Help- Plumbing!

[Loulou127]

Do we have any plumbing experts on here?

We have a drip from an overflow to our outside, it seems to be from a second tank in our loft, DH didn’t realise we had two tanks and he’s not sure what this second one might be for, any ideas? he’s managed to stop it overflowing but we really need to sort it out properly, should we stop using our hot water taps?

Any advice is much appreciated x

[Mr Tom Morrow]

Is the second tank small? Maybe 2ft square?

If so it’s the central heating tank. Sounds like the valve has an issue. £12 for a new one but if nobody can fit it maybe £100 for a call out.

[Loulou127]

Originally Posted by Mr Tom Morrow

Is the second tank small? Maybe 2ft square?

If so it’s the central heating tank. Sounds like the valve has an issue. £12 for a new one but if nobody can fit it maybe £100 for a call out.

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Thanks Mr Tom, yes it’s the small tank, will tell DH what you’ve said, he’s quite capable with most things, but not sure on plumbing, is there any tee should do until we can sort it? switch anything off?

[Mr Tom Morrow]

If it was me I would prop up the ballcock to stop it running. That will buy you time.

[Loulou127]

Originally Posted by Mr Tom Morrow

If it was me I would prop up the ballcock to stop it running. That will buy you time.

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Thank you

[Gally1968]

Got to say I don’t agree with Mr Morrow on everything Disney but when it comes to construction/DIY he’s bang on. It’s worth being on the DIBB just for his advice !

[Loulou127]

Originally Posted by Mr Tom Morrow

If it was me I would prop up the ballcock to stop it running. That will buy you time.

See more...

DH has done this this morning, it’s stopped the overflow, we’ll be getting a plumber in ASAP, thanks again Mr Tom x

[Mr Tom Morrow]

No problems. Lets be honest we all (well most do) have tanks in the roof and they don't get looked at from one decade to the next.

Those valves are on the go all the time and eventually they will fail. Even more so with the more modern Chinese junk, not so much the older ones.

Normally it's a bit of grit that has caused them to stay open but always best to change it rather than fuss around. Not a big job but it's the labour time /cost that bumps it right up.

Hope you get a good Plumber.

[force ten]

if propping up the ballcock has stopped the overflow running then it sounds like you have a leaking ballcock on your central heating F&E tank

this tank is used to top up the radiators in the central heating system if it is losing water somewhere. but if a rad or CH pipe was leaking you would know about it. So the 15-20 litres of water in the F&E tank could last for a very long time with the water supply to the ballcock shut off as long as your heating system is watertight you will only lose a small amount of water due to evaporation so whilst the system requires attention it does not require immediate attention as you are probably not using the radiators at the moment

if the plumber that installed your system was worth his salt then you wll have an isolation valve at or near the ballcock on the F&E tank





a quarter turn will shut off the water supply to the F&E tank to allow you to change the ballcock which is a real easy job that any competent diy enthusiast can do and save a lot of money in call outs and labour charges for what is a ten minute job tops



that shows how to replace the ballcock in the main hot water cylinder supply tank but it is exactly the same process for replacing the ballcock in the F&E tank

[Loulou127]

Originally Posted by force ten

if propping up the ballcock has stopped the overflow running then it sounds like you have a leaking ballcock on your central heating F&E tank

this tank is used to top up the radiators in the central heating system if it is losing water somewhere. but if a rad or CH pipe was leaking you would know about it. So the 15-20 litres of water in the F&E tank could last for a very long time with the water supply to the ballcock shut off as long as your heating system is watertight you will only lose a small amount of water due to evaporation so whilst the system requires attention it does not require immediate attention as you are probably not using the radiators at the moment

if the plumber that installed your system was worth his salt then you wll have an isolation valve at or near the ballcock on the F&E tank





a quarter turn will shut off the water supply to the F&E tank to allow you to change the ballcock which is a real easy job that any competent diy enthusiast can do and save a lot of money in call outs and labour charges for what is a ten minute job tops



that shows how to replace the ballcock in the main hot water cylinder supply tank but it is exactly the same process for replacing the ballcock in the F&E tank

See more...

Thank you, yes DH says there is an isolation valve, but it’s for both tanks not just he CH one, another issue we have is ours is a dormer roof, so very tight space wise and whoever installed these tanks put them on a plinth about 18 inches high meaning it’s very difficult to get at them to do the jobs required!