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luckykaaDecided if the plumbers weren't going to do anything I should do it myself.
And this is where I encountered a puzzle.
We have a concealed cistern. This is enclosed in a wooden box. The box is held together with cam bolts - those hook-like bolts that Ikea use a lot. I couldn't reach the ones near the bottom, because the cistern is in the way. I couldn't remove the cistern because I needed to unscrew it at the bottom, and the front panel was in the way. I have absolutely no idea how this was assembled in the first place.
Essentially I had to remove the cistern to remove the panel, and remove the panel to remove the cistern.
Eventually managed by pulling the toilet bowl out, this gave enough room to pull the panel forwards and reach those bolts. Hooray!
So, rather then needing an entire new cistern it turns out I needed a new seal - total cost: £2.50 available immediately from Wickes. Although I did want to replace the flush valve so I got one of them. The old one was sticking and weighting it down with 2p coins was only a temporary solution.
So reassembled, and found that I didn't have the parts to replace the flush valve. Nor did Wickes sell them. Decided I'd just put it back together as best I could and deal with it later.
Turns out the best I could wasn't all that good. Flush pipe fell out and caused much much more water damage. Ooops.
Went to B&Q the next day, and they actually had all the bits I actually needed. The spanner to remove the flush valve, the 50mm to 40mm pipe, and the bag of connectors.
So after assembling, finding it was still leaking a bit, dismantling, applying a vast quantity of silicone sealant, reassembling, I finally had a leak free loo. And have decided never ever to get an enclosed cistern if I an help it. They're a pain in the arse!
Still need to do something about that panel. Have clips. Just need to attach them.
And this is where I encountered a puzzle.
We have a concealed cistern. This is enclosed in a wooden box. The box is held together with cam bolts - those hook-like bolts that Ikea use a lot. I couldn't reach the ones near the bottom, because the cistern is in the way. I couldn't remove the cistern because I needed to unscrew it at the bottom, and the front panel was in the way. I have absolutely no idea how this was assembled in the first place.
Essentially I had to remove the cistern to remove the panel, and remove the panel to remove the cistern.
Eventually managed by pulling the toilet bowl out, this gave enough room to pull the panel forwards and reach those bolts. Hooray!
So, rather then needing an entire new cistern it turns out I needed a new seal - total cost: £2.50 available immediately from Wickes. Although I did want to replace the flush valve so I got one of them. The old one was sticking and weighting it down with 2p coins was only a temporary solution.
So reassembled, and found that I didn't have the parts to replace the flush valve. Nor did Wickes sell them. Decided I'd just put it back together as best I could and deal with it later.
Turns out the best I could wasn't all that good. Flush pipe fell out and caused much much more water damage. Ooops.
Went to B&Q the next day, and they actually had all the bits I actually needed. The spanner to remove the flush valve, the 50mm to 40mm pipe, and the bag of connectors.
So after assembling, finding it was still leaking a bit, dismantling, applying a vast quantity of silicone sealant, reassembling, I finally had a leak free loo. And have decided never ever to get an enclosed cistern if I an help it. They're a pain in the arse!
Still need to do something about that panel. Have clips. Just need to attach them.
