F&E tank overflowing of a night

[linton1990]

Hi,

I am new to this forum, but have found some brilliant advise on here before so thought it was time to sign up and join in.

Basically my F&E tank in my loft overflows during the night, from about 12 - 6. (Wen all the hot water and heating is off.) The water seems like it could be coming out the vent pipe as its warm.

Im not sure if its a bit of both with the ball valve getting stuck as it is an old tank but it does seem to shut off eventually when i empty the tank out.

I have tried turning the heating off and draining some water out of the radiator drain off to see if there is a blockage in the feed but it flows through the F&E fine.

I have also checked to see if the pump is running on and is then over pumping at night, but that cuts out.

Im slowly running out of ideas, i just can't work out why it would overflow when the system is off over night.

Any help would be FANTASTIC!!!! Thanks

 

[Dan Robinson]

Blown coil in the hot water cylinder.

 

[Madrab]

Blown coil in the hot water cylinder

Yup, sound like the CH/HW circuit is bleeding through the busted coil into the cylinder, it then sends hot water up the vent into the tank. Need to sort it quickly - new cylinder if that's what it is - as it will be contaminating the hot water supply especially if your CH has inhibitors in it.

 

[Steelmasons]

Is the F&E cistern HIGHER than the cold water storage cistern (they are not tanks).

 

[duffin]

do you have a mixer shower or tap leaking back up the hot water pipe? try isolating the relevant item and rechecking.

 

[Charnwood]

(they are not tanks).

The difference being.......?

In 40 years of merchanting/distribution I was never asked for a header cistern or a feed and expansion cistern.

 

[Dan Robinson]

Steel is correct.

As I remember it:


A cistern has an open top/lid.

A tank is totally sealed but may have an inspection hatch.

Or a 70mm cannon .



The fact that no one has asked you for the correct thing in the past is more a sad indictment of the industry.

How many times were you asked for a toilet tank?

 

[Charnwood]

How many times were you asked for a toilet tank?

Quite a few, actually. And the obvious - toilet sink.

I really enjoyed plonking Ballofix valves on the counter and saying "You do know they're nearly a fiver each, don't you?"

 

[GasBod]

Cistern .Noun


1.A tank for storing water, esp. one supplying taps or as part of a flushing toilet.
2.An underground reservoir for rainwater.

Tank.n


a. A large, often metallic container for holding or storing liquids or gases.

b. The amount that this container can hold: buy a tank of gas.

2. A usually artificial pool, pond, reservoir, or cistern, especially one used to hold water for drinking or for irrigation.

3. An enclosed, heavily armored combat vehicle that is armed with cannon and machine guns and moves on continuous tracks.

4. A tank top.

5. Slang A jail or jail cell.

 

[Madrab]

I'm a bit confused now -

Cistern .Noun
1.A tank for storing water, esp. one supplying taps or as part of a flushing toilet.

Tank.n
2. A usually artificial pool, pond, reservoir, or cistern, especially one used to hold water for drinking or for irrigation.


Going by these definitions they are basically both the same thing when talking about water and therefore either is correct.

 

[Steelmasons]

I really enjoyed plonking Ballofix valves on the counter and saying "You do know they're nearly a fiver each, don't you?"

...........and if you had given me the cheap and nasty 8mm bore cheapies then you would have had them back.

Had you had the correct training then you would know a 'cold water storage cistern' or 'F&E cistern' is not a tank , I guess I've not been to your merchants as I would have been the first in 40 years to have asked you for a 'COLD WATER STORAGE CISTERN'

Manufactures state 'cistern' have a looksie at the label on your plastic 'tanks'

 

[sooey]

If I'm buying one out of a merchants I'll usually ask for a cistern, but f I'm in someones house talking to them about it I'll probably call it a tank.
Who cares?

 

[Steelmasons]

I don't have many pet hates sooey but this is one of them , got a rollicking many years ago at polytechnic so it always stuck.

 

[Charnwood]

........and if you had given me the cheap and nasty 8mm bore cheapies then you would have had them back.

Aaahh, another sucker who thinks real mccoy Ballofix valves are full-bore.

The first manufacturer of "Cold Water Tanks" I looked at:
http://www.ferham.co.uk/pdfs/ferham.pdf
Not sure which manufacturers blurb you've been looking at.

No wonder no-one's ever asked me for a cistern when they really want a tank (as defined by at least 1 manufacturer).
Teachers don't always get it right, you know.
Oddly enough, I don't think I've ever been asked for a cistern connector, but I've sold umpty-thousand tank connectors.

I don't have any tanks to check, I'm retired and have a combi boiler.
Or should that be heat generator?

 

[Steelmasons]

So I guess we should refer to wwp as a tank.