Toilet Cistern Overflowing

[Hels13]

Hi all, 

My toilet cistern has all of a sudden started over filling. The ball cock is at its lowest. 

When we flush, after about a minute, water starts draining into the overflow and water is leaking from the inlet valve. 

Any ideas what could be the cause? And what solutions I could try please? 

[Nickfromwales]

8 minutes ago, Hels13 said:

Hi all, 

My toilet cistern has all of a sudden started over filling. The ball cock is at its lowest. 

When we flush, after about a minute, water starts draining into the overflow and water is leaking from the inlet valve. 

Any ideas what could be the cause? And what solutions I could try please? 

Some pics please.

[marshian]

Hard water area?

 

Ball valve sealing washer is worn (or gone hard)

[Hels13]

Thank you, yes that would make sense. 

Off to Screwfix 👍

[saveasteading]

It's not worth changing washers etc. Fit a new one of whatever you've got.

[dpmiller]

2 hours ago, Hels13 said:

The ball cock is at its lowest

floating or sunk?

[saveasteading]

4 hours ago, Hels13 said:

The ball cock is at its lowest. 

Do you mean that you have adjusted it to be low and also bent the arm down to make it close more quickly?

[ProDave]

If you still have the old type of ball cock valve that shuts off the water slowly and can take ages dribbling to fill the last little bit before shutting it off, then change if for a modern fill valve, that will fill at full flow until quickly shutting off when full.

 

You will never again want to go back to the old slow ballcocks.

[Nickfromwales]

[marshian]

8 hours ago, saveasteading said:

It's not worth changing washers etc. Fit a new one of whatever you've got.

 

It really depends on age - both my Loft tanks (CW and F&E) have ball cock controls that are 45 years old - they've had between them 2 washers in 30 years - the whole thing takes 5 mins to strip down - it's all brass construction and will probably outlast me

 

Most modern plastic stuff is crap - made to a price point and doesn't last long

 

If it isn't an old brass unit I agree replace the whole thing and stick an isolation valve in the feed so the next time it needs replacing you don't need to turn off the water supply to the house