Toilet leak - easy fix?

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Batman

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#113570 20-Jan-2013 22:47

Darn the things you learn in life ...

The pipe that connects the toilet reservoir to the toilet seat is leaking at the bit that joins the reservoir and the downpipe

I am thinking the blue detergent bar I put in the reservoir may have something to do with it

Can I just undo it and put plumber tape and rescrew or shall I not try?

Any help is appreciated!

edit: pix is view looking up from below
the pipe is coming out of the bottom of the reservoir
leak is from the screwy thing you can see

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#748010 20-Jan-2013 23:09

Do you have another toilet to use? If so, then go for it, however from the looks of it, part of it looks like it could possibily be glued/cemented in, which makes it look like it was a bit of a botched job, and possibly why it is leaking. You may find that the other side of the pipe inside the cistern and the seal could also be leaking.

Niel

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#748033 21-Jan-2013 05:52

A plumber in the family loves those blue bars, creates a lot of work for him ;-).

You can never have enough Volvos!

srob

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#748037 21-Jan-2013 06:38

Have you checked to make sure the nut hasn't come loose?
You can get seal kits from plumbing merchants or placemakers if you need them.

Steve R

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#748088 21-Jan-2013 09:48

Turn off the tap that fills the cistern. Flush it to get rid of the water in the cistern.
The knobbly bits are screw fittings, so first check to see if they are screwed tight - could be as simple as one of them being loose.
If they are tight, undo them. They can sometimes be a bugger to get off so you might need a teatowel and some multigrip pliers. These screwy bits have a rubber seal in them - check those to see if there is dirt in them or if they are worn away or anything - if they are just go to your local hardware store and get some new ones.
The blue bar you put in the cistern might actually help you here because it has probably stained where it has leaked, so this could help identify the source.

ubergeeknz

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#748093 21-Jan-2013 09:54

Yeah just try tightening the nut some before taking the thing apart. It's possible the rubber seal has gone in which case you can take it apart and replace it.

Batman

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#748155 21-Jan-2013 11:43

Ok will unscrew to see and then try the local hardware store for parts

Hope work doesn't run late tonight so that there is daylight to diy plumbing

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Batman

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#749198 22-Jan-2013 22:33

i have unscrewed the lower screw and found this
the ring doesn't look too bad but i am not a seasoned plumber
apart from replacing the yellow rubber ring shall i put plumber tape etc?
(edit: jsut realised pix upside down)

also i discovered the end of that downpipe attaches to nothing but a rubbery thing that is shaped like a toilet in its own ... i hope that is not going cause trouble in the future? i can't see how i can "improve" on the seal here but no leaks at the moment ... gosh i can see how this could have been a DIY + let's buy the cheapest toilet set on ebay!
(note pix upside down)

SCM

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#749208 22-Jan-2013 23:08

Why are ALL of your pictures upside down, would have though you would have learned by now !.......!!!!!!!!

Batman

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#749219 22-Jan-2013 23:39

Samsung galaxy s2 ... I think you can only take horizontal pics one way ... But I can never tell until it shows up on gz ...

ubergeeknz

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#749222 22-Jan-2013 23:47

Looks alright. I'd just put it back together, make sure it's tight - damn tight (and not cross threaded!) and see what happens. Worst case it leaks then maybe try some plumbing grease, or replace the O-ring.

Plumbing tape probably wont do much save for keeping it from loosening up again.

mattwnz

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#749231 23-Jan-2013 00:08

Have you actually put the blue thing in the cistern? I didn't think you were supposed to put anything into that, as that can be used as an emergency water supply, as it should be clean potable water. Potentially it could be causing the problem if it is doing something to the waters acidity or changing the waters properties.

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Batman

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#749253 23-Jan-2013 06:52

Yes I did put the blue thing in cistern.

Bought it from supermarket ... No one told me I shouldn't ...

Bung

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#749263 23-Jan-2013 08:01

Don't worry about it. Reliance on 10 litres of water in a toilet cistern is literally bottom of the barrel stuff.

I checked the wedge washer on one of my cisterns and it was tapered on both ends. I'm not sure if yours was but if not I'd put the tapered side into the cistern. The ring nut should be tight but it should need tools.

kiwitrc

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#749271 23-Jan-2013 08:34

Bung: Don't worry about it. Reliance on 10 litres of water in a toilet cistern is literally bottom of the barrel stuff.

I checked the wedge washer on one of my cisterns and it was tapered on both ends. I'm not sure if yours was but if not I'd put the tapered side into the cistern. The ring nut should be tight but it should need tools.

If anyone should know about leaks, Bung should be the guy.

Bung

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#749286 23-Jan-2013 08:45

Edit I should have said "shouldn't need tools"

Disclosure I'm not a plumber just as kiwitrc isn't a comedian.

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