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Problem Guides

Toilets

Running, blocked, leaking, weak flush and cistern

25 free DIY guides · 34 total

A running toilet can waste up to 400 litres of water per day — the equivalent of five full bathtubs — and it is almost always a worn flap valve, a faulty fill valve, or a corroded siphon, all of which are cheap, straightforward parts to replace yourself. These guides cover running cisterns, weak or incomplete flushes, a toilet that won't stop filling, leaks at the base, and blocked pans. We include close-coupled, back-to-wall, wall-hung, and concealed cistern installations, plus guides for popular brands including Grohe Rapid SL, Geberit flush plates, Roca, Ideal Standard, Duravit, and smart toilets.

Most popular
1

Geberit Flush Plate Not Working: Sigma, Omega & Stuck Buttons

Geberit flush plates (Sigma01, Sigma20, Sigma30, Omega10, Omega20) connect mechanically or electronically to the flush valve inside the wall. Most faults are fixable without opening the wall.

2

Toilet flush handle or button broken

Flush handle loose, snapped, or not engaging the flush mechanism

3

Toilet makes noise after flushing — groaning or whistling

Loud noise as cistern refills after a flush

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What is the toilet doing?

All guides
Bad smell from toilet or floor drainFree
Sewage smell from toilet area· 15–30 min
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Blocked toilet — how to clear itFree
Toilet is not flushing away or water rising to the rim· 15–45 min
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Blocked toilet — how to unblock itFree
Toilet not flushing or water rising when flushed — blocked pan or waste pipe· 10–30 min
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Close-Coupled Toilet Cistern: Lid Won't Come Off, Overflow & Fill Valve TypesFree
Close-coupled toilets have the cistern sitting directly on top of the pan, connected by a flush pipe and coupling bolts. Most internal faults are straightforward DIY repairs.· 30 minutes–1.5 hours
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Concealed toilet cistern not flushing
Push-plate or button flush not working on wall-hung toilet· 30–60 min
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Cracked Toilet Cistern — Repair or Replace?
Toilet cistern has a crack — water dripping from cistern body or base· 1–4 hrs
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Duravit Toilet Problems: Wall-Hung & SensoWash — Premium German Toilets in UK Homes
Duravit is a premium German bathroom brand widely used in UK architect-designed and high-end refurbishment projects. Their toilets are high quality but spares can be harder to source than mainstream brands.· 1–3 hours
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Geberit Flush Plate Not Working: Sigma, Omega & Stuck ButtonsFree
Geberit flush plates (Sigma01, Sigma20, Sigma30, Omega10, Omega20) connect mechanically or electronically to the flush valve inside the wall. Most faults are fixable without opening the wall.· 30 minutes–2 hours
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Grohe Rapid SL Concealed Cistern: Flush Valve & Fill Valve Faults
The Grohe Rapid SL is one of the most common concealed toilet frames in UK new-builds and renovations. Internal parts are replaceable without removing the frame or tiles.· 1–2 hours
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How much does it cost to replace a toilet in the UK?
UK prices for toilet replacement — supply and fit costs for close-coupled, back-to-wall, and wall-hung toilets.· 2–4 hours
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How to fit or replace a toilet seatFree
Replacing a broken, loose, or worn toilet seat and lid· 15–30 min
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How to replace a toilet seatFree
Toilet seat cracked, wobbly, or broken — straightforward DIY replacement· 15–20 min
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Ideal Standard Toilet Problems: Tempo, Studio & Washpoint — Common UK FaultsFree
Ideal Standard is one of the oldest and most widely installed bathroom brands in the UK. Their Tempo, Studio, and Washpoint ranges are found in millions of homes and commercial properties.· 30 minutes–2 hours
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Macerator (Saniflo) Toilet Not Working
Macerator toilet not flushing, humming without activating, or making a grinding noise· 30–90 min
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Replacing a toilet fill valve (ballcock)Free
Fitting a new fill valve or syphon in a toilet cistern· 30–60 min
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Replacing a toilet syphonFree
Toilet flush not working — syphon needs replacing· 30–60 min
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Rimless Toilet Problems: Cleaning, Blockages & Seal IssuesFree
Rimless toilets (also called Rimfree, Tornado Flush, or DirectFlush) have no hidden rim channel, making them more hygienic but requiring correct flush pressure to work properly.· 30 minutes–1.5 hours
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Roca Toilet Problems: Meridian, Gap & The Gap — Common Faults in UK HomesFree
Roca is one of the most popular toilet brands in UK new-builds and refurbishments. The Meridian, Gap, and The Gap are their most common close-coupled and wall-hung models.· 30 minutes–2 hours
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Smart Toilet Problems: Toto Washlet, Roca In-Wash — Electrical Faults & Bidet Not Working
Smart toilets and smart toilet seats (washlets) combine a WC with an integrated bidet, heated seat, and sometimes a dryer. Faults can be plumbing, electrical, or software-related.· 30 minutes–3 hours
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Toilet Leaking Between Cistern and PanFree
Water dripping from the connection between the cistern and the toilet bowl· 30–60 min
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Toilet Pan Connector Problems: Leaking, Wrong Angle & ReplacementFree
The pan connector is the plastic fitting that joins the toilet outlet to the soil pipe in the floor or wall. A faulty pan connector is a very common cause of toilet leaks and smells.· 30 minutes–1.5 hours
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Toilet Seat Won't Stay Up / Keeps Falling: Soft-Close Hinge Faults & ReplacementFree
A falling toilet seat is almost always a hinge fault, not a pan fault. Most hinges are replaceable without tools, or with just a screwdriver, in under 20 minutes.· 15–30 minutes
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Toilet cistern not filling after flushingFree
Cistern stays empty or fills very slowly· 20–45 min
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Toilet cistern not filling or filling too slowlyFree
Cistern takes a very long time to refill after flushing· 20–40 min
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Toilet constantly running or tricklingFree
Water keeps running after flushing· 20–45 min
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Toilet flush handle or button brokenFree
Flush handle loose, snapped, or not engaging the flush mechanism· 15–30 min
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Toilet flush is weak — not clearing the pan effectivelyFree
Toilet flush does not have enough force to clear waste· 20–60 min
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Toilet leaking at the base
Water pooling on floor around the toilet· 5 min
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Toilet makes noise after flushing — groaning or whistlingFree
Loud noise as cistern refills after a flush· 15–30 min
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Toilet not flushing properly — weak or incomplete flushFree
Toilet flush is weak, slow, or not clearing waste properly· 20–40 min
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Toilet rocking or not sitting levelFree
Toilet pan moves when sat on· 20–45 min
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Toilet running continuously — water constantly tricklingFree
Can hear water constantly running in toilet cistern or into the pan· 30–60 min
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Toilet won't flush or has a weak flushFree
Handle does nothing or flush is very poor· 15–40 min
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Wall-Hung Toilet Problems: Not Flushing, Wobbling & Frame Access
Wall-hung toilets are fixed to a concealed steel frame inside the wall. Most faults relate to the in-wall cistern or frame fixings, not the pan itself.· 1–3 hours
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