Cold storage ball valve replacement.

Boohoo

For about 6 months the cold storage tank that feeds the hot water cylinder has been getting noisier over time so much so the person next door asked if i was doing diy at 11 PM as he could hear it.
Went into the loft at the weekend and the ball valve arm has about 6-8 inch sideways movement and when the water enters through the valve it splutters. There is also alot of scale on the valve.
I replaced the toilet cistern valve with a Fluidmaster side entry valve and you hardly notice the toilet refilling. Is there a replacement for a storage tank i can fit that is like the Fluidmaster that is quiet to refill.
The pipe going into the tank is 15mm copper and is a side entry type.

southcoastrgi

no don't be temped to fit a valve designed for a wc it's the wrong one, you need a brass part 2 ballvalve, that's what is designed for the job & only that

Boohoo

Thank you for the reply.

If i get a new brass ball valve will that reduce the water hammer a great deal?.
I have been told of ways to make the refilling quieter by using a plastic bag over the valve outlet so the water trickles down the bag causing less water movement in the tank.
Do you think this will help reduce the noise?.

Vince.

AquaJen

Does your tank have a lid? If not then it really should have one, and this will reduce the noise.

Boohoo

Yes it does have a lid and is insulated also.
When filling up it is loud in the upstairs bedrooms and in the kitchen where the water pipe comes into the house. When the ball valve float moves up and down with the ripples i think that is what is making the most noise as the valve open and shuts rapidly not like my toilet cistern that when its full up closes without any noise at all.
I think the noise echoes through the pipes and also the upstairs joists as it is resting on them.

keystone

The existing valve is bouncing about all over the shop because it is worn in more ways than one. Replace it with a new Part 2 valve as already advised and the problem will (almost certainly) go away.

Cheers

Owain_Moneysaver

As well as replacing the valve, make sure that the pipe to it is firmly held with foam rubber inside the pipe clips so it doesn't vibrate and resonate.

Stooby2

You can make a damper to reduce water hammer - the ripples on the surface of the tank make the float bounce up and down, which causes the water to hammer out - which in turn makes the ripples worse and so on..

Get a plastic cup, drill a 1cm hole in the bottom. Then suspend it from the float arm using something stiff that won't rust or decay - so it hangs about 10cm below the water. This will stop the float bouncing like mad on the surface.

keystone

Stooby2 wrote: »

You can make a damper to reduce water hammer - the ripples on the surface of the tank make the float bounce up and down, which causes the water to hammer out - which in turn makes the ripples worse and so on..

Get a plastic cup, drill a 1cm hole in the bottom. Then suspend it from the float arm using something stiff that won't rust or decay - so it hangs about 10cm below the water. This will stop the float bouncing like mad on the surface.

If OP plans to keep their existing worn out valve that may well work as a very MSE solution. A new valve won't need it.

Cheers

Boohoo

Stooby2 that was another tip i was told about to reduce the noise in tank.

How do i know what size replacement to get as the one in the tank is all covered in limescale and i have tried to see if there any markings on it but no luck.
All i know is that there is a 15mm copper pipe going into the tank.
I will order it from toolstation today and get it delivered tomorrow as wont be able to get to a diy shop Sunday but want to replace before xmas as people staying with us and dont want the noisy water tank going over xmas.

Thanks for the help so far.

cyclonebri1

The replacement valve will certainly be the answer to your plumbing problems, now what to do about the neighbours?? :D