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Valsir Cisterns: How to identify the spare parts

Valsir Cisterns: How to identify the spare parts

March 30, 2020
Valsir Cisterns: How to identify the spare parts

Today we discuss how to identify that you require a Valsir spare part and then what spare parts you may require to fix your toilet problems at home.

Some of the buttons to help identify if you have a Valsir Cistern in your wall.

Identifying whether it is a Pneumatic or Mechanical Cistern

The easiest way to tell if you have a pneumatic cistern is by removing the push plate. What you should see with a pneumatic cistern is two small tube plastic hoses together which are blue and white. This means you will have a pneumatic mechanism which is important later on in this article for button ‘sticking’ problems.

Identifying the Brand Valsir

To identify the brand of your toilet, the actual flush plate you press is the easiest way to identify your cistern in the wall. Usually, the name will be printed on the bottom right or left of the front plate. The word Valsir, Verotti or Hideaway should be on the plate somewhere. These 3 brands all use Valsir cistern spare parts. If the plate has no name on it but looks like one of the buttons above, you must begin the process of removing the plate which clips on and off. Once this is removed there should be a sticker on the back of the cistern directly behind the button that says Valsir. If this has any of those traits, move on to the next step.

Identify which Valsir Cistern you have

Once you have identified that your cistern is made from Valsir or from Valsir spare parts, you must then identify which cistern you have. Below are 4 pictures to start you off with the key differences between the 4 cisterns. I will go through the easiest ways to identify your cistern.

Evolut Cistern

The Valsir Evolut cistern has a few key components that make it easy to identify compared to the other cisterns. The first difference is that it is deeper then the other cisterns and lower down. So when you lift your lid up on the toilet, if it covers some of the toilet button then it is more likely to be an Evolut cistern. Next, with your tap measure, measure the actual cistern depth which should be around 150mm. Furthermore your flexible hose should go directly across the front of the cistern and exit through the left hand side of the cistern in a downward bend at the end.

Tropea S Cistern

The Tropea S cistern is slimmer then the Evolut cistern and taller. Hence you should be able to lift the toilet seat up and it won’t cover the toilet button at all. With a tap measure, measure the actual cistern depth which should be around 90mm in depth. But, the Tropea 3 and RIOS are also a similar depth so you need to follow the next steps. The tropea S inlet flex hose goes across the cistern and the zig zags up on the left hand side to exit through the top left hand side of the cistern. to add further confirmation, you should see a white and blue little tab squares sticking upwards from the outlet valve (cylinder in the middle).

Rios Cistern

Rios cisterns are the oldest cistern on the market from Valsir and have a couple of very identifiable parts. The first identifying mark is the actual button which looks like the below:

Rios Button

The next step is the actual cistern depth which again is very similar to the Tropea S depth of 90mm. a good identification signal, is that the flexi hose bends straight up vertically and exits through the top middle of the cistern itself which no other Valsir cistern does. It can also have the inlet valve sitting on the left hand side (when you face the cistern) which is different to the others.

Tropea 3 Cisterns

Tropea 3 Cistern

The Tropea 3 is the newest cistern so the first question to answer is if this has been installed in the last 2-3 years. That is a good indication you have a Tropea 3 cistern in the wall. Next measure the cistern depth which should be around 84mm. The most defining feature of the Tropea 3 is that it does not have a flexi hose and you should see the inlet valve as pictured join up to the top left hand side of the cistern.

Ok, you have identified your cistern correctly. Now how do you identify which Valsir cistern spare part you need?

Your toilet is making a hissing like sound when it flushes

If your cistern is making a hissing sound when you flush the toilet, it is most likely something is wrong with the inlet valve (commonly called float valve) that sits inside your cistern. Fortunately, Valsir use the same inlet valve for the Rios, Tropea S and Evolut cisterns so you can have confidence in this order.

Your cistern is over-filling

There is a line in the cistern where the water should fill back up to. If the water is overfilling above this line then it is commonly the Inlet valve which is at fault. This next step is a more technical and will require a plumber. If it is over-filling, you may notice the cistern is still running water into the pan. As it is filling, turn the water off, if water continues to flow into the pan then it is more likely the Outlet Valve or Rubber washer that is the problem

The water continues to run into the toilet pan when you flush

This is a very common problem with most toilets and this is a waste of water that ends up on your water bill. If the plumber has followed the step above and the water continues to run into the toilet pan. You will either need to replace the rubber ring at the bottom or replace the complete outlet valve which has the rubber ring on it. Usually, the first step it is to replace the rubber washer itself first as this part usually fails first and becomes warped over time. It is a simple replacement. The outlet valve is a good idea to replace if the water is leaking into the toilet pan and the outlet valve isn’t pushing down correctly when you are flushing the toilet. Please note, it is important to identify which cistern you have as each outlet valve is different. For example, the Evolut cistern outlet valve is the most expensive as it comes with the pneumatic mechanism connected to it whilst the others are Outlet valves only.

The button is hard to push or sticks when you press the button

If the Valsir buttons become hard to push on the pneumatic cisterns which have these buttons:

To determine if it is the button that is causing the issue or the pneumatic mechanism that connect the buttons to the outlet valve. You will need to run some tests which usually requires the use of a licensed plumber. First disconnect the buttons and press on them to check they slide smoothly in and out. If this is the case move on to the hoses which are connected by a little white clip. Put your finger over one hose and then blow through the other, repeat this with both hoses. If the buttons are still hard to flush and the valve still sticks then you need to replace the pneumatic mechanism. If when you blow into these parts it still flushes easily or better, then you need to replace the buttons which have their own white bellow cannisters on the back. The pneumatic mechanisms are both very different and should be easily identified by their shape and differing size.

Valsir Cistern Inlet Valve Hoses

Valsir Cistern hoses are a common replacement part that should be replaced every 5 years. This is because the braided hose can burst which will allow a lot of water to flow out of the pan and fill up inside the wall which can cause major problems. Hence, it is recommended when replacing the cistern inlet valve that you should also replace the inlet valve hose if it has been 5 years.

If you are still unsure and require more assistance, please don’t hesitate to call us on 95504628 or email sales@sydneybathroomware.com.au with pictures of your current cistern.