The overflow pipe from the tank in the loft is leaking - a lot. My property has been emply for the past three months while I've had a new kitchen and bathroom put in. During this period the central heating, hot water and electricity have all been shut off. The water stop cock has also been shut off. After the builders left I turned the water on and the overflow started to drip at an alarming rate. This morning I had the builder and his plumber back in and they replaced the ball cock in the tank in the loft. This did not stop the overflow from dripping so the plumber said I needed a new hot water tank which would cost me £350 fitted. I had a second plumber in this afternoon and he said the ball cock was set too high. He readjusted the arm and took £10 and left. The overflow is still leaking. What can possibly be wrong?
plumber vs plumber advice
- Thread starter Madrid
- Start date
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Oh dear, 
Either the mixer tap or the shower is letting by. whichever is mains cold and tank hot, possibly the kitchen.
You now need to get your money back for the un-necessary work, so if you haven't paid don't.
Either the mixer tap or the shower is letting by. whichever is mains cold and tank hot, possibly the kitchen.
You now need to get your money back for the un-necessary work, so if you haven't paid don't.
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D
Deleted member 105431
You haven't said if its the f&e tank or cold storage tank. If it's the f&e overflowing it could be the coil in the cylinder has gone and if the cold tank is higher this can cause backfilling. It's probably a mixer tap if it's the cold storage tank overflowing. Just another thought. . . .
John, surely the open ended spout on the kitchen tap will not allow higher mains cold water from flowing up the hot water pipe, through cylinder into CWC? My money would be on the shower mixer in the bathroom. Been there and fixed it a few times and have teeshirts too.
could the overflow in the tank be an upstand overflow, used to fit them years ago where the tank connector is fitted in the base of the tank and the upstand could be removed to drain the tank, a long shot but possible that the upstand pipe is loose and leaking
Easy way to tell is to disconnect the overflow from the tank bend at the bottom of the tank
Thank you, thank you, thank you. There is a new mixer tap in the bathroom sink. It has a swivel handle with spout. A replacement electric shower was fitted but at the opposite (and more ergonomic end of the bathtub) which required some rewiring. I think the new bath taps might be mixer taps as well. I'm not living in the house at the moment - and that's why everything is turned off, ie electrics, water, c/h. I don't know why my builder didn't suggest these solutions? I will read out your suggestions tomorrow morning to him and see what he says.
Suspect any tap that has a mains cold, if the bath is tank cold forget it.
The shower won't be a problem.
Assuming you have isolation valves on all the outlets you can turn the cold off in each case and test one at a time until you find the culprit.
The shower won't be a problem.
Assuming you have isolation valves on all the outlets you can turn the cold off in each case and test one at a time until you find the culprit.
Also answers to your questions. Tony - there is a small tank in front of the larger tank - photo impossible - as the tanks are contained on a small platform above the stairs to the loft conversion - accessible through a hole in the wall and just below the roof. John D - the new bathroom mixer sink tap is a joystick - but ceramic what? Tap? Dangermouse - what is an F & E? Kirkgas - the house is 40+ years old but the tanks look newish. I've owned the house since 2002. The electricity is shut off at the mains so I don't understand how hot water could have anything to do with this.
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