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davidmbell · Joined: 26 Jan 2004 Posts: 6 Location: Leeds

Hi there, I am wanting to decrease the refil flow rate into my toilet's cistern.

I think the toilet is the 1st thing off the water main (bungalow), and when you flush the loo everything else in the house has to wait 5 mins for it to fill! Including the hot water (combi boiler).

I remember my parents system having a small control knob for isolating the supply to the cistern, but that also acted as a flow control.

I was thinking, if I put in an isolating valve in the pipe going to the toilet, and turning it to almost off then when it is flushed it will refil slower - therefore allowing more water to go to my combi boiler in order that I can wash my hands straight away and not in 5 mins when the loo has finsihed refil.

Does this make sense?

I don't know a great deal about plumbing, but have an isolating valve that I could use for this.

Thanks in advance

David

AlanE · Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2004 2:21 pm Post subject:

Does this make sense? If you already have a valve then why noy try it!

Might just be worth fitting one with a lever marked 'FOR EMERGENCY USE in case urgent use of toilet required'. (Only joking)

I presume you water flow rate is extreemly poor. Might be worth dismantling main stopcock to see if it is partially blocked at all.

Alan

davidmbell · Joined: 26 Jan 2004 Posts: 6 Location: Leeds

Thanks for the sarcastic response : (

I am not a plumber and doing something like this isn't as easy as "just go do it"!

I asked because I thought someone might be able to say yes go do it, or no it won't work.

The flow to the toilet is good as the pressure is hi, but from flush to being able to reuse the water again seems like forever. I have never seen a system like this where you can't use other stuff until the loo has done.

Most houses you can at least get a bit of water.

I have to explain to guests as they think there is something wrong.

So, in short, will this or won't this work? Is this the right sort of part for this. That's all I need.

David
ps responses like that will put people off bothering to come here and ask.

AlanE · Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2004 3:46 pm Post subject:

Sorry if you dislike the slightly lighthearted approch.

Yes putting an isolating valve in the pipe would slow down the rate of flow and produce the effect you are looking for. You might find that closing down the flow too much might cause a rushing sound as the water passes the valve.

What bothers me as a professional is the fact you say you have good pressure, where?

Fill a 9 litre bucket and time how long it takes to fill. No that is not being flippant it is a means of accuratly measuring your flow rate.

If you indeed have a good pressure at the kitchen sink and a reasonable flow rate then I would say you might have a problem somewhere.

Just wondering if you are trying to cure symptoms rather than cure the cause.

Alan

thescruff · Moderator Joined: 03 May 2003 Posts: 4680 Location: Bath

What were you thinking off Alan, a "GAS" valve???????????????????

Sounds like the leeds foofball team, bottom of the league.

scruff Twisted Evil

davidmbell · Joined: 26 Jan 2004 Posts: 6 Location: Leeds

I have just filled a bucket in the kitchen sink with 9 litres of water and it took 38 seconds.

How does that rate?

I just want to be able to use other sources of water while the toilet fills. I'm not bothered if it makes a rushing noise.

Would prefer the system the other way round in that the taps will stop the toilet, not the other way round. Not that I know much about this but I assume this is because the toilet cistern is lower than the kitchen/bathroom taps?

David
ps sorry if I took your light hearted response the wrong way, thought you were being sarcastic

thescruff · Moderator Joined: 03 May 2003 Posts: 4680 Location: Bath

Very poor, check the stopcock is turned on fully, and then tell us more about the system.

ps sorry if I took your light hearted response the wrong way, thought you were being sarcastic.

No probs, we all have a bit of fun sometimes.

scruff

davidmbell · Joined: 26 Jan 2004 Posts: 6 Location: Leeds

Its on full I'm afraid. What else can I tell you about the system?

All ground floor (1 storey Lodge House) kitchen with sink, dishwasher, washing machine, bath, shower, sink, 1 toilet. All the pipes look very old to me (its a rented house) but landlady has suggested I wait for toilet to fill - so options are v limited, and hence why I wanted to try this.

Thanks

David

thescruff · Moderator Joined: 03 May 2003 Posts: 4680 Location: Bath

We have a similar problem in Henley where the lodge is fed from the main house, the pipe is full of rust a just about reaches the taps,
the owner has replaced the mains to the house and will replace the rest in Phase 2 of the work.

Have you an outside stopcock that you can turn off and check the inside for blockages.

By turning the valve down at the toilet you will reduce the flow and therefore allow more water for the rest, ( in theory ), another option would be to fit a small tank in the loft to feed the wc.

scruff Cool

davidmbell · Joined: 26 Jan 2004 Posts: 6 Location: Leeds

I really don't know where the water comes from, if it comes from the main house or if the house has its own supply, there's quite a distance between the two.

I thought our pressure was really good, using the hose pipe is like a jet wash, and you can't use the taps in the kitchen on full as it goes all over!.

Seems that my supply is a bit slow though...

The only stop cock I can find is in the toilet. If there's another one outside, then I dont know about it....

There is something outside the back door under a grate, but when I turn it nothing happens...?

Can't be adding tanks and the like as its not my house, I rent it. Hence why the in line valve was my cheapest (and do-able by me) option.

Thanks

David

AlanE · Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2004 11:55 am Post subject:

David you say you have good pressure at kitchen sink if you turn on hot tap there what effect does opening the cold have?

Alan

davidmbell · Joined: 26 Jan 2004 Posts: 6 Location: Leeds

If you are using hot tap, and turn on cold the hot tap slows - not stops though like it would if the loo was flushed.

Why?

David