Dripping overflow pipe

mburdett · Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2006 12:33 pm Post Subject: Dripping overflow pipe

The overflow from the cold water cistern is dripping, but it is not the ball valve, as that shuts off. I'm unfamiliar with the overflow assembly that attaches to the overflow pipe, in the cistern as it appears to be always under the water level, with the aperture on the underside, so presumably works a bit like a siphon. Is it possible the assembly itself has failed and needs replacing, since it is letting water drain out?

gas chap · Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2006 1:34 pm Post Subject:

If it's just started doing this then it's the ball valve.

If it's always done this then try and bend the ball valve arm down a little

JohnD · Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2006 1:38 pm Post Subject:

No, it will be the supply. Either the ball valve is floating too high, and needs adjusting down, or, more likely, the valve it controls is old and worn and needs replacing.

It is possible to re-washer them, but they are so cheap to buy it's easier to fit a new one.

You can also now buy a Torbeck or a Fluidmaster valve which is almost completely silent

After you've put a new one on, if you feel like it, you can dismantle and clean the old valve on your kitchen table and re-washer it for next time; I like to leave a spare in the loft next to the cistern.

edited to say my "no" was to mburdett, not gaschap

Nige F · Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2006 5:54 pm Post Subject: Re: Dripping overflow pipe

mburdett wrote:

The overflow from the cold water cistern is dripping, but it is not the ball valve, as that shuts off. I'm unfamiliar with the overflow assembly that attaches to the overflow pipe, in the cistern as it appears to be always under the water level, with the aperture on the underside, so presumably works a bit like a siphon. Is it possible the assembly itself has failed and needs replacing, since it is letting water drain out?

........If the ballvalve *definitely* shuts off....and the other cistern in the roof is higher (Feed to central heating) then the heat exchanger in the cylinder is leaking...all assumptions that you have the parts mentioned and you are talking about roof(attic)cisterns:? ........The overflow thing is not a syphon, but an anti draught device.stops air blowing up the pipe that can freeze the water

oldskool_plumbski · Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2006 10:35 am Post Subject: leaking overflow..........

If you're unsure about what the overflow pipe is serving, Hold up the ball valve in the cistern, flush the toilet, place a small piece of wood or alike between ball valve and cistern to stop any further water coming out of the valve, or better still isolate the water supply to it;
go see after ten minutes if the water as stopped coming out of the pipe, then "hey presto".
PS: If it's a plastic bottom entry, or side entry valve, be careful not to snap the arm when placing wood to hold back supply.
If water is still coming out of an overflow pipe then it,s loft time, Check storage and header tank ball valves.

Nige F · Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2006 10:59 am Post Subject:

Stop stealing my thunder Oldi

oldskool_plumbski · Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2006 10:24 am Post Subject: re:thunder

sorry nige, just me busy a busy body as usual.

Nige F · Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2006 2:08 pm Post Subject: Re: re:thunder

oldskool_plumbski wrote:

sorry nige, just me busy a busy body as usual.

A pain in the arski

billplumb · Posted: Sat Mar 25, 2006 8:45 pm Post Subject:

it is possible the ball is full of water and giving u a false dignosis of the ball valve shutting off, try it and see