Page 1 of I have a plumbing question

The flush on my toilet is quite weak does anyone know how to make it more powerful

my plumbing knowledge is quite basic

thanks

From what little knowledge/experience I have, the strength of the flush is governed by two things. The head and the amount of water in the cistern and the design of the toilet pan itself. If your cistern is close coupled, i.e. fixed right on top of the pan, then the head of water will be quite low i.e.weak and the only way to get round that is a cistern higher up the wall which of course means a new toilet. If the cistern is not close coupled then raising it would do the trick I reckon. Before you go any further, I would investigate the syphon, that`s the bit inside the cistern that allows the water to flush. I`ve just fitted a new type which I got in B&Q which doesn`t rely on a diaphragm, but is a little trap door which is raised by the handle and water will flow as long as you hold the handle down and until the water level reaches the level of the trap door. This all sounds a bit technical reading back on what I`ve written, but it`s a simple idea really. Also check the level of water in the cistern and make sure it`s up to the maximum mark.The design of the pan has some bearing on the wash down, not much you can do about that except change it. Hope this helps, but there must be more technically qualified people than I out there :)

JohnF

GW6UFO is QRT at the moment

Sounds to me like your siphon`s shot, and replacing the syphon involves a tricky bit of surgery that can leave the cistern leaking. If you have a low level cistern (one that is built into the back of the pan) you will have to leave the job to a plumber. If you have a high level cistern (one attached to the wall above the pan and connected to it by a pipe) you can do the job yourself with a bit of nerve and an adjustable spanner.

J Mark Oates

I don`t suppose you know of anywhere online to get a new flush pipe? mines leaking where it connects into the pan.

Don`t know of anywhere online, sorry. Is it the pipe itself that`s leaking or the seal between the pipe and the pan? If you dry the joint off, you might be able to seal it with some silicon caulk (available from B&Q/ Do It All). They might also have the rubber seals for the job, but they don`t flog them online.

J Mark Oates

for online plumbing stuff try screwfix or plumbcenter, the latter is more likely to have the pipework. In answer to the flush issue, many new toilets are low flush to save water and there is little you can do to improve them, short of fitting a new toilet. If it is a relitively old toilet, and the problem started suddenly, then it sounds like a hole in your diaphragm :( . You need to fit a new syphon - your best bet is to replace it completely, screwfix sell these bits of kit. It is quite easy to do yourself, as is most plumbing - i opnly ever get the plumber out if there is a problem with the central heating, or a blockage in the sh*tpipe, in which case no amount of money is too much to get someone else to clear it :D

This item was edited on Monday, 13th October 2003, 08:36

I checked Screwfix and Plumbcenter before I posted, Mr Water (or can I call you Uncharged?), and in answer to Neal`s query neither sell flush pipes for WCs. Siphons, yes, but flush pipes and pan seals no. The siphons at Screwfix are very good ones. They have plastic diaphragms that last for years rather than the old rubber ones which dissolved after eighteen months :)

J Mark Oates

This item was edited on Monday, 13th October 2003, 16:48

cheers for all the technical info will take a trip down to b&q this weekend and have a go at doing it myself :)

thanks again