Green Building Forum - Toilet Seals Mon, 07 Sep 2026 12:55:50 +0100 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/ Lussumo Vanilla 1.0.3 Toilet Seals https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18457&Focus=311061#Comment_311061 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18457&Focus=311061#Comment_311061 Tue, 21 Jul 2026 19:02:37 +0100 Rex
In my continuing quest to find a way to thread a CAT6 cable from the loft to the office, it may (only may?) be useful to remove the toilet to allow better access to the small area of floor below the pipe.

Not a big job, just a couple of screws and wiggle it free from the fittings. Of course, I would have ensured the cistern is empty.

But the toilet has been in place for around 15 years and I am wondering if the various seals should be replaced when re-installing, or are they all OK to reuse? Of particular concern would be the two yellow seals, which I assume are not replaceable. I would give a smear of silicone grease around the seal before reinstalling.

Your thoughts most gratefully taken on board.

Thanks]]> Toilet Seals https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18457&Focus=311066#Comment_311066 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18457&Focus=311066#Comment_311066 Tue, 21 Jul 2026 22:01:16 +0100 WillInAberdeen
But best don't disturb any of it unless you really really have to. Leaks behind there are very hard to detect, until the furniture/floor chipboard goes all soggy and swollen. (Shudders at this memory!)]]> Toilet Seals https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18457&Focus=311068#Comment_311068 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18457&Focus=311068#Comment_311068 Wed, 22 Jul 2026 06:57:57 +0100 Rex
Unfortunately, the yellow ones do need to be removed as the section of floor that I want to cut a hole and hopefully, feed the cable is directly under the grey 90 degree pipe.]]> Toilet Seals https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18457&Focus=311084#Comment_311084 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18457&Focus=311084#Comment_311084 Thu, 23 Jul 2026 18:17:17 +0100 Artiglio Toilet Seals https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18457&Focus=311098#Comment_311098 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18457&Focus=311098#Comment_311098 Fri, 24 Jul 2026 13:22:15 +0100 Rex
I don't really want repeaters around the house; most people I know who have them, they are just sitting on the floor and look out of place.

Plus, my W7 desktop computer does not have a wifi card but that is easily resolved, albeit, not so easy to find W7 compatible cards these days.

However, I do have a bit of 4" piping with a seal at the end. I have levered it out. Basically, EDPM seal firmly attached to a plastic ring that is a tight fit in the groove of the pipe. So the seal is replaceable, the bigger challenge would be, does the fitting I buy (to get the seal) have the same diameter as the main stack?

I'm probably being over cautious; if for whatever reason, a plumber had to replace the toilet, he would just lube the seal and fit it again.]]> Toilet Seals https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18457&Focus=311100#Comment_311100 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18457&Focus=311100#Comment_311100 Fri, 24 Jul 2026 13:37:15 +0100 Artiglio Assuming you solve the w7 wifi issue then a wireless access point (WAP) on the ceiling over the stair well is a straight forward solution in many cases, or if you’ve got a power socket in the loft use a power line ethernet device then you can hardwire your desktop at other end. I used a tp link device in my last house.Worked fine.]]> Toilet Seals https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18457&Focus=311102#Comment_311102 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18457&Focus=311102#Comment_311102 Fri, 24 Jul 2026 14:31:09 +0100 Rex
Just held the phone to the ceiling of the stair well and get a reading of -75dBm or good / fair.

Yes, there is a 12A socket in the loft and I do use a power line whatever to connect the present router to the remote computer that we use to watch TV / films, etc.

Are you suggesting that the ONT in the loft can be plugged into a power-line adapter, and at the office end, from the power-line adapter, into the router?]]> Toilet Seals https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18457&Focus=311104#Comment_311104 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18457&Focus=311104#Comment_311104 Fri, 24 Jul 2026 17:39:15 +0100 Peter_in_Hungary Toilet Seals https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18457&Focus=311105#Comment_311105 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18457&Focus=311105#Comment_311105 Fri, 24 Jul 2026 19:33:22 +0100 Rex
It was all passed by the BCO when he inspected.]]> Toilet Seals https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18457&Focus=311106#Comment_311106 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18457&Focus=311106#Comment_311106 Fri, 24 Jul 2026 20:59:02 +0100 djh Posted By: RexIt was all passed by the BCO when he inspected.He doesn't pay for the fire insurance! I'd be more concerned about how the socket is connected and fused. Not part of a ring or an unfused spur I hope. And with a networked fire alarm up there.]]> Toilet Seals https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18457&Focus=311108#Comment_311108 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18457&Focus=311108#Comment_311108 Fri, 24 Jul 2026 22:40:30 +0100 Rex
Plenty of florescent lighting but also a second spur to power the MVHR unit. A the moment, I have laid down an extension to where the ONT will hopefully be locate as I'm sure it will not come with a 3 meter cable.]]> Toilet Seals https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18457&Focus=311109#Comment_311109 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18457&Focus=311109#Comment_311109 Fri, 24 Jul 2026 23:16:05 +0100 WillInAberdeen
Power line adapters send internet over power lines, but you can get similar things that send internet round the house over any unpowered cable, eg old phone cables or coax TV cables. Search 'MoCA adapters ']]> Toilet Seals https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18457&Focus=311110#Comment_311110 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18457&Focus=311110#Comment_311110 Sat, 25 Jul 2026 11:15:12 +0100 djh ]]> Toilet Seals https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18457&Focus=311111#Comment_311111 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18457&Focus=311111#Comment_311111 Sun, 26 Jul 2026 00:07:48 +0100 Artiglio Toilet Seals https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18457&Focus=311112#Comment_311112 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18457&Focus=311112#Comment_311112 Sun, 26 Jul 2026 09:53:43 +0100 WillInAberdeen
People imagine overloads if a 13A load were plugged into a 6A lighting circuit, but that's what the MCB/RCBO is for - it will shut off the power to the circuit preventing overload. Same as if several 13A loads were plugged into a 20A or 32A socket circuit.

This would be a nuisance if it tripped out the lights in the loft while someone was working up there, so my wi-fi socket is connected via a 1A fused spur and labelled as such. There is plenty of spare capacity in the 6A lighting circuit for this load, all the LED lights and smoke detectors and high efficiency fans add up to half an amp.

For Rex's newbuild there's a good chance his loft socket is powered as a spur from his downstairs 20A/32A socket circuit, this is easy to test by turning off the circuit MCBs until the loft socket goes off.]]> Toilet Seals https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18457&Focus=311113#Comment_311113 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18457&Focus=311113#Comment_311113 Sun, 26 Jul 2026 09:55:22 +0100 Peter_in_Hungary Posted By: ArtiglioIs there something about sockets in loft spaces being especially problematic? No more problematic than having a plug and socket anywhere else that is out of sight, never visited, and only attended when a problem arises - by which time it might be too late.

The regs allow a socket in lofts but they must be on a spur (not a spur off a spur) and have RCD protection (the house RCD will cover this)

IMO permanently used plugs and sockets are a bad idea in places that are not in plain sight.]]> Toilet Seals https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18457&Focus=311114#Comment_311114 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18457&Focus=311114#Comment_311114 Sun, 26 Jul 2026 16:17:29 +0100 Rex
Yes, there are two 13A in the loft, one for the unused coaX cable distribution and the other for the MVHR unit. Also three florescent lamps. Have two fuses on the RCD, F/F Sockets and F/F Lights. Without checking, it would be my guess the loft is powered from those.]]> Toilet Seals https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18457&Focus=311117#Comment_311117 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18457&Focus=311117#Comment_311117 Sun, 26 Jul 2026 22:41:05 +0100 Artiglio As part of a council landlord event , we had a talk from fire service. We were told the instances of fire from the fixed installation were rare and even more so in imstallations that had eicr’s ( electrical installation condition reports).
Fire service reported more fires from faulty consumer electrics, the most common are the use of cheap chines chrgers and extension blocks, being used in bed and tucked under pillows. With fires related to scooters and ebikes being the most rapidly increasing problem.
My electrician , when looking for trip faults. Usually associated with kettles, toasters and coffee machines in kitchens or irons. Either dodgy power cords (irons most common) or the sockets arcing out over time when used with high current items kettles, toasters etc.
Issues i find , the sockets where hoovers plugged in cracking as people try to reach further than cord wants. Non uk 2 pin chargers used in sockets with a cocktail stick , bit of wood, plastic etc used to bypass the earth safety to enable the 2 pin plug to be inserted.]]> Toilet Seals https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18457&Focus=311133#Comment_311133 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18457&Focus=311133#Comment_311133 Wed, 29 Jul 2026 09:14:28 +0100 Peter_in_Hungary Posted By: ArtiglioAs part of a council landlord event , we had a talk from fire service. We were told the instances of fire from the fixed installation were rare and even more so in installations that had eicr’s
Which is why
Posted By: Peter_in_HungaryI don't like the idea of a socket in the loft being in permanent use (OK for occasional inspection lamps etc) I would prefer any powered equipment to be hard wired or connected with something like a wago connector that has certification for use in non-accessible places (but there are restrictions about how they are used)
]]> Toilet Seals https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18457&Focus=311155#Comment_311155 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18457&Focus=311155#Comment_311155 Sat, 01 Aug 2026 09:22:19 +0100 Artiglio Of course it’s equally easy to reconnect. One electrician i use also likes it as it reduces the risk of damade to the fuse carrier on an fcu where people have levered it open with whatever first cones to hand. If he comes across one he chanes it to a plugs into sockets and socket unless customer objects.
But not done for higher current devices that switch on/off repeatedly ( hobs, ovens, etc) as they can arc within the plug/socket over time.]]> Toilet Seals https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18457&Focus=311158#Comment_311158 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18457&Focus=311158#Comment_311158 Sat, 01 Aug 2026 17:45:07 +0100 WillInAberdeen
Both plugs and FCUs have fuses in them which produce heat by design, at 13A they should be just below their melting temperature. This heat can cause deterioration in the long run, especially if covered by insulation or in a hot loft. By wiring high-current items (cooker, immersion) into dedicated radial circuits they are protected by the respective MCB which moves away the need for a local fuse. I did think about using a 'smart' controlled plug to switch the immersion of my hot water cylinder, but didn't.


For ultra-low current items like wi-fi gear, it's hard to find anything that doesn't have a low voltage power supply moulded into a mains plug. So pretty much essential to have a socket if mounting that above the ceiling in the loft.]]>