Cold Water Storage Tank Query

[Bloosman]

Hi,

Following the recent cold snap, during which our cold water tank on the first floor began overflowing, the water from the "drip" froze on a flat roof, causing issues around a joint in the felt...

So tonight, armed with a new ballcock, I spent the good part of 2 hours trying to remove the old, rusted, stubborn ballcock from the tank and replaced it with a brand new one...no more overflowing.

However...

I now have an annoying leak a the joint where the water feed meets the ballcock.

Tomorrow I intend obtaining the requisite items to replace the small section of pipework (approximately 12") from this joint to a T-joint in the feed pipe. At present, this leaky connection looks unfamiliar to me and I wondered if a special fitting is needed for the ballcock...?

The feed pipe is 22mm and the ballcock connection appear to be 3/4".

Could I possibly get away with a metal flexi-pipe...?

Ta.

 

[TCCHeating]

I now have an annoying leak a the joint where the water feed meets the ballcock.

At present, this leaky connection looks unfamiliar to me and I wondered if a special fitting is needed for the ballcock...?

Did you change the fibre washer for a new one?

 

[Bloosman]

I changed the entire ballcock assembly...the "leak" is where the ballcock projects outside the tank and meets the water feed pipe...no washer there...(that I'm aware of...)

 

[Nige F]

Any chance of a picture ? A 3/4 valve is unusual - and must have been expensive ? maybe the fibre washer that goes in the connector against the threaded end of the valve has disentegrated - that's common.

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

The tap connector, the fitting joining the ballcock to the pipework, will have a fibre washer to make the joint between the 2. It is advisable to change this washer whenever the joint is disturbed, as reusing old ones often leads to a leak. As Nige has said, its entirely possible the existing pipework you have is fine, it is this washer that is the issue.

 

[Bloosman]

Many thanks folks...problem now seems to be fixed...

The small section of pipework leading from the feed to the ballcock connection (1/2" BSP, not 3/4"...doh) was in quite poor shape, and there was NO sign of a fibre washer, so it appears to have totally disintegrated over the years (possibly 25+).

I have managed to source a metal flexi-hose with suitable sized connections and utilised that...job done...