Since I moved house, I've noticed the toilet doesn't flush very well, and
now it has reached the stage where the flush handle has to be pumped about
3-4 times to initiate a flush, and the flush itself is usually quite weak -
also the handle only seems to return to the halfway position and needs to be
manually reset to the correct position. What is likely to be the cause of
this? The toilet itself seems quite new (the bathroom was refitted a couple
of years before we moved in), and it's a modern close-coupled unit.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

Hellraiser wrote:
Since I moved house, I've noticed the toilet doesn't flush very well,
and now it has reached the stage where the flush handle has to be
pumped about 3-4 times to initiate a flush, and the flush itself is
usually quite weak - also the handle only seems to return to the
halfway position and needs to be manually reset to the correct
position. What is likely to be the cause of this? The toilet itself
seems quite new (the bathroom was refitted a couple of years before
we moved in), and it's a modern close-coupled unit.
Any ideas?

Thanks.

Diaphragm knackered, you can make one from some thin polythene, or replace
the innards altogether

In article ,
"Hellraiser" writes:
Since I moved house, I've noticed the toilet doesn't flush very well, and
now it has reached the stage where the flush handle has to be pumped about
3-4 times to initiate a flush, and the flush itself is usually quite weak -
also the handle only seems to return to the halfway position and needs to be
manually reset to the correct position. What is likely to be the cause of
this? The toilet itself seems quite new (the bathroom was refitted a couple
of years before we moved in), and it's a modern close-coupled unit.

The handle lifts a one-way diaphram valve in the wide end of the
syphon. Most likely, the diaphram is split or falling to pieces.
Replacements are available. I've never replaced one in a close
coupled cistern, and I suspect you'll have to take the cistern
off in order to get the syphon out. If you do, you'll need a
new doughnut washer to seal the cistern back on to the bowl, as
reusing an existing doughnut washer rarely works.

Only other thought is if the water level in the cistern is much
lower than it should be, but I've never seen that happen. As
things wear, the water level tends to go up if anything.

--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]

Phil L wrote:
Hellraiser wrote:
Since I moved house, I've noticed the toilet doesn't flush very well,
and now it has reached the stage where the flush handle has to be
pumped about 3-4 times to initiate a flush, and the flush itself is
usually quite weak - also the handle only seems to return to the
halfway position and needs to be manually reset to the correct
position. What is likely to be the cause of this? The toilet itself
seems quite new (the bathroom was refitted a couple of years before
we moved in), and it's a modern close-coupled unit.
Any ideas?

Thanks.

Diaphragm knackered, you can make one from some thin polythene, or
replace the innards altogether

I usually replace the innards - a syphon only costs about £8 in a DIY store
http://www.wickes.co.uk/invt/421647. A few times I've replaced diaphragms
with propper store bought ones only to find the old syphon has a split in
it.


--
Dave
The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk
01634 717930
07850 597257

"Hellraiser" wrote:
Since I moved house, I've noticed the toilet doesn't flush very well, and
now it has reached the stage where the flush handle has to be pumped about
3-4 times to initiate a flush, and the flush itself is usually quite
weak - also the handle only seems to return to the halfway position and
needs to be manually reset to the correct position. What is likely to be
the cause of this? The toilet itself seems quite new (the bathroom was
refitted a couple of years before we moved in), and it's a modern
close-coupled unit.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

If you have to replace the siphon unit I recommend using silicone sanitary
sealant when you reconnect the water outlet pipe to the new siphon where it
protrudes through the hole at the bottom of the cistern. Then you are sure
that it doesn't leak.

"DIY" secret wrote in message ...
"Hellraiser" wrote:
Since I moved house, I've noticed the toilet doesn't flush very well, and
now it has reached the stage where the flush handle has to be pumped
about 3-4 times to initiate a flush, and the flush itself is usually
quite weak - also the handle only seems to return to the halfway position
and needs to be manually reset to the correct position. What is likely
to be the cause of this? The toilet itself seems quite new (the bathroom
was refitted a couple of years before we moved in), and it's a modern
close-coupled unit.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

If you have to replace the siphon unit I recommend using silicone sanitary
sealant when you reconnect the water outlet pipe to the new siphon where
it protrudes through the hole at the bottom of the cistern. Then you are
sure that it doesn't leak.

Cool - thanks everyone for your help, looks like a visit to the local DIY
emporium tomorrow

Cheers

Hellraiser.............

"Hellraiser" wrote in message
...

"DIY" secret wrote in message ...
"Hellraiser" wrote:
Since I moved house, I've noticed the toilet doesn't flush very well,
and now it has reached the stage where the flush handle has to be pumped
about 3-4 times to initiate a flush, and the flush itself is usually
quite weak - also the handle only seems to return to the halfway
position and needs to be manually reset to the correct position. What
is likely to be the cause of this? The toilet itself seems quite new
(the bathroom was refitted a couple of years before we moved in), and
it's a modern close-coupled unit.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

If you have to replace the siphon unit I recommend using silicone
sanitary sealant when you reconnect the water outlet pipe to the new
siphon where it protrudes through the hole at the bottom of the cistern.
Then you are sure that it doesn't leak.

Cool - thanks everyone for your help, looks like a visit to the local DIY
emporium tomorrow

Cheers

Hellraiser.............

Sometimes the spindle of the handle gets a bit gummed up with rust and this
can stop it returning fully and will cause a weaker flush. Diaphragm most
likely though.

"Hellraiser" wrote in message
...

"DIY" secret wrote in message ...
"Hellraiser" wrote:
Since I moved house, I've noticed the toilet doesn't flush very well,
and now it has reached the stage where the flush handle has to be pumped
about 3-4 times to initiate a flush, and the flush itself is usually
quite weak - also the handle only seems to return to the halfway
position and needs to be manually reset to the correct position. What
is likely to be the cause of this? The toilet itself seems quite new
(the bathroom was refitted a couple of years before we moved in), and
it's a modern close-coupled unit.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

If you have to replace the siphon unit I recommend using silicone
sanitary sealant when you reconnect the water outlet pipe to the new
siphon where it protrudes through the hole at the bottom of the cistern.
Then you are sure that it doesn't leak.

Cool - thanks everyone for your help, looks like a visit to the local DIY
emporium tomorrow

Cheers

I fitted a "turbo" syphon unit to my close-coupled toilet before it became
faulty. This is a syphon which comes apart and doesn't need to be removed. I
don't know if they're still available. Syphons come in at least 2 heights,
so measure it, or take the old one with you.

Sylvain.

Hellraiser.............