CWC overflow

[WaterTight]

it's not an overflow. it's portal to another universe.

 

[PlumbBobBob]

poltergeist?

 

[Plumbstar Tom]

i can only think te set a camera up to see this

why is it only leaking when the customer is there?
is he doing something?

 

[Spike295]

Just been contacted by customer, water is now coming out of overflow quite fast & after not even 24 hrs & the Cwc & cylinder were drained?!

Are you saying you drained it, re-filled & its overflowing....or its drained, not re-filled & still overflowing! I reckon someone is winding you up on this 1?

 

[LUCIALIA]

I really wish someone was winding me up! I drained the CWC & part drained the HW cylinder, the house is empty with the CH & HW turned off, i only know it started leaking again as the neighbour told the house owner.
I also raised the vent pipe 3 or 4 inch as I though that was the problem & placed a piece of cardboard underneath to see if the water waws coming from there,but it was dry. So the only place for the water to come from (I think) is the cold feed from the underneath of the CWC, but how & why!!!!!😕😡😕😕

 

[Spike295]

Is the level in the CWS tank high every time you go back!

The neighbour is not getting confused with the WC cistern overflow by any chance?

 

[LUCIALIA]

it is indeed high, well over the float valve & exiting the building via the overflow pipe

 

[Spike295]

And this has still happened with the cold mains isolated & heating & water turned off?

 

[LUCIALIA]

Cold mains isn't isolated just the feed to the CWC

 

[Spike295]

Try isolating the cold mains, leave a tap open in the bath & see how that goes. It maybe the ballvalve still & the stop tap isolating the CWS tank is not shutting right off! There isn't much esle it can be!

 

[LUCIALIA]

i'll give it a go tomorrow

 

[Spike295]

Or just strip the ballvalve, new washer & seating & see how it goes. Let me know the outcome, i'm really interested in this one!

 

[LUCIALIA]

but it is a brand new valve?

 

[PlumbBobBob]

might have been a monday morning or friday afternoon one.

 

[LUCIALIA]

😛😀😉LOL
How about if i fit an isolation valve before the float valve?

 

[Spike295]

Even tho it is new, it could still be the valve, it could have a piece of muck stuck in the seating, a chunk out of the washer, a favourite is a small nick on the end of the seating! I bet its the valve!

 

[WaterTight]

would be a good idea to fit an iso before valve anyway.

 

[LUCIALIA]

Iso valve fitted this afternoon, will pop in tomorrow afternoon and check the water level............

 

[LUCIALIA]

cwc full again!!!!! iso was definately off, so not the float valve, vent pipe seemed dry. so surely it can only be backfilling,but how & why. owner did have tenants in prior to this problem & they didn't part on the best of terms, anything he could've done????

 

[franz]

tape a clear plastic bag to the vent pipe, enough to take the water that may come out if you think its backfilling that way.

 

[LUCIALIA]

On two previous occasions i have put a plank of wood with a piece of card on under the vent pipe & on both occasions the card has been dry as a bone but the cwc full again,so i don't think it is that.

 

[franz]

After all this,it may be time to try and get a fresh pair of eyes on the job from someone else who knows a bit of plumbing.
can you ask anyone?

 

[LUCIALIA]

i do know a bit of plumbing!! i'm simply rather bemused with this job!

 

[franz]

sorry did not mean to be shirty,just meant someone else might have that EREKA!! moment.no offence intended

 

[LUCIALIA]

Ok, that's what I am posting on here for, hoping that someone will have that eureka moment that is eluding me ....

 

[jonesy76]

the open vent from the top of the cylinder should not be tee d straight of it should come of an elbow with at least 450mm b4 it tees off for the vent this stops one pipe ciculation

 

[LUCIALIA]

this is a new problem on an old system so that shouldn't be an issue

 

[franz]

hi LUCIALIA.just a thought. is the filling loop still connected to the boiler and is it on.ie can water be going through the boiler,through the coil into the cylinder.sounds daft i know.

 

[LUCIALIA]

franz that is a very good thought indeed, i shall have to check that one out

 

[hot stuff]

hi luciala,if heating and hot water drained it can only be mains water causing the overflow problem.remove the ballvalve from cistern and blank hole on tank also put a cap on mains valve feeding tank this will eliminate the ballvalve and possible passing mains valve for 100%.if not i like others are baffled.

 

[Pipes Plumbing]

Strange one!
On top of all the other suggestions, there's not a gunked up mixer tap or shower assembly (or even twin fed appliance) anywhere allowing the hot supply to be back fed up into the CWSC through the cold distribution when in use by the cust' is there?

Long shot I know, but if the supply and control to the rising main into the CWSC is known good (and tested), a holed coil has been eliminated and the F&E doesn't seem to be transfering volume to the CWSC from anywhere else there sounds like there could be something a bit freaky going on somewhere...

Good luck with this one, interested how it turns out 🙂

 

[LUCIALIA]

Problem solved finally, I knew it would be something simple & it was. It was cylinder was backfilling as some idiot(we think the aggrieved ex tenant) had joined together the hot & cold feeds for the washing machine!!!

 

[PlumbBobBob]

the simplest things are often the hardest to find in the end, well done. i bet you're glad that's over!

 

[LUCIALIA]

steveb you would not believe the relief!! Now to get paid.......

 

[truemanufan]

Is the pump placed directly before the vent? Maybe pumping over?