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https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl DIY Forum >> Plumbing Questions >> leaky cistern! https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1123234190 Message started by mdz on Aug 5^th, 2005, 10:29am

Title: leaky cistern!
Post by mdz on Aug 5^th, 2005, 10:29am

Hi all,

New to the site and plumbing so please forgive my technical cockups ( as i know there are ;)) I have had a leaky close coupled cistern for a few weeks, We just got by with a flick of the shut off valve just below the supply to the cistern.

It leaks from the underside of the supply, where on the inside there is the threaded bit next to a black washer, well i isolated the mains, removed all the guts from my cistern, and cleaned it all ( it had loads of old sealant their) I replaced the washer as the new one was perished, refitted the white plastic column type thingy ( see!) that has the ball cock shut off valve on the side of it, i applied some plumbers seal to both sides not too much, just to get it to sit well, fitted the plastic washer on the outside of the cistern, and tightenend it, i had to cut off the old 15mm supply from the wall, which i used a pipe cutter, fitted an easy push fit jobbie from B+Q (15mm adaptor push fit to 1/2" usb) This is all watertight.

But....when i connect the new push fit pipe from the wall to the bottom om my cistern ( which is also drip free ) and tighten it, it leaks from that white pipe thingy inside the cistern from the washer ???????

Please help....i'm meant to be going on holiday in about 20 hours....... :-/

Also, one last question...if i call a plumber how much should this cost me ?

Thankx for your help and sorry for the bad techie jargon.

mike.

Title: Re: leaky cistern!
Post by Chaddy on Aug 5^th, 2005, 10:57am

Have you got a conical shaped washer on the cistern side of the inlet pipe?

Have you fitted the washer on the outside?

Title: Re: washer
Post by mdz on Aug 5^th, 2005, 11:11am

Hi,
Yeah i fitted the conical washer inside the cistern.
is that right?
mike

Title: Re: leaky cistern!
Post by Chaddy on Aug 5^th, 2005, 11:28am

yes thats right.

clean off the "plumbers seal" and apply silicone to the underside of the cistern in the "void" where the nut sits.

Make sure you dry thouroughly first.

Fill this area with silicone and the put the nut and washer back on and tighten. this should sort out the leak if it is leaking from around that flange.

Hope this makes sense??!! ;D

Title: Ptfe Tape?
Post by mdz on Aug 5^th, 2005, 11:32am

Ok cool,
i gotcha , should i apply ptfe tape to the join between the metal new bit and the plastic screw thread?
???

Title: Re: leaky cistern!
Post by Chaddy on Aug 5^th, 2005, 11:35am

Shouldn't need it.

I assume you have fiited a fibre washer to the tap connector.......the metal bit that screws to the plastic bit?? ;D

Title: Re: leaky cistern!
Post by mdz on Aug 5^th, 2005, 11:42am

just had a look, theres a fitted rubber washer inside it .
Right gotta go get some silicone, will do what you say.
fingers crossed.
When i put the silicone into the "void" should i wait for it to got off before i turn the water back on?
cheers.
mike

Title: Re: leaky cistern!
Post by Chaddy on Aug 5^th, 2005, 11:45am

Ideally yeah you should wait for it to go off.

Good luck.

Let us know how you get on

Title: Re: silicone.....
Post by mdz on Aug 5^th, 2005, 1:22pm

Just refitted it all just as you say, went and got some silicone from B+Q, put it all back together , just waiting for it to go off now......................

Gonna throw the damn thing out the window if this dont work.

Title: Re: leaky cistern!
Post by Chaddy on Aug 5^th, 2005, 3:06pm

Hows it going mike?

Didi it work??

"Gonna throw the damn thing out the window if this dont work. "

Don't throw it......it'll definately leak then ;D ;D ;D

Title: Re: leaky cistern!
Post by mdz on Aug 5^th, 2005, 3:40pm

Got it all assembled just waiting as long as i can before the missus gets in before it has to go back together.

Would it help to warm it up with a hair dryer?
Or is that not a good idea?

Mike

Title: Re: leaky cistern!
Post by Chaddy on Aug 5^th, 2005, 3:42pm

You should be ok to try it now mate.

The silicone that is behind the nut should've set by now. ;D

Just make sure you remember the washer on top of the supply pipe!!

Title: Re: leaky cistern!
Post by mdz on Aug 5^th, 2005, 5:41pm

Well,

All back together .......and it works fine.

Cheers for your prompt help, dont know what i woulda done.

Most appreciated.

Mike.

Title: Re: leaky cistern!
Post by Chaddy on Aug 5^th, 2005, 5:48pm

You are very welcome mike. Glad to help ;D ;D