Fao The Builder

[jennyjoan]

Enter Further Question Details Here...

[EcclesCake]

Away you go then.......

[jennyjoan]

For some time now - water has flown out from the overflow in the yard/backgarden. I go up to toilet and give it a good flush - then overflow stops.

However it is about 3-4 days a week. Can you tell me what it is happening. Thanks

[Tuvok]

Imassume you mean the overflow from the cold wter tank?

If so, its something to do with the ballcock/float.

[jennyjoan]

to me this is something that is "stuck" in the flow pipe leading out to the back yard.

[bhg481]

If you're lucky it might just be the ballcock which needs adjusting - take the top off the tank and you should be able to see how to adjust it. Failing that it might be something stuck under the rubber washer in the ballcock or the washer may have hardened with age and need replacing. Try adjusting it then, if that doesn't work, replace the washer. You'll need to isolate the water supply to do that - if it's fed directly from the rising main use the main stopcock; if it's an indirect supply there will be a gate-valve somewhere with a round handle (probably in the airing cupboard).

[bhg481]

JJ - it's not something stuck in the pipe out to the yard, it's the tank that's over-filling, caused by problems with the ballcock. If there were a blockage in the pipe to the yard you would get a flood in the bathroom.

[Bathsheba]

Glad to see you're ok JJ, was getting worried when you didn't answer emails.

Baths
x x x

[Hopkirk]

It might be the toilet cistern ballcock, if flushing it stops it for some time.

[tamborine]

Renew the float ball due to limescale corrosion in tank

[EcclesCake]

Why not ask you nephew the plumber to take a look?

[Tilly2]

There's no way that JJ is going to go into the loft and fix the ballcock!

[tonyav]

If it's the toilet ballcock just bend the arm down a bit ( if the arm is made of brass ) if it's the plastic type then the ball cock can be moved up or down the arm.
If your cold water tank up in the loft then get someone else to go up there and adjust it, jj. ( don't you be going up there ).

[tamborine]

Builder aint gonna fix it, thats for sure ;)

[Togo]

Jenny turn the water pressure down for now and see if it stops overflowing.(by the stop tap)Then get someone to come and change the washer in the ball valve. I take it that the overflow is a header tank or expansion tank in the loft/attic? If it is straight out of the wall at ground or first floor level it is your loo cistern. If the loo cistern is a fairly modern one it will not have a ball cock but will have a syphon system that is best replaced. They cost about £15 for a good one, but again need a plumber or a good DIYer to fit. Do not let it carry on overflowing. Firstly you are wasting water(meter?) and secondly a big freeze will cause water to overflow in the house.

[alavahalf]

Believe it or not this overflow problem is now a bit of an emergency and needs to be sorted out imediately.
The actual problem as others have stated, is the ball valve. If the water runs from a pipe up below the gutter then it is the tank in the loft where the valve needs sorting. If the water flows from a pipe lower down the building near the toilet,then it is the ball valve in the cistern that needs fixing. Personaly I would never get involved with replacing washers ... just replace the ball valve as they are so cheap. Having spent a lifetime fixing these sort of problems I can assure you that it takes more time to replace a washer than it does to change the whole ball valve.
No one has mentioned it but the real issue that you have to worry about .. is ice forming on the overflow. The ice will block the overflow and the water that is escaping into the overflow will have nowhere to go other than to flow over the side of your loft tank and down through the ceilings, or out of your cistern and down through the ceiling in the house, depending on which one is the problem.
If you tell us which pipe is over flowing then we can tell you whether it is the loft or the cistern. If it is not already frozen, it will be overnight.

[alavahalf]

Sorry Togo has already pointed the freezing issue .. trying to watch Blue Planet and type at the same time.

[jennyjoan]

thanks all for your answers. next time I see nephew - he is doing work for neighbour - I'll ask him. ta again

[malagabob]

Fit a syphon that overflows into the toilet bowl.

[jennyjoan]

when you talking about the "tank" are referring to the immediate cistern that holds the ball cock. That's all what I would know.

[jennyjoan]

malaoop - what kind of a syphon could you give me a link thanks