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Bart · Joined: 05 Apr 2008 Posts: 6 Location: London

Hi.
Please help!
I have just had a new cistern fitted that has Simpa inlet and outlet valves. The inlet valve is gravity fed from the cold water storage tank and is a 10" compact bottom fed float valve.
It takes an age to refill after use and is only dripping out.
Does this inlet valve have a 'low pressure' option or can I/should I have it attached to the mains cold water supply? The plumber that fitted it just says that's the way it is and doesn't seem concerned to do or offer any other solution and hasn't left the fitting instructions!
The previous cistern was equally slow to fill but I thought that having this new one fitted would solve the problem. The feed from the tank begins as a 22mm pipe then reduces to a 15mm pipe about half way across the loft space (about 3mtr) before dropping down the wall into the upstairs toilet with a branch off to supply the that toilet before continuing on down to supply a downstairs loo. Which is slow to fill too and to be fair has always been that way. The check valves are all fully open and there is no furring or obstructions in the pipe work that I can find.
Many thanks

cockney · Joined: 07 Dec 2007 Posts: 31 Location: Bristol

Did your guy remove the flow restrictor(cork screw insert). Which is placed inside the 1/2 threaded end of your valve, where the tap connector threads onto the start of the valve ?

Bart · Joined: 05 Apr 2008 Posts: 6 Location: London

Many thanks for your reply.
I've checked and there is no restrictor in place. I have since shut the valve 'after' the up stairs toilet and 'before' the downstairs one which has made a good difference. Which leads me to suspect that it is the amount of water flow that is the problem and perhaps I should change from 15mm pipe to 22mm until at least 'after' the upstairs toilet?
Any one think the same?

Thanks

thescruff · Moderator Joined: 03 May 2003 Posts: 4418 Location: Bath

If you have an ball type isolation valve, change it for an full flow lever ball valve

Bart · Joined: 05 Apr 2008 Posts: 6 Location: London

Hi and thanks for the reply. Yes there is a standard 15mm isolation valve which I shall now change for the type you mention and see if that makes a difference.

Bart · Joined: 05 Apr 2008 Posts: 6 Location: London

Hello again.
Changed the valve but no obvious improvement in flow/performance.
I'm thinking that my last option is to increase the 15mm pipe for a 22mm one?

thescruff · Moderator Joined: 03 May 2003 Posts: 4418 Location: Bath

I notice you mention check valve. you don't need it for a wc so it may be worth removing it and even changing the ballvalve before you start re-piping.

Bart · Joined: 05 Apr 2008 Posts: 6 Location: London

Sorry. When I said 'check valve' that probably sounded like I knew what I was talking about. It is a chrome looking compression fitting on the feed pipe from the cold water storage tank in the loft that has a small screw head to isolate the water supply from the cistern.
It doesn't have a ball valve either but a small float valve that came with the plastic cistern that I don't think I can change.

thescruff · Moderator Joined: 03 May 2003 Posts: 4418 Location: Bath

And you have changed this chrome looking compression for an full flow type

Bart · Joined: 05 Apr 2008 Posts: 6 Location: London

Hi. Yes I have but no obvious change I'm afraid.
Thanks again.