dripping overflow pipe

[mike13]

Only two of us in the house,once a fortnight wife goes to london for meeting,only one night,the following morning the overflow pipe is dripping,i assume it is to do with less water being used.The cold tank is in the loft,completely clueless at diy,any ideas of the problem.

thanks

[fatboy b]

Leaking ball-cock valve. Had mine done a couple of weeks back for the same reason. Could have done it myself, but couldn't be arsed as it's a bit inaccessible in the loft.. Cost me £40 labour and £8 for the parts.

Worth getting done in this weather as the overflow pipe may freeze, causing a possible flood situation, but as it's only dripping probably not.

[mike13]

Thanks Fatboy,is this an easy repair,i can get easy access to the tank.

[igiveup]

Very easy to replace, make sure you turn off the Mains supply first though.

[Wings]

One needs to replace the washer in the header tank's ballvalve. When you gain entry to the header tank, slightly lift up the arm of the ballvalve will shut off the water. So to address the leak, one can either slightly bend down the arm of the ballvalve, so the water cuts off quicker, or change the washer that sits behind the piston, that can be reached at by removal of the cotter pin, refitting being the opposite to removal.

[rovermorris999]

If you are a skinflint you can often fix it by turning the washer over. But a new valve costs next to nothing.

[mike13]

Quite happy to pay for a new one,thanks again guys.

[fatboy b]

Wings said:

One needs to replace the washer in the header tank's ballvalve. When you gain entry to the header tank, slightly lift up the arm of the ballvalve will shut off the water. So to address the leak, one can either slightly bend down the arm of the ballvalve, so the water cuts off quicker, or change the washer that sits behind the piston, that can be reached at by removal of the cotter pin, refitting being the opposite to removal.

Depends how old it is, and what part is worn I guess. I tried the bending down trick. No use.

[thehos]

just replaced on for a customer, when you do it put a lever valve inline, and make sure of the tank/pipe lagging