Header water tank float valve confusion 12 December 2022 at 3:58PM in In my home (includes DIY) MoneySaving 27 replies 480 views

k1rkyc

Hi everyone! We recently had issues in the loft where the header tank valve was dripping. We had a plumber come and replace it, and although he said it was sorted, it was still dripping. He fitted the part in a rush and we didn't feel confident with him so we asked another plumber to come. He said we needed a different type of float valve as the one fitted was meant for a toilet, not a header tank....... 

He's since fitted what he assures us is the correct type, and the dripping has stopped, but the noise when the hot water taps are used and the tank filling up is awful. It's 10 times louder than it used to be! We've asked him again and he's basically said there's nothing he can do......

Here's what he's fitted. Can anyone please tell me if this is correct and if it's supposed to sound like a plane is departing the runway each time we use any hot water?! Thank you!

Ebe_Scrooge

Looks like a standard float valve to me.  I'm wondering whether it's just that the new one is giving a faster flow-rate of water into the tank, hence the increased noise?  It's possible that the old one had a bit of limescale build-up, so was filling more slowly than it was designed to.  The new one is simply filling up faster.

Ganga

Did the previous one have a tube that went down under the water to silence it?

Ebe_Scrooge

Ganga said:

Did the previous one have a tube that went down under the water to silence it?

Actually, that's a bloomin' good point!  Even if the previous one didn't have a tube, it would be dead easy to buy a foot of plastic tubing of an appropriate diameter for a few pence from any DIY shed and stick it on.  Problem solved.  Hats off to you Sir/Madam for an excellent idea.

grumbler

I think in loft tanks it's mainly high-pitch noise generated by the water passing through the valve, that is transmitted by the pipes to the house and coses problems.

k1rkyc

Ganga said:

Did the previous one have a tube that went down under the water to silence it?

No, there's never been a tube? Sounds interesting..... how would I do that please? Anything to help the noise, it's awful!

plumb1_2

Ebe_Scrooge said:

Ganga said:

Did the previous one have a tube that went down under the water to silence it?

Actually, that's a bloomin' good point!  Even if the previous one didn't have a tube, it would be dead easy to buy a foot of plastic tubing of an appropriate diameter for a few pence from any DIY shed and stick it on.  Problem solved.  Hats off to you Sir/Madam for an excellent idea.

Wrong, as you are breaking water bye laws.

k1rkyc

Ebe_Scrooge said:

Ganga said:

Did the previous one have a tube that went down under the water to silence it?

Actually, that's a bloomin' good point!  Even if the previous one didn't have a tube, it would be dead easy to buy a foot of plastic tubing of an appropriate diameter for a few pence from any DIY shed and stick it on.  Problem solved.  Hats off to you Sir/Madam for an excellent idea.

Thanks both. Sounds ideal.... I'm just a clueless woman (I know, that doesn't matter!) when it comes to DIY. Any videos or instructions on how this would work please?

plumb1_2

Could be a number of things 
1- there is no backplate fitted to the tank, thus making the valve/tank flex when the valve operates 
2- could be you have a quarter turn valve fitted to the supply and it’s not open fully, creating a noise. Best with a full bore valve.
3- you might have loose unclipped pipes vibrating 
4- water pressure to high
5- a combination of any of the above 

I would fit a backplate and change the ballvalve to a part2 valve, check any valves are fully open.
fitting a delayed action valve will cure it usually but they are costly 
oh and fit a bye law 30 kit to the tank and make sure all the pipes have min 25mm wall lagging.

oh oh don’t get the same plumbers back.

grumbler

plumb1_2 said:

Ebe_Scrooge said:

Ganga said:

Did the previous one have a tube that went down under the water to silence it?

Actually, that's a bloomin' good point!  Even if the previous one didn't have a tube, it would be dead easy to buy a foot of plastic tubing of an appropriate diameter for a few pence from any DIY shed and stick it on.  Problem solved.  Hats off to you Sir/Madam for an excellent idea.

Wrong, as you are breaking water bye laws.

What about toilet cisterns then? Soft 'tubes' made from soft film are pretty common there.

plumb1_2

grumbler said:

plumb1_2 said:

Ebe_Scrooge said:

Ganga said:

Did the previous one have a tube that went down under the water to silence it?

Actually, that's a bloomin' good point!  Even if the previous one didn't have a tube, it would be dead easy to buy a foot of plastic tubing of an appropriate diameter for a few pence from any DIY shed and stick it on.  Problem solved.  Hats off to you Sir/Madam for an excellent idea.

Wrong, as you are breaking water bye laws.

What about toilet cisterns then? Soft 'tubes' made from soft film are pretty common there.

Then they should have a dcv fitted