How can I stop my toilet ststem dripping all the time, it is leaking from the valve side it looks like an overflow of some sort and it has like a mesh bag over it, if I lift the ball up it stops, if i then adjust it and then flush it starts again. Does anyone know of any tricks other than replace the damn thing.

Jay, January 2012

If you mean the water feed valve then read on.

Place a piece of wood across the cistern (lid off of course) and tie up the float arm so water shuts off. Unscrew the ball float and shake to see if water has got in if so replace ball float see if drips stop.

IF there is no water in the ball float then replace it back on the float arm and turn off the water to the cistern inlet valve if plastic type remove the float arm unscrew the large nut on end of valve remove the plunger and washer, replace the washer.

Bob, January 2012