Toilet Cistern Overflow

[WarrenB]

You’ll have to excuse me with the terms, I’m not all that clued up when it comes to toilets and their bits!

Basically fitted a new bathroom in a house I’m renovating, all good except every time the toilet is flushed the cistern will fill up as normal but carry on filling for about 5 minutes until the float (?? - on the right) decides there’s actually enough water in there and it’ll stop. Once it’s stopped the water is exactly level with the overflow pipe (middle).



If the overflow could be raised by a tiny amount, or the float could be lowered slightly that’d stop it overfilling I’m sure. Trouble is I cannot work out how to do either! It looks like the overflow pipe is actually adjustable, but I can’t work out how to without damaging it.

Any ideas?

[98elise]

WarrenB said:

You’ll have to excuse me with the terms, I’m not all that clued up when it comes to toilets and their bits!

Basically fitted a new bathroom in a house I’m renovating, all good except every time the toilet is flushed the cistern will fill up as normal but carry on filling for about 5 minutes until the float (?? - on the right) decides there’s actually enough water in there and it’ll stop. Once it’s stopped the water is exactly level with the overflow pipe (middle).



If the overflow could be raised by a tiny amount, or the float could be lowered slightly that’d stop it overfilling I’m sure. Trouble is I cannot work out how to do either! It looks like the overflow pipe is actually adjustable, but I can’t work out how to without damaging it.

Any ideas?

What make is the fill valve? Most are adjustable.

If it's a Flowmasta then I believe you twist the body, push down, then twist to lock at the lower height.

You can see how it extends and lowers in the video, but they don't explain how it locks.

https://youtu.be/b2_7JFI0U7s

Edited by 98elise on Wednesday 7th June 18:04

[WarrenB]

I believe it is a flomasta, it looks pretty much identical to the one in the video. Unfortunately there isn’t the space to rotate it in the cistern. I might just bung a couple of washers on top of the overflow pipe instead…

[rigga]

There's a clip under the float head on the tube that holds it in position , if you move the clip you can then raise or lower the float height.

Had this issue a while back, and I had to replace the float as the seal inside had gone, didn't have to remove the complete assembly, as a YouTube video revealed you can twist the head off to replace.

You can see the grey clip in the Screwfix video posted above. Float head just slides up and down on the tube.

Edited by rigga on Wednesday 7th June 20:23

[Fastpedeller]

Plumber here....... The line on the rear of the cistern marked WL is the ideal Water Level, the filler valve (the one on the right should fill to the mark, but can be adjusted as someone else has indicated. The overflow (small pipe to right of syphon) can be adjusted to height by turning it anti-clockwise (usually), raising it to about 1 inch above the WL and turning it clockwise to lock it. The other check to make is that no water is 'escaping' via the lower washer of the siphon (it shouldn't be with a new one), but if it is (and isn't water going into the pan via the overflow!) then ensure the rods that push on the internal buttons aren't too long and therefore pushing down (and raising the syphon internals) when the cistern lid is put on.

[WarrenB]

Thanks very much for the replies, it's very much appreciated.

I've tried to have a feel for the clips to adjust the height but I can't feel one, though it is pretty tight in there so I could be missing it.

There's definitely no leaks though so I'm sure a bit of adjustment will fix it. I'll have a go at raising the overflow tomorrow.

I wouldn't be as bothered by it normally, but I'm on a water meter here and a cracked overflow pipe on the previous toilet meant it kept on filling. Came as a shock just how much water it used when the water bill came through!

[Fastpedeller]

As you said in your opening post, raising the overflow pipe will probably do it. That's the first thing to do, especially if the adjustment on the filler valve isn't easy to get to.