I've got a leak coming from somewhere around a close coupled toilet's cistern
(the water is clean), but there's no access to the nuts that fix the cistern
to the pan. It's one of those that fits flush to the wall types like this:

https://www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-Meleti-Easy-Clean-Close-Coupled-Fully-Shrouded-Toilet-Pan%2C-Cistern+Soft-Close-Slim-Seat---815-x-350mm/p/233448

Is it necessary to remove the whole toilet to access the cistern and flush
mechanism fixings? I could find out the hard way, but just wondering before I
get involved.

As an aside, I discovered the leak all of a sudden, with a heavily soaked
ceiling on the room below. I was in the room an hour earlier - returned and
mini-flood. Investigating behind the WC did reveal a drip-leak but I couldn't
see where it was coming from except roughly at cistern-pan coupling height.
But no sign of water backing up. Odd.

--
Cheers, Rob, Sheffield UK

On 20/04/2024 14:38, RJH wrote:
> I've got a leak coming from somewhere around a close coupled toilet's cistern
> (the water is clean), but there's no access to the nuts that fix the cistern
> to the pan. It's one of those that fits flush to the wall types like this:
>
> https://www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-Meleti-Easy-Clean-Close-Coupled-Fully-Shrouded-Toilet-Pan%2C-Cistern+Soft-Close-Slim-Seat---815-x-350mm/p/233448
>
> Is it necessary to remove the whole toilet to access the cistern and flush
> mechanism fixings? I could find out the hard way, but just wondering before I
> get involved.

It appears to be in two bits - so the cistern is probably a normal close
coupled design with a "doughnut" washer etc.

That may mean that the bolts the clamp the bits together are accessible
only from the underside, which would mean pulling it away from the wall
to get at them.

However, sometimes pans like that have expanding fittings with a screw
into a wider plastic "plug", and can be tightened and loosened from just
the top (i.e. inside the cistern).

You might need the installation manual to check.

(this supposes that it is that connection that is leaking, and not at
the pan connector that joins it to the soil pipe - and you will need to
pull it out for that).

--
Cheers,

John.

/=================================================================\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\=================================================================/

RJH <patchmoney@gmx.com> wrote:
> I've got a leak coming from somewhere around a close coupled toilet's cistern
> (the water is clean), but there's no access to the nuts that fix the cistern
> to the pan. It's one of those that fits flush to the wall types like this:
>
> https://www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-Meleti-Easy-Clean-Close-Coupled-Fully-Shrouded-Toilet-Pan%2C-Cistern+Soft-Close-Slim-Seat---815-x-350mm/p/233448
>
> Is it necessary to remove the whole toilet to access the cistern and flush
> mechanism fixings? I could find out the hard way, but just wondering before I
> get involved.
>
> As an aside, I discovered the leak all of a sudden, with a heavily soaked
> ceiling on the room below. I was in the room an hour earlier - returned and
> mini-flood. Investigating behind the WC did reveal a drip-leak but I couldn't
> see where it was coming from except roughly at cistern-pan coupling height.
> But no sign of water backing up. Odd.
>

As John suggests, try and get the instructions / installation manual. It
may be on the web- even YouTube.

I would expect a similar set up to a norm close fitting cistern - a large
rubber like ring, as John mentioned, but possible a special. That said,
they rarely fail. I’ve never fixed one in 40 years of house ownership.

On 22 Apr 2024 at 13:06:30 BST, Brian wrote:

> RJH <patchmoney@gmx.com> wrote:
>> I've got a leak coming from somewhere around a close coupled toilet's cistern
>> (the water is clean), but there's no access to the nuts that fix the cistern
>> to the pan. It's one of those that fits flush to the wall types like this:
>>
>> https://www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-Meleti-Easy-Clean-Close-Coupled-Fully-Shrouded-Toilet-Pan%2C-Cistern+Soft-Close-Slim-Seat---815-x-350mm/p/233448
>>
>> Is it necessary to remove the whole toilet to access the cistern and flush
>> mechanism fixings? I could find out the hard way, but just wondering before I
>> get involved.
>>
>> As an aside, I discovered the leak all of a sudden, with a heavily soaked
>> ceiling on the room below. I was in the room an hour earlier - returned and
>> mini-flood. Investigating behind the WC did reveal a drip-leak but I couldn't
>> see where it was coming from except roughly at cistern-pan coupling height.
>> But no sign of water backing up. Odd.
>>
>
> As John suggests, try and get the instructions / installation manual. It
> may be on the web- even YouTube.
>
> I would expect a similar set up to a norm close fitting cistern - a large
> rubber like ring, as John mentioned, but possible a special. That said,
> they rarely fail. I’ve never fixed one in 40 years of house ownership.

Many thanks both. I've been busy clearing up the mess, having isolated the
supply.

Inside the cistern I can see two slot-heading nylon fixings. I'll start there
and report back . . .

--
Cheers, Rob, Sheffield UK

On 22/04/2024 13:06, Brian wrote:

> I would expect a similar set up to a norm close fitting cistern - a large
> rubber like ring, as John mentioned, but possible a special. That said,
> they rarely fail. I’ve never fixed one in 40 years of house ownership.

But often leak if you remove the cistern from the pan and attempt to
reuse the original again. The rubber/foam ring becomes deformed to the
original fitting of cistern and pan

If there has been a leak the mounting hardware may have become rusty and
if so it's advisable to replace that on reassembly.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/wc-close-coupling-kit/84958

Or maybe, depending on design

https://www.screwfix.com/p/viva-pp0021-stainless-steel-bolt-through-kit/291ht

The rubber on the latter may have become brittle or split if long term
usage of in-cistern bleach/cleaning type blocks.

--
mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk

On 22-Apr-24 13:06, Brian wrote:
> RJH <patchmoney@gmx.com> wrote:
>> I've got a leak coming from somewhere around a close coupled toilet's cistern
>> (the water is clean), but there's no access to the nuts that fix the cistern
>> to the pan. It's one of those that fits flush to the wall types like this:
>>
>> https://www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-Meleti-Easy-Clean-Close-Coupled-Fully-Shrouded-Toilet-Pan%2C-Cistern+Soft-Close-Slim-Seat---815-x-350mm/p/233448
>>
>> Is it necessary to remove the whole toilet to access the cistern and flush
>> mechanism fixings? I could find out the hard way, but just wondering before I
>> get involved.
>>
>> As an aside, I discovered the leak all of a sudden, with a heavily soaked
>> ceiling on the room below. I was in the room an hour earlier - returned and
>> mini-flood. Investigating behind the WC did reveal a drip-leak but I couldn't
>> see where it was coming from except roughly at cistern-pan coupling height.
>> But no sign of water backing up. Odd.
>>
>
> As John suggests, try and get the instructions / installation manual. It
> may be on the web- even YouTube.

Like
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OphJSdgWLNc

--
Sam Plusnet

On 22 Apr 2024 at 19:12:57 BST, Sam Plusnet wrote:

> On 22-Apr-24 13:06, Brian wrote:
>> RJH <patchmoney@gmx.com> wrote:
>>> I've got a leak coming from somewhere around a close coupled toilet's cistern
>>> (the water is clean), but there's no access to the nuts that fix the cistern
>>> to the pan. It's one of those that fits flush to the wall types like this:
>>>
>>> https://www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-Meleti-Easy-Clean-Close-Coupled-Fully-Shrouded-Toilet-Pan%2C-Cistern+Soft-Close-Slim-Seat---815-x-350mm/p/233448
>>>
>>> Is it necessary to remove the whole toilet to access the cistern and flush
>>> mechanism fixings? I could find out the hard way, but just wondering before I
>>> get involved.
>>>
>>> As an aside, I discovered the leak all of a sudden, with a heavily soaked
>>> ceiling on the room below. I was in the room an hour earlier - returned and
>>> mini-flood. Investigating behind the WC did reveal a drip-leak but I couldn't
>>> see where it was coming from except roughly at cistern-pan coupling height.
>>> But no sign of water backing up. Odd.
>>>
>>
>> As John suggests, try and get the instructions / installation manual. It
>> may be on the web- even YouTube.

It doesn't have any branding, and I can't find any examples of shrouded WC
installation. I assume it needs a longish flexible connecting pipe which is
connected before sliding the whole thing against the wall.

Quite how you're supposed to isolate the water supply without disconnecting
the pan I've no idea. Anyway, I've isolated it by going round the back,
opening up a partition wall, and capping the supply pipe. I'll be fitting an
access hatch when it all goes back together.

>
> Like
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OphJSdgWLNc

That's not shrouded. Even I can manage that :-)

--
Cheers, Rob, Sheffield UK

On 22/04/2024 19:32, RJH wrote:
> On 22 Apr 2024 at 19:12:57 BST, Sam Plusnet wrote:
>
>> On 22-Apr-24 13:06, Brian wrote:
>>> RJH <patchmoney@gmx.com> wrote:
>>>> I've got a leak coming from somewhere around a close coupled toilet's cistern
>>>> (the water is clean), but there's no access to the nuts that fix the cistern
>>>> to the pan. It's one of those that fits flush to the wall types like this:
>>>>
>>>> https://www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-Meleti-Easy-Clean-Close-Coupled-Fully-Shrouded-Toilet-Pan%2C-Cistern+Soft-Close-Slim-Seat---815-x-350mm/p/233448
>>>>
>>>> Is it necessary to remove the whole toilet to access the cistern and flush
>>>> mechanism fixings? I could find out the hard way, but just wondering before I
>>>> get involved.
>>>>
>>>> As an aside, I discovered the leak all of a sudden, with a heavily soaked
>>>> ceiling on the room below. I was in the room an hour earlier - returned and
>>>> mini-flood. Investigating behind the WC did reveal a drip-leak but I couldn't
>>>> see where it was coming from except roughly at cistern-pan coupling height.
>>>> But no sign of water backing up. Odd.
>>>>
>>>
>>> As John suggests, try and get the instructions / installation manual. It
>>> may be on the web- even YouTube.
>
> It doesn't have any branding, and I can't find any examples of shrouded WC
> installation. I assume it needs a longish flexible connecting pipe which is
> connected before sliding the whole thing against the wall.

Not necessarily - if the pan connector is positioned at the right
height, and projects from the wall the right amount, you can just push
the pan into place, and it will naturally seat in the connector.

> Quite how you're supposed to isolate the water supply without disconnecting
> the pan I've no idea.

Using the service valve that the installed thoughtfully placed in an
accessible location! :-)

--
Cheers,

John.

/=================================================================\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\=================================================================/

On 23 Apr 2024 at 10:54:47 BST, John Rumm wrote:

>>>> As John suggests, try and get the instructions / installation manual. It
>>>> may be on the web- even YouTube.
>>
>> It doesn't have any branding, and I can't find any examples of shrouded WC
>> installation. I assume it needs a longish flexible connecting pipe which is
>> connected before sliding the whole thing against the wall.
>
> Not necessarily - if the pan connector is positioned at the right
> height, and projects from the wall the right amount, you can just push
> the pan into place, and it will naturally seat in the connector.
>

Sorry - meant the water supply pipe.

>> Quite how you're supposed to isolate the water supply without disconnecting
>> the pan I've no idea.
>
> Using the service valve that the installed thoughtfully placed in an
> accessible location! :-)

Ha!

The whole design seems a real form over function . . .

--
Cheers, Rob, Sheffield UK