Ball valve replacement in Exeter
Professional ball valve replacement services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£60-£85
Typical Duration
30-45 mins
Location
Exeter, Devon
Toilet cistern constantly filling? That's a failed ball valve. I'll replace it with a modern quiet-fill valve - stop the waste, stop the noise, stop the high water bills.
That Constant Water Sound
You can hear the cistern filling all day, or there's a trickle from the overflow pipe outside, or you lift the lid and see water continuously dribbling into the cistern even though it's full. Classic ball valve failure.
💡 Pro tip: A constantly running toilet wastes 200-400 litres per day. On a water meter, that's £300+ a year literally down the overflow. Ball valve replacement pays for itself in weeks.
Why Ball Valves Fail
They're simple mechanisms but they wear out:
| ✅ Working Valve | ❌ Failed Valve |
|---|---|
| Fills, then stops | Keeps filling, never stops |
| Silent when full | Hissing or trickling constantly |
| Float moves freely | Float stuck or arm seized |
| Valve seals properly | Worn washer, won't shut off |
What You Get
🔧 The Full Service
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Turn off water | Close isolation valve or stopcock |
| Empty cistern | Flush toilet to empty |
| Remove old valve | Unscrew from cistern, disconnect supply |
| Fit new valve | Modern quiet-fill valve, adjust float level |
| Test | Fill cistern, check it stops properly, test flush |
📦 You're Left With
- New ball valve fitted and working
- Cistern fills and stops properly
- Quiet operation
- Lower water bills
Pricing Guide
| Job Type | Estimated Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Standard replacement | 30-45 mins | £60-£85 |
| With isolation valve fitting | 45-60 mins | £85-£110 |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour) + £50/hr after. Includes modern quiet-fill valve.
Perfect For...
✅ Constantly running cistern - water waste, high bills
✅ Noisy filling - old brass valve hissing
✅ Overflow dripping - water level too high
✅ Stuck or seized float - cistern won't fill or won't stop
Why Choose Us for Ball valve replacement in Exeter?
Stop water running constantly
Lower water bills (no waste)
Quiet cistern operation
Modern quiet-fill valves fitted
What to Expect
Step 1: Turn Off Water Supply
Close the isolation valve to the cistern (small tap on the pipe underneath). If there isn't one, turn off at the stopcock and flush all toilets.
Step 2: Empty & Remove Old Valve
Flush the toilet to empty the cistern. Unscrew the old ball valve from inside the cistern and disconnect from the supply pipe underneath.
Step 3: Fit New Valve
Install modern replacement valve (usually a Torbeck or similar), connect to supply pipe, adjust float height so cistern fills to the right level.
Step 4: Test Thoroughly
Turn water back on, let cistern fill, check it stops properly. Flush several times to make sure it works consistently.
🔧 DIY Tips
Ball valve replacement is quite DIY-friendly if you're careful:
🔧 Tools you'll need
- Adjustable spanners (2)
- Screwdriver
- Bowl or bucket
- Old towels
- New ball valve (measure cistern hole size first - usually 1/2")
🔩 How to do it
- Turn off water supply to cistern
- Flush toilet to empty cistern
- Unscrew big nut holding valve to cistern (from underneath)
- Disconnect supply pipe (more water will come out)
- Remove old valve from cistern
- Fit new valve through hole in cistern
- Tighten nut from underneath (hand tight plus quarter turn)
- Reconnect supply pipe
- Turn water back on
- Adjust float height so water level is about 25mm below overflow
⚠️ Common DIY mistakes
- Over-tightening and cracking the cistern
- Float level wrong (either keeps running or won't fill enough)
- Not checking for leaks before declaring it done
- Using old washers instead of new ones supplied with valve
- Dropping screws/nuts down the toilet
💡 Pro trick: Adjust the float height so water stops about 25mm below the overflow level. Too high and you waste water. Too low and you get weak flushes. Most modern valves have an adjustment screw or clip - much easier than bending brass arms.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🔧 Old brass vs modern plastic? Old brass ball valves last for decades but they're noisy, take up loads of space, and the washers wear out. Modern plastic ones (Torbeck, Fluidmaster) are compact, quiet, reliable, and easier to adjust. I fit modern ones unless you specifically want brass.
Isolation valve worth fitting? If your cistern doesn't have an isolation valve on the supply pipe, it's worth adding one when I replace the ball valve. Means you can work on the cistern in future without turning off the whole house water supply. Adds about 15 minutes and £20-30 to the job.
Part L compliance - if you're on a water meter, water companies want you to use water-efficient valves. Modern ball valves have flow restrictors built in (saves water, saves money). Old brass ones don't.
High or low-level cisterns? The valve works the same way in both. High-level (Victorian pull-chain) cisterns are just more awkward to access - you'll need a ladder. The valve itself is easier to work on because there's more space inside the cistern.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if the ball valve needs replacing?
Cistern keeps filling and never stops (you hear water trickling constantly), overflow pipe dripping outside, or the toilet makes hissing noises all the time. That's the fill valve (ball valve) not shutting off properly.
What's the difference between old-style ball valves and modern ones?
Old brass ball valves have a ball float on an arm - they're reliable but noisy. Modern ones (like Torbeck valves) are plastic, quieter, more compact, and have better flow control. I usually fit modern ones unless you specifically want to keep the old style.
Will you need to turn my water off?
Just to the toilet - there's usually an isolation valve on the supply pipe to the cistern. If there isn't (older houses often don't have them), I'll turn off the main stopcock temporarily.
Can you fit one if my cistern is really old?
Usually yes. Modern ball valves fit most cisterns - they're designed to be universal. Very occasionally old imperial-sized cisterns need adapters, but I carry these for Devon's older properties.
How long does it take?
30-45 minutes for a straightforward replacement - turn off water, empty cistern, remove old valve, fit new one, adjust float height, test. Done.
Ball valve replacement Also Available In:
Get a Free Quote in Exeter
Call us today for a free, no-obligation quote for your ball valve replacement job in Exeter.
01392 964094Request Online QuoteOur Rates
Got multiple jobs?
Make the most of your first hour - I can often tackle several small tasks in one visit. List everything you need done when you call!
Why Trust Us
Need Ball valve replacement in Exeter?
Get a free quote for your ball valve replacement job in Exeter today.