Advice on ballcock in water tank causing overflow to leak

daisiegg

Hi all

I wonder if anyone can help.

We have had a problem with an overflow pipe at the side of our house pouring (I mean'POURING) water. Apart from anything else, this is a problem as we are on a water metre!

We have had a plumber out when it first happened, who replaced a part. I'm not sure what exactly.

Since then it has happened a couple of times in a few months, but this week it has happened twice in three days.

All it takes to stop the leaking is to go in the loft and into the water tank, and it's the ballcock getting stuck. If it is just released, the leaking soon stops.

However, it's all very well when my OH is home because he can do it, but I can't get into our loft. So if I'm home alone I'm a bit stuck.

OH reckons a plumber wouldn't be able to help stop the problem completely, because it's just the ballcock getting stuck. I'm not sure - next time it happens when he's not home I'll be calling a plumber!

Does anybody know if there is anything we can do to stop this ballcock from getting stuck? OH has been mumbling about putting grease on it or something! (Not sure about that). Don't know if it makes a difference but we live in a very hard water area. Of course if it is something we need to get a professional out for we will, but if there is anything we can do in the meantime, that would be great.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

Browntoa

if the main stopcock can be turned of its an easy DIY job to replace the whole unit for about £6

daisiegg

Browntoa wrote: »

if the main stopcock can be turned of its an easy DIY job to replace the whole unit for about £6

Do you mean replace the ballcock? It is only a couple of months old, the plumber replaced it when it first happened.

keystone

daisiegg wrote: »

We have had a plumber out when it first happened, who replaced a part. I'm not sure what exactly.

So it could be the whole valve or it could just have been the washer.

All it takes to stop the leaking is to go in the loft and into the water tank, and it's the ballcock getting stuck. If it is just released, the leaking soon stops.

So something is physically preventing the arm from rising.

OH reckons a plumber wouldn't be able to help stop the problem completely, because it's just the ballcock getting stuck.

Hubby's s superstar clearly. Why can't he release the obstruction then?

I'm not sure - next time it happens when he's not home I'll be calling a plumber!

Get the first bloke back you've already paid to do a job he hasn't finished.

Does anybody know if there is anything we can do to stop this ballcock from getting stuck?

OH has been mumbling about putting grease on it or something! (Not sure about that).

On second tughts don't let OH near it.

Don't know if it makes a difference but we live in a very hard water area.

Ahh so the arm could be failing too rise because the whole thing is gummed up solid with limescale. That's a whole valve change in that case and hubby could do it himself. Part 2 valve from any of the sheds less than a tenner. 30 minutes. But it could be because the arm/float is physically catching on something.

Of course if it is something we need to get a professional out for we will, but if there is anything we can do in the meantime, that would be great.

Well you've already poaid someone. What did he actually do, change the valve or faff aboiut changing the washer or just twiddle his thumbs up there for half an hour whilst you weren't looking?

Cheers

keystone

daisiegg wrote: »

Do you mean replace the ballcock? It is only a couple of months old, the plumber replaced it when it first happened.

You said he replaced something in the lead post but now you are certain what he replaced? Any chance of rationalising those two statements?

Cheers

diywhynot

daisiegg wrote: »

Hi all

I wonder if anyone can help.

We have had a problem with an overflow pipe at the side of our house pouring (I mean'POURING) water. Apart from anything else, this is a problem as we are on a water metre!

We have had a plumber out when it first happened, who replaced a part. I'm not sure what exactly.

Since then it has happened a couple of times in a few months, but this week it has happened twice in three days.

All it takes to stop the leaking is to go in the loft and into the water tank, and it's the ballcock getting stuck. If it is just released, the leaking soon stops.

However, it's all very well when my OH is home because he can do it, but I can't get into our loft. So if I'm home alone I'm a bit stuck.

OH reckons a plumber wouldn't be able to help stop the problem completely, because it's just the ballcock getting stuck. I'm not sure - next time it happens when he's not home I'll be calling a plumber!

Does anybody know if there is anything we can do to stop this ballcock from getting stuck? OH has been mumbling about putting grease on it or something! (Not sure about that). Don't know if it makes a difference but we live in a very hard water area. Of course if it is something we need to get a professional out for we will, but if there is anything we can do in the meantime, that would be great.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

Post a photo of the 'tank' and offending ball valve to illustrate your problem.

daisiegg

keystone wrote: »

You said he replaced something in the lead post but now you are certain what he replaced? Any chance of rationalising those two statements?

Cheers

Since the initial post, I checked with OH and he confirmed that it was the ballcock that was replaced! Perfectly rational.

niggyp

hi im having a similar issue with the hot water feed tank at home (just drips tho) has the rod on the ball valve been bent sidewards to make it fit in the tank? if so it can cause problems as instead of a push up motion its a push up and to the side motion causing sealing probs

and for the morons who dis this yr welcome to have a look at my feed tank

diywhynot

niggyp wrote: »

hi im having a similar issue with the hot water feed tank at home (just drips tho) has the rod on the ball valve been bent sidewards to make it fit in the tank? if so it can cause problems as instead of a push up motion its a push up and to the side motion causing sealing probs

and for the morons who dis this yr welcome to have a look at my feed tank

How about a photo then?;)

southcoastrgi

niggyp wrote: »

hi im having a similar issue with the hot water feed tank at home (just drips tho) has the rod on the ball valve been bent sidewards to make it fit in the tank? if so it can cause problems as instead of a push up motion its a push up and to the side motion causing sealing probs

and for the morons who dis this yr welcome to have a look at my feed tank

if you have to bend the arm sideways to make it fit in the tank then it's fitted in the wrong place, oh dear does this make me a moron ?

diywhynot

southcoastrgi wrote: »

if you have to bend the arm sideways to make it fit in the tank then it's fitted in the wrong place, oh dear does this make me a moron ?

Not in this instance.