It takes us all a while to find our feet in a new job.
Is there an office you could go to, or is contact only possible over the phone? Can you send an email with pic's and videos attached?
I have the same toilet and had the same problem. It's kalk build up. The flush plate is removable by sliding it to the left (or could be the right) and that panel then lifts off. There is then a panel held on with 2 screws, if I recall. I used to remove that and then bang on the internal workings with a screwdriver, to loosen the kalk. That worked a few times, but eventually we had the internal unit replaced.
Thanks. That worked. I was able to access the video that way.
I still can't seem to get the button panel off, though, so I'll continue to wait and see if the Hauswart calls or comes by. And if he doesn't, then I'll take a butter knife or flathead screwdriver to it to see if I can pry it off.
What make is it ? Perhaps it doesn't prise off - try tapping it (gently) horizontally. Might be fixed by a, let's say bayonette catch...
EDIT:
to get those flush panels off, you slide them up and then lift off top. very simple once you know how it works. inside there will be a plastic knob you can screw in to shut off the water until someone competent can come and fix it for you.
the now ubiquitous water saving double flushes are so notorious for leaking water that they now say they waste more water on average than the old single flushes.
never seen one mounted horizontally like that.
Thanks to NickGB's suggestion, I was finally able to get that button panel off by sliding the panel to the right (it took some effort, but it finally came off). So now I'm left with this:
Lots of lint fuzzies in there.
NickGB said that he use to remove the two screws and try to loosen some of the kalk inside, so that will be my next move, I guess. But first I'm going to continue to wait a bit to see if the Hauswart calls or comes over. I feel a bit nervous about removing that casing via those two screws, because knowing my luck, I'd inadvertently break something and/or cause the toilet to start overflowing.
Well done for getting it open. Good for NickGB! Over and over again, this forum really gets helpful.
While you're waiting, you could do this: Without dismantling anything, take a toothbrush or some other brush with a long-ish handle, and reach inside carefully and brush off whatever fuzzies or deposits you can. Then, throw in a cup or two of edible vinegar or cleaning vinegar, and let that soak, for a few hours - and not flush, of course, in that time. Therafter, repeat the brushing, and flush.
Durgol is even better, and faster.
If you do get brave and decide to undo any part of what you can see, take a photo at each stage. That way, you'll have a step-by-step route to reassemble it all, afterwards.
i wouldn't throw anything in there. it's a sealed plastic tank i assume, rather than open? hard to see from the photo.
Down inside those dark holes, I can see water in there. I wonder if I was careful and just put the anti-kalk stuff down those holes, if that would be okay. Maybe I could use a funnel. But yeah, I have no idea what else is down there right now, since I haven't removed that casing (yet) and wouldn't want to harm anything with the kalk remover. I guess I have no idea if that stuff can corrode plastic.
You lucky devil, they give you advising pictures! We who have to put up with the upright version can only dream of this.
With a little Ikea experience this should be a piece of cake now.
Have you fixed it? As NickGB wrote, if it's chalk knocking might help for a few times but in the end the whole thing needs replacing (which is why I love the old fashioned ones: Open the top lid, throw some anti-chalk in, finished.
edit: Normal household chalk remover does not corrode plastic.
From the OP's description of the problem I would have thought the problem was with the float not shutting off the water inflow properly, not a problem with the calcium. i.e. the problem being where the water enters the tank, not exits. Not sure adding vinegar or similar would deal with the problem.
Have a go with the toothbrush though, it needs doing anyway.
Undo the two screws.
Lift out the twop plastic pegs.
There is a clip at each end of the cover underneath. Depress these to lift up this cover.
The stop-cock should be underneath this. De-calcing is one solution but in the short-term, I would turn off the stop-cock for the cistern in case it starts flowing again when you are away.
The fault is either the rubber seal at the base of the unit that allows the water to flow into the bowl (replacement ones available at Hornbach etc) or the valve that allows the cistern to fill is calc'd up.
For the former, you need to turn the stop-cock off, flush the loo to remove the water from the cistern and then add some durgol (green one) to the cistern and leave it for a bit. If it fizzes then it's doing it's job.
For the valve, they are cheap and can be fitted without tools.
I've done loads of these recently!
Awww. Did I give you toilet envy? Thanks. No, I haven't fixed it yet. I'm still waiting in the hope that I'll hear from the Hauswart soon. If that doesn't happen, then I'll follow Tom1234's awesome instructions below.
You Da Man! Thank you so much for the step-by-step instructions! I'll probably give that a go this evening if I don't hear from the Hauswart by 5:00 or 6:00 pm today.
Just out of curiosity... Do you think that fiddling with that stuff could potentially cause the toilet to start overflowing? That's my biggest fear, I guess.
I use to find it strange that our apartment has two bathrooms that are basically right next to each other, each with toilets in them (I'd never seen such a thing in the US), but now I'm thankful for it.
Don't panic.. Worst case it's wasting water.. It totally won't overflow by doing anything in there.
Once you follow Toms instructions you should probably see facing you a brass screw, easily accessible? Turn it clockwise to stop the water.
That would stop the water to this tank .. Internal stop cock.
Another suggestion is that while it's assembled .. Slap it.. Honestly .One of ours sometimes continues to fill and just hitting it makes it stop. Not super hard, just a sharp bang with the finger tips to quickly depress the button.
I'll fix it one day.
The possibilities for the valve not shutting off are
1. Calc
2. Something come adrift and preventing complete closure. (Could be a lump of calc!).
I've fixed the problem many times with various toilet designs by adjusting one of the screw on the valve, so it's not quite so high.
Thanks, guys.
Loads and loads of excellent, helpful advice on the thread. I'd make a video, as well as take photos, if you decide to tackle it yourself. Pic's are wonderful. A video can capture which way you twisted something, how much force you applied, if anything else detached at the same time, show what you did with something you removed (should you not be able to find it again!), and so on.
Come on. Admit it. You just want to see more of my toilet.