Leaking header tank overflow

CookieMonster2 · Joined: 23 Nov 2011 Posts: 5 Location: New Zealand

Hi.. we have just recently noticed our overflow for our header tank is leaking constantly, our plumber replaced the ballcock and valve in the tank but it is still leaking, he checked for cracks also in the tank and it is all fine, any ideas of what else it could be? we have replaced the kitchen and bathroom taps to new mixers, could this be the problem? and how to fix it?

gigz · Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2011 6:24 pm

Did you fit isolating valves on the taps ? Sounds like it could be back filling up the hot pipe. Close the hot iso valve if you have one,see if this stops it. Also with all taps turned off you might be able to hear it surging through the pipework.

stardanny · Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2011 7:48 pm

Is it the big water tank or small tank?

Dan

RUBICON52 · Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2011 8:44 pm

Bend the ballcock arm, to lower the water level.

CookieMonster2 · Joined: 23 Nov 2011 Posts: 5 Location: New Zealand

gigz wrote:

Did you fit isolating valves on the taps ? Sounds like it could be back filling up the hot pipe. Close the hot iso valve if you have one,see if this stops it. Also with all taps turned off you might be able to hear it surging through the pipework.

Thanks, we have not fitted isolating valves on the tap so will give this a try

CookieMonster2 · Joined: 23 Nov 2011 Posts: 5 Location: New Zealand

stardanny wrote:

Is it the big water tank or small tank?

Dan

Hi Dan, it is a small header tank in the ceiling, this is where it is overflowing from according to the plumber, he said the water on top of the tank is warm so it could be a backflow problem, just need to find out from where, and how to fix it, Thanks

CookieMonster2 · Joined: 23 Nov 2011 Posts: 5 Location: New Zealand

RUBICON52 wrote:

Bend the ballcock arm, to lower the water level.

Thanks, we will do this first, hoping the problem is this easy !!!!

bernardgreen · Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2011 7:55 am

If it is the header tank for the central heating system and you have an indirectly heated hot water cylinder ( tank ) then the problem may be a leak in the heating coil in the hot water tank. Water from the tank is getting into the central heating system through this leak and escaping via the header tank.

To check this tie the ball cock up so there is no water coming out of it. Then look to see if the over flow continues, if it does then it confirms water is leaking into the central heating system and the only place that can happen is the coil in the hot water cylinder. Do not forget to untie the ball cock.

CookieMonster2 · Joined: 23 Nov 2011 Posts: 5 Location: New Zealand

Hey thanks for all your suggestions, we have managed to fix the problem, we bent the ballcock arm down and also found the tap that feeds the cistern/header tank was not working correctly, it was feeding water in at the speed of a firehose almost, so after a few adjustments all seems to be working fine, no more leaking overflow pipe ! sometimes it pays to check things out for yourself first rather than call a plumber, many thanks everyone