Drip

Having to use the bathroom in the middle of the night (it’s an age thing!) I became aware of a slow, steady dripping sound - no, not what you’re thinking! I knew instantly what it was.The connection between the main water inlet and the WC cistern is metal fastening to plastic, with a fibre washer in between to provide a watertight seal.
For reasons I don’t fully understand, these washers are prone to failing regularly. My plumber says it’s just a fact of life with this sort of connection and regular replacement of the washer will be necessary. He even fitted a stop valve to the connection so the water can easily be turned off when the washer fails.
Well, I wasn’t about to start changing the washer in the wee small hours so I turned the water off until such a time as I could tackle the problem. It’s not a tricky, or long, procedure and one I’ve done many times since the bathroom was installed twenty odd years ago. Undo the nut, remove the old washer, clean everything, fit new washer and tighten everything up again. Give it a couple of hours to settle, check it’s still watertight and we’re good until the next time.
As always with this sort of thing, it’s spotting those first drops that is the key. Having once come back from a week away to find the bathroom floor awash, we now always turn the valve off if we’re away for more than a couple of nights - better safe than sorry!
Ultimately, the problem will probably disappear when we get round to replacing the bathroom in a few years time. I’m sure there are now connectors and joints that don’t rely on these fibre washers and will ensure a leak free bathroom well into our dotage!