Last night our toilet started "not stopping". It flushes but then the water just keeps running, not running OVER, just running. A neighbor mentioned something about the "calc" buildup could cause this. Whattha?? Already left a note for the house manager, but short of that, has anyone else dealt with this issue?:

Yes...it was calc buildup in the tube where the stopper should block more water coming in after the tank fills back up. I solved it by simply spraying anti-calc cleaning fluid all around the stopper. Problem solved.

Yep exactly you can pour anti calc fluid into the reservoir of the toliet after you turn the stop tap for a while and that will make the problem go away

Various issues could cause this depending on the flushing mechanism. But yeh probably calc or a certain replaceable part normally a rubber seal membrane.

It's a quick DIY job but why bother, get the landlord / verwaltung to do it, specially if the cistern is built into the wall.

Ours does this sometimes - if you half flush the toilet again it stops running never tried to actually solve the problem as its not constant!

Just open the lid and wiggle the float, it should stop, total time 3 seconds max.

I had this problem every 18 to 24 months in my flat. The "over the counter" calc stuff didn't really help - I had to call in a plumber who would pour in about 1 liter of more agressive acid which would take out the calc after about 15 to 30 minutes.

After a few years, the calc had attacked the plastic and metal of the toilet floater, so I had to replace it - about CHF 500 for parts and labour.

its a few francs for the float and around 50 for a complete flush mechanism.... someone got well and truely switzerlanded!

Thanks so much to all the kind souls that replied. Please excuse my toilet ignorance, but i don't have or don't know where the stop tap, stopper, or floater is. The toilet has no back tank like in the US. I guess I can try the anti-calc liquid. Any recommendations?

ah - its just the button on the wall type? no tank visible?

bit harder to deal with then and would require removal of the button to get access to the tank but most are sealed units, but you may have an access plug

Forget it, just get the verwaltung to take care of it! You'll end up breaking the thing otherwise!

No anti-calc liquid down the bowl?

Because you'll get charged a couple of hundred Swiss francs for the plumber as it's not considered an emergency! Happened to us once so we do it ourselves now. Just put one or two toilet cleaning tablets in the cistern overnight seems to keep things under control if you do that every 6 months.

no that wont make any difference, i suspected thats what you were thinking thats why i asked abot the button.

if its just a button then forget it, the house keeper will sort it but dont be surprised about a bill.. ask him first !

Thanks Rob

No the anti calc has to go into the cistern

I have never even dared trying to open an in-built cistern, if what rob1 is saying is to go by then it shouldn't be a big issue to give it a go, as the plastic part where the flushing button(s) are is easily removable but you need to know what you're doing (Push the whole thing up then pull, or push down and pull), after that you'll have to see what's behind and if you can stick some anti calc there after removing some parts I don't know.

If it's gonna cost CHF200.- it's better to do that then end up damaging the mechanism which will need to be replaced + CHF200.- or more on top.

In my case: push the whole thing right and pull. Push needs more force than pull.

<Thud!>

Next time give me a call and I'll do it for a fraction of that.

Swiss (and French) toilet mechanisms are prone to this, as the seal is only kept tight by the pressure of the water above it, and over time both calc build-up and actual material degradation can occur.

But a replacement mechanism can be had for as little as 20-odd euros in France or DE, and I imagine not much more in a decent Swiss DIY shop (thinking Hornbach here, as I know them from DE). OK, perhaps closer to EU50 for a better quality one.

And the skills and tools required are really quite basic too.

Thanks to all for your input! Used a anti-calk liquid called Vepo Calk WC EntKalker and it worked. Fantastic!!

Decalc the toilet. I did all 3 of my toilets the other day after a 5 year calc buildup. Use Coop Table Vinegar at 0.70 sFr per liter

The acidic vinegar breaks down the calc, you can then wipe it away. Leave the vinegar to soak for a few hours.

As the tenant it is your responsibility to keep your toilets calc free.