure.

Low pressure https://ondemandsupplies.co.uk/float-valve-low-pressure-valve-washer/

High pressure https://ondemandsupplies.co.uk/white-high-pressure-float-valve-washer-nozzle/

If thats the type you have then I'd always change the nozzle and diaphragm at the same time. It is possible to have a perfectly good diaphragm and a damaged nozzle although its normally the diaphragm that goes first.

TheSunIsShining

20231227_192748.jpg

One of these is what you need as per the lads above saying the diaphragm is probably stiffened up. On the lid of my toilet for weeks - now I feel guilty for not having done it here!

_Kaiser_

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121541402#Comment_121541402

Water pressure is crap to be honest. It seems to have gotten worse at the kitchen tap in recent months to where I think it's probably time to call Irish Water?

Tippbhoy1

I don’t think external water pressure is an issue here as the toilets are surely filled from the attic tank.

id this issue before in my mothers house and replaced the equivalent of the green piece in your photo. It should be doable even if you can’t isolate the water and the part only costs a few quid.

Tippbhoy1

https://www.screwfix.ie/p/flomasta-plastic-part-3-float-valve-1-2-/693FY?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA1rSsBhDHARIsANB4EJbql6NS02oFxdcrstJqcJuXgKkaE68aMsXlruZyGXvTfGIxJJFXd44aAtd-EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds#product_additional_details_container

Some of the lads here have pointed out the diaphragm replacement might be enough either.

_Kaiser_

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121543492#Comment_121543492

Cheers for this.. If I buy two of those then and the channel lock pliers, it should include everything to replace all the bits needed then?

Tippbhoy1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121545678#Comment_121545678

Yes and maybe a bit of plumbing tape.

that’s all I did anyway and still working away fine.

The Continental Op

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121545678#Comment_121545678

Note that red thing under the arm is a nozzle for low pressure which can be swapped with the one thats fitted.

POBox19

@TheSunIsShining @The Continental Op

Thanks guys, fixed my slow fillers with two of the diaphragm washers form Woddies €3 each.

Here's a video on how to do it: https://youtu.be/WVnF-1Reonc?feature=shared

_Kaiser_

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121543492#Comment_121543492

Cheers guys.. bought 2 of these and a channel lock screwdriver in the local Screwfix this morning and both now sorted.

As I thought, the old ones were caked with limescale. The one in the pics in the OP wasn't too bad so I just changed the washer but the 2nd needed the whole assembly because I couldn't get the left bracket loose.

All's well that end's well though! Thanks again for all the input and Happy New Year!

mickdw

Great.

Did you manage to isolate water supply or do it live?

_Kaiser_

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121568842#Comment_121568842

Once I managed to get the brackets off the first one, water started flowing VERY fast so luckily I figured out which valve was for the upstairs water which I've since labelled..

But as a related question, any thoughts on what this one controls? I have identified the valve for the hot water tap for the kitchen above it (the pipe behind/beside it) , but can't identify where this is going..

Seems to come out of the wall and go to the attic?

Kaisr Sose

Mains supply to attic storage tank ?

The Continental Op

If you can hear the header tank filling then see if the noise stops when you close off that valve. Chances are its for the feed to a tank(s) in the attic.

_Kaiser_

Will give that a go.. cheers!

andydurnin

Hi, can anyone help, all my toilets are slow to fill, could take 20 minutes to fill. This can be a pain as you can guess. Would anyone know what the problem would be with the water going to the toilets. I am only in my house 5 years

mickdw

What kind of cistern setup have you?

They all fail differently.

watchclocker

I had a plumber on for another thing and mentioned the cisterns being slow, he fitted new washers in seconds and they're perfect again so try what was posted in the original thread, my cistern looks exact same inside as picture above

POBox19

Put some pictures up like post #1 above, otherwise we'd be guessing.

TheSunIsShining

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122921899#Comment_122921899

I'd say give one a new diaphragm as per the above. It will cost you a couple of euro and you can just see if it fixes it in one. Not much to lose by trying it anyway.