we have the most peculiar problem in a flat. Our flat is a main door flat on the ground floor and there is an intermittent problem with an overflow pipe that is just below a second floor flat window. Every once in a while water from the overflow floods out with a quantity of water like a rising main which falls on the ground just at my front door. Inspections in the second floor flats have revealed nothing and none of the occupants can hear any water escaping from eg a cistern. Any suggestions on how to trace this fault please?
odd overflow problem
- Thread starter low drains drifter
- Start date
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1. What is the overflowing pipe made of? If copper, then likely to be the pressure relief from a combi boiler or from and unvented hot water cylinder.
2. Is the overflowing water hot or cold? If hot, again likely to be combi or unvented. If cold likely to be water storage (cold water cistern, WC cistern but could be unvented cylinder
3. If pipe is plastic, likely to be e water storage (cold water cistern, WC cistern but could be unvented cylinder
You need to trace the pipe back within the 2nd floor flat until you find where it joins and to what it joins.
Please note the above is not exhaustive, but a place to start.
2. Is the overflowing water hot or cold? If hot, again likely to be combi or unvented. If cold likely to be water storage (cold water cistern, WC cistern but could be unvented cylinder
3. If pipe is plastic, likely to be e water storage (cold water cistern, WC cistern but could be unvented cylinder
You need to trace the pipe back within the 2nd floor flat until you find where it joins and to what it joins.
Please note the above is not exhaustive, but a place to start.
1. What is the overflowing pipe made of? If copper, then likely to be the pressure relief from a combi boiler or from and unvented hot water cylinder.
answer - pretty sure it is plastic but I will need to check. It's one of 3 overflow pipes and there are 2 small but this one is bigger - I would say the 22mm size. There is no gas in my city centre so no combi boilers.
2. Is the overflowing water hot or cold? If hot, again likely to be combi or unvented. If cold likely to be water storage (cold water cistern, WC cistern but could be unvented cylinder
answer - water is cold
3. If pipe is plastic, likely to be e water storage (cold water cistern, WC cistern but could be unvented cylinder
answer - could it be from a communal cold water storage tank? (there is an additional floor above the second floor flat)
You need to trace the pipe back within the 2nd floor flat until you find where it joins and to what it joins.
answer - would you suggest a inspection camera here? or lift the floorboards?
answer - pretty sure it is plastic but I will need to check. It's one of 3 overflow pipes and there are 2 small but this one is bigger - I would say the 22mm size. There is no gas in my city centre so no combi boilers.
2. Is the overflowing water hot or cold? If hot, again likely to be combi or unvented. If cold likely to be water storage (cold water cistern, WC cistern but could be unvented cylinder
answer - water is cold
3. If pipe is plastic, likely to be e water storage (cold water cistern, WC cistern but could be unvented cylinder
answer - could it be from a communal cold water storage tank? (there is an additional floor above the second floor flat)
You need to trace the pipe back within the 2nd floor flat until you find where it joins and to what it joins.
answer - would you suggest a inspection camera here? or lift the floorboards?
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we thought of blocking up the hole to see where it floods but I think I would be liable for any damage. Also, 2 or more flats' overflows join together under the floorboards so I may end up flooding the wrong flat. Any advice on how to involve the insurance company? (It's a policy for the whole block of flats)
Is there a maintenance or management company?
Good point. There is, but my solicitor told me that disputes between individual flats should be resolved by the respective owners. Not saying that the factors would not help but I've really got to drive this on to get it resolved. It has wasted a lot of my time so it's in my best interest to sort it out.
Good point. There is, but my solicitor told me that disputes between individual flats should be resolved by the respective owners. Not saying that the factors would not help but I've really got to drive this on to get it resolved. It has wasted a lot of my time so it's in my best interest to sort it out.
I wasn't thinking of this as a dispute - it's a plumbing problem, so possibly the responsibility of the management company.
Particularly if you draw their attention to it and point out that it could be a serious hazard in winter.
Particularly if you draw their attention to it and point out that it could be a serious hazard in winter.
ban-all-sheds";p="3038566 said:
you say that the flats dont have gas, what HW systems do you have is it unvented cylinders with electric immersion heaters ?
yes, copper hot water cylinders
yes but are they unvented HW cylinders ? make and model would help and I can tell you if it is vented or unvented, there will be a product label on the cylinder or post a pic
sorry, I'll need to go and have a look as I don't live there and it may be a few days before I can go in. But I'll have a look and let you know.
I've added a photo of the boiler and also an image of the overflow pipe.
No photos in this topic.
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