Good reliable side-entry valves

threeReefs · Jul 22, 2021

I am SO fed up with failing side-entry valves on toilet cisterns and water tanks. They've all been engineered down to something as flimsy as a milk carton, and they seem to last no time at all and start leaking. I'd happily pay more for a good quality one - but not twice as much for the same valve from the same Chinese factory that someone is marking up more.
Anyone recommend a good make or source ? Or is there a common failure mode that can be fixed on them ? I've tried the dismantle/clean route but that doesn't seem to fix things. Same problem with internal flush valves in Grohe toilets. Everything's disposable these days (I imagine there's a thread on that somewhere). Rant, rant.
Richard

Harvest Fields · Jul 22, 2021

Try Hydroflo

SimonG · Jul 22, 2021

I dont use them anymore. Had a few that came with water tanks that had to be replaced shortly after install.

WC1 · Jul 22, 2021

threeReefs said:
but not twice as much for the same valve from the same Chinese factory

Plenty of UK manufacturers still eg. Dudley, viva, fluidmaster

Ric2013 · Jul 23, 2021

I'm fairly sure VIVA is not a UK manufacturer. May have a UK office though.

I like the Torbeck Ecofil - solid Fluidmaster exterior with Torbeck mechanism (cheap and easy to obtain replacement washer when it needs one), but then we all have our favourites. Or a BS1212, Part 2 ballcock (if it fits). Avoid the Armitage Shanks fill valves.

Ric2013 · 2025-07-02T10:04:36+0100

I'm removing my recommendation of the Torbeck Ecofil. Last one I bought was made in Turkey instead of UK, quality had gone down the pan, and, in any case, I've since learnt that my water company considers the Ecofil to have a submerged inlet and therefore unable to meet the requirement for a type AG airgap that is compulsary in a close-coupled toilet (I don't really agree, but I don't call the shots) and that if you install it with the adjustable-height stem below the waterline it presents a (rather hypothetical) backflow risk. Because of this, it must be installed with a double-check-valve to meet the standards required of us.