immersion hot water tank overfilling, help pretty please

dedicatedmoneysaver

:wave:Hi everyone

I'm hoping someone out there can help me please?

I have an ancient immersion boiler in my bathroom with the cold tank above it. When the immersion is switched on it, the cold tank leaks over the top into the cupboard. Its full to the brim and the water starts to heat up it just leaks over the side which has ruined the cupboard etc. I do realise that I will have to replace this outdated sytem soon but can anyone help me to get the water level down to say three quarters up the tank so it wont cascade over the side, there are a couple of taps which may be pressure etc, but I'm too scared to touch them.

Thanks so:) much in advance

Diesel44

Do you have a float ball valve in the cold tank. It's like a ball attatched to a metal arm, this switches the fill valve off when the water gets up to level.
This possibly could want adjusting or replacing. You could bend the metal arm a touch.

I think I might be reading it wrong, is the cold tank part of the immersion heater (joined) ?

dedicatedmoneysaver

Hi there, thanks so much for replying, its so awkward to get to for me to see, the bathroom is down stairs and the cold tank is at the very top of the airing cupboard with only a couple inches gap between the top of the tank and the airing cupboard ceiling, I can just get my fingers over the top to feel the water level is at the top but can't see a thing. if it was the ball valve thing how would I get at it? Should point out that its a really old sytem. thanks again

dedicatedmoneysaver

Diesel44 wrote: »

Do you have a float ball valve in the cold tank. It's like a ball attatched to a metal arm, this switches the fill valve off when the water gets up to level.
This possibly could want adjusting or replacing. You could bend the metal arm a touch.

I think I might be reading it wrong, is the cold tank part of the immersion heater (joined) ?

Sorry I confuse myself! The cold tank (i'm assuming this is the cold tank) is high up, the copper immersion cylinder thing is beneath it , all encased in an airing cupboard:cool:

1984ReturnsForReal_2

dedicatedmoneysaver wrote: »

Sorry I confuse myself! The cold tank (i'm assuming this is the cold tank) is high up, the copper immersion cylinder thing is beneath it , all encased in an airing cupboard:cool:

The below could be the problem:

There will be a float valve in the cold tank which could be set too high. You might need to bend the arm downwards.

When the water below gets hot it will vent into the top making the cold water part overflow.

If this is a recent problem the thermostat is likely to be set too high (or damaged/broken). 65oC is correct level (although I have heard people say 60oC & 70oC). It may need to be replaced if broken.

If the above doesn't solve the problem & it is a long standing issue the vent pipe to the cold cistern may not be high enough.