Gunge in the toilet cistern

[shivvy]

The bottom of my toilet cistern is grotty and when it is flushed wee bits of black stuff end up in the toilet bowl which looks like . . . well, it doesn't look pleasant!

I was planning to deal with it by flushing the loo, then holding up the ballcock to stop the cistern from filling and then going in with something to scoop out the gunge.

However is there another (easier) way to clean it out?

Thanks.

[Ann]

Oh Yuk - just as I was about to get tea! Try bleach and lots of it!!

[shivvy]

The flecks sink to the bottom of the water and are firm so I'm not sure how bleach would get rid of them Ann?

[The Builder]

Well Shivvers ....... you could take the cistern off the wall and turn it upside down ................... though a simpler way is to tie up the ballvalve, flush it, then mop up with a large piece of sponge.

If the cistern is fed from a roof tank, then the tank must be full of muck :o(

[shivvy]

Yes nice Mr Builder Man, the problem started when the roof tank wasn't refilling and the lower its water level got, the more cr@p came down to the loo.
I wouldn't feel confident about taking the cistern of the wall so it looks like I need to do what I had planned (and you suggested).

By the way, do I need to consider doing anything to the roof tank? Please say no!

[AlBags]

Look ..
Lift the lid off ... splash a little bleach around and scrub about with the loo brush.
Fully flush at same time and repeat after filled again.

All the mucky scale will be washed away without all that palava : )

[shivvy]

Thanks Albags

[gingejbee]

Siphon out with piece of plastic/rubber pipe. And it's CLEAN water - the bits are from the bottom of the storage tank- very common and usual situation.

[The Builder]

There are a couple of things you could do to avoid cleaning out the roof tank ................. but you won't like them :o(

Either replace the tank with a new, clean one............

Or, ........... go into the roofspace, find the mains supply to the tank ballvalve, locate the pipe coming out of the tank (goes to the bathroom)........ cut them both, and join them together.......... throw away the roof tank.
Nice clean mains water, and no more tank gunge...........
Very simple job if you're up to a bit of plumbing.

[gingejbee]

...although it can be useful to have lots of water in storage in case of mains interruptions!

[shivvy]

Nope, as I suspected I'm not up to that job Builder!
Anyhow I don't suppose any more cr@p should come down from the roof tank now that it is filling properly again.

Not sure if you are suggesting that I siphon from the cistern gingejbee? But I think I'll stick to flushing.

Thanks for all your suggestions.

[The Builder]

Actually, I apologise for not being entirely serious, Shivvers........... only bypass the rooftank if it doesn't supply an immersion cylinder as well......... you can't feed that with mains pressure :o(((

[AlBags]

.. and mains fill on any loo will need a decent fill valve .. and may be a lot noisier (the reason many use tank fill to the loo cistern)

Again .. if the roof tank is dirty .. turn off the fill or tie up ballcock. Drain down most of water .. Get a good loo brush and scrub around while any of cold bath taps turned on full. That will take all crud down the bath drain. Wipe out tank. Fill tank a bit and wash down again. Clean bath and refill header tank. Done.

[shivvy]

Thanks guys.

[B00]

I stole this from another site, not sure how helpful it'll be, but here you go....

If you are dead set on cleaning, I would shut water off at toilet shutoff and take a clean sponge and wipe the inside of tank gently. I would then turn water back on and flush toilet, then refill again, wipe again, flush again, etc., until clean. Any cleaners may just weaken rubber washers/seals...so use water.

[The Builder]

Ha ........... I wish I hadn't started that now. I was in a silly mood ;o)

Methyl, with respect, plenty of new houses have combi boilers or Megaflow pressurised hot water cylinders (no roof tanks). There hasn't been a requirement for storage for as long as I can remember............. and I go back a bit :o)))

[shivvy]

No arguing boys . . . play nicely !!

[The Builder]

Haha ....... not at all Methyl. My fault, I should stick to giving serious answers ;o)