UK trade guideToilet & Cistern 4 min readUpdated 9 July 2026

How to Fix a Leaking Toilet Cistern (UK)

Locate and fix a leaking cistern: overflow, inlet, doughnut seal, cracked pan or feed pipe.

FluidmasterGeberitRocaWirquin

Systematic diagnosis

Dry every joint with kitchen roll. Isolate the cold. Flush and refill manually with a jug. Look and listen for where the leak reappears — inlet, overflow, doughnut, or cracked ceramic.

Fixes by location

  • Overflow pipe drips outside — fill valve set too high or flush valve seal weeping.
  • Feed nut drips — new fibre washer.
  • Base of pan wet — doughnut seal.
  • Pan wet on side — cracked ceramic (replace pan).

Frequently asked questions

Can I use silicone to seal a leaking cistern?
Never on internal seals. Silicone on the doughnut just traps the leak until it fails worse.
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