Overflow pipe leaking in loft *THIS ONE PLEASE*

[AliMay]

Hello..
Firstly I'd like to point out that have no idea what I am doing with regards to this problem, I'm hoping to avoid spending out on something that is relatively simple to fix myself (given that I may as well be a 5 year old when discussing plumbing related things).
I have had a leak from my overflow pipe which I noticed last year but it wasn't very often - this year however it is pouring out virtually all the time and only stops when I turn the hot tap on.
I have read that it could be a ballcock that needs replacing in my water tank in the loft - this is basically Russian to me - also it has been recommended that I turn the water off (haven't a clue how to do that but remember someone telling me the tap was impossible to turn).
If someone could give me some basic (and I mean basic!) tips I'd be grateful - otherwise any idea how much a plumber would charge for this job?

Thanks
Ali

*****
Moderator's note:
You have multiple threads running. Please just use one of them. I have marked this one " *THIS ONE PLEASE* "

Use the "REPLY" button at the bottom of the page to add more information or requests about your problem

I will lock the others

*******

 

[Bahco]

Turn your cold water off at the mains which will cut supply to tank.

Purchase a new float valve and fit it. You should be able to do this yourself as it is fairly easy.

Turn water back on and adjust the metal arm by bending it so that it cuts the water off when the level is 2 inches below the overflow.

 

[Terrywookfit]

Forty five quid !!

 

[bengasman]

Forty five quid !!

plus parts and labour in london

 

[AliMay]

Had my dad come and look and apparently the ballcock is working perfectly well - when we looked in the front part of the tank (seems to be in two sections) there was the other end of the leaking overflow pipe, but it was facing downwards, so when the water filled up it was going straight into the pipe and outside - my dad moved it so it was at a 90 degree angle and we thought it was sorted - however, this morning I heard gushing water again - went to check and it was pouring from the outside overflow - I checked the tank and the water was up to the overflow pipe so I moved it so it was facing upwards (still with a few inches space from the top of the tank) does anyone know if that pipe was supposed to be facing up and also, as there hadn't been any water used (apart from central heating) why was the tank filling up at all?
Thanks!
Ali

 

[Newboy]

The elbow on the overflow tank is supposed to be pointing downwards.

By turning the elbow from down to up you have simply allowed the water level to rise by about 2-3 inches before it overflows , you now have the water level above the overflow connector level - if the tank connector is not tight then you run the risk of a leak into your loft space.

You need to stop the tank overfilling - simply raising the oveflow level will not stop the tank filling up.

Change the ball valve before your tank overflows and you change a small repair into a disaster.

The other name of the overflow is a warning pipe - it gives you a warning that something is wrong!

 

[gypsum]

Apologies for posting this here - the thread that the quote below comes from is locked.

Why are you saying that you cannot get a plumber until after Christmas?

There are hundreds all over the country ready to go out!

It seems quite clear that your dad does not want to pay anyone as he thinks he can do it himself.

Unless YOU are able to pay someone there is little that you are likely to be able to do!

Say where you are and I am sure there will be someone on here in that area if your dad changes his mind and agrees to pay someone to fix it.

Tony

She said that because, as far as I know, AliMay has telephoned eight plumbers in her area this morning, and seven of them were unable to come to her aid. The eighth may well be able to help. So, whilst there may be 'hundreds all over the country ready to go out', unfortunately there is only one in her area who might be able to come to her aid.

Suggesting that it is 'quite clear that her Dad doesn't want to pay anyone' to do the job is pretty ignorant - he is just trying to help her as she has not been able to get a plumber to come round today. You don't know her circumstances, so you should refrain from offering such 'helpful' comments. You may have posted 11,000 times to this forum, and that might well mean you have encyclopedic plumbing knowledge, but your comments were neither helpful, or accurate. Which, to my admittedly plumbing-ignorant eyes, makes you a bit of an idiot, plumbing god or not.

And to everyone else who has posted comments, thanks, I know she really appreciates all the genuinely helpful suggestions [/i]

 

[Agile]

The OP has been posting on many different threads and I had seen no comment saying how many people they had called.

Nowhere have I seen any suggestion of a location being quoted although the site does allow one, Ali prefers to just give UK.

Nor have I seen anything to suggest that Ali is a female and most "Ali,s" that I encounter are male! Perhaps you are hiding the fact that you are associated with her as otherwise how would you know that its a "she" and that she appreciates the help given to her?

You then say that I have no reason to assume they dont want to pay to get it fixed! May I remind you of these words from Ali:-

Hello..
Firstly I'd like to point out that have no idea what I am doing with regards to this problem, I'm hoping to avoid spending out on something that is relatively simple to fix myself (given that I may as well be a 5 year old when discussing plumbing related things).

Thanks
Ali

Your first post seems quite rude towards me and I will have to remember not to give you any assistance with heating problems.

If I knew where Ali lived, then I am quite sure that I would be able to find someone able to go out within the next three days.

I am a real person, you Gypsum, hide behind an alias !

Tony

 

[gypsum]

Tony,

To be fair, I hadn't seen the comment that you quoted. But at the risk of being pedantic I would like to point out that she says '... hoping to avoid...' rather than stating a flat refusal to pay for someone to help. And who wouldn't want to try and do something first, before having to pay call out fees for what may well turn out to be a 'simple' fix.

How can I be hiding the fact that I am associated with her? Why would I? I truly did not see the need to go into the details of any connection between her and me simply because this is a forum about plumbing, not relationships.

If you think I was rude, then I apologize, my words were in direct response to what I felt was rude or 'ignorant' in your post. I think I reacted to your post because all the other posts had at least offered some sort of suggestion as to what could be tried, whereas yours seemed to just have a go at the poster. And, believe it or not, I am a real person too - in my haste to post I forgot to add my name at the end of the post. So, I am not about to hit send before adding it this time.

Jay

PS: Should I have any need to ask for help on plumbing matters and you feel you wouldn't be able to offer it then that's quite fair enough.