If I filled my own storage tank what would be the consequences?

Freiheit

Had no water for 4 days, it's only slowly returning to certain taps and toilets now. The storage tank is only filling at 'drip' pace. At this rate will take a week to full. Would I be assisting the process if I added some water to it myself?
Thanks
F

RS1987

I did this myself. Had No problems at all.

In my area Water pressure is low today so the storage tank (in attic) is not filling up. Just remember that it will be very difficult and dangerous to bring water in to the attic in buckets/containers. Dont even try a garden hose as the pressure coming from the hose will be the same as the pressure going up the pipes to the attic and therefore the water will not flow up to the attic through the hose.

Davy

Once you fill it directly into the tank via pump your fine, rather using the mains pipework to feed it your ok, otherwise their could be contamination

indie armada

the pipe going to the tank might be airlocked, or the pressure is just not there to push the water all the way up to the tank, what is the pressure like in the cold taps? also check the ballcock in the tank might have a bit of grit or dirt stuck in it
the only thing i can think wrong with filling your tank manually is you will kick up any sludge or silt that might be lying in the bottom of the tank. if this happens just allow some time for it to settle before using anything fed off the tank like pumped showers ect.

Freiheit

Thanks...what exactly is this tank responsible for?. No water in cold tap in bathroom although fine in the kitchen. Toilet even now not filling up as fast as normal.

AL 555

your kicthen cold tap runs off the mains, your upstairs cold tap runs off your cold water storage tank in the attic as does your toilet the tank will not fill up if the pressure is low it is fed by the mains also but as said if the pressure has been reduced the tank wont fill back up...

Freiheit

Thanks, the outdoor toilet is filling up very fast while the indoor is slow.

AL 555

Whats the pressure like in your downstairs tap? is it the same as normal or do you think the pressure is down a bit??

Freiheit

The cold tap is fine in the kitchen,as is the outside one, the others vary....sometimes fine at the start then get weaker. A few cold tap's are not working at all.

Buford T Justice

Anything not working is tank fed, anything working is mains fed. I would bet the toilet and tap outside are both mains fed which is why they are working. Inside the house, you will rarely have anything other than the cold water in the kitchen without the tank being full, or having some water in it at least.

Freiheit

Aaaah thanks that makes sense, is pressure likely to recover of it's own accord?.

heinbloed

...is pressure likely to recover of it's own accord?.

No. It has to be pumped into the water system, either via the public mains or via your own pump.

Freiheit

Which is likely to be done by the council? Is low pressure likely to be their doing?. There's no visible leaks.

heinbloed

There's no visible leaks ?

See here:

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/1228/breaking5.html

Buford T Justice

Freiheit wrote: »

Aaaah thanks that makes sense, is pressure likely to recover of it's own accord?.

In so far as there's nothing you can do about it yourself, then yes.

Jumpy

Is the pressure to your kitchen tap as powerful as before the freeze?

If so, then you most likely have an issue at the tank itself, as said earlier your ballcock might have an issue with silt etc.

The ballcock is basically the ball on the stick thingy thats floating in your tank.

When the tank is full the water floats the ball and it shuts off the water valve.

Freiheit

How full does the tank need to be before I can light a fire? It's connected to a back-boiler? I believe that a fire and a tank without much water could blow the central heating system?....The problem has been the council and reduced pressure...the tank did fill of it's own accord and then emptied again..it's the council.

Buford T Justice

Check the smaller water tank in the attic. It should still be full, or near full. Its not the one used for the domestic water supply.

Freiheit

So if the smaller tank is ok I can light a fire?.tanx

maestrojon

Hi folks, a somewhat similar problem here I think. I'm in Co. Galway and the mains has been back for a number of days but the tank is not filling at all. The pressure in the mains cold tap is lower than normal. However, as far as I know, the neighbours do not have this problem. It is possibly a leak I guess but could it be anything else? Any suggestions as to what I might do?

Buford T Justice

Freiheit wrote: »

So if the smaller tank is ok I can light a fire?.tanx

Yes

maestrojon wrote: »

Hi folks, a somewhat similar problem here I think. I'm in Co. Galway and the mains has been back for a number of days but the tank is not filling at all. The pressure in the mains cold tap is lower than normal. However, as far as I know, the neighbours do not have this problem. It is possibly a leak I guess but could it be anything else? Any suggestions as to what I might do?

If you have low pressure then you there won't be enough to force the water up to the header tank upstairs. Could be a leak that's causing the reduced pressure, provided all you're neighbours have good pressure back.

dr.fuzzenstein

The tank in my attic was very slow filling last year.
The problem was caused by crud accumulating in the stop cock, so turned off water before the stop cock, took it off, cleaned out crud and after that my tank filled up at a rate of knots.
However, your problem could be cause by low water pressure from the council itself, so there's nothing you can do.
Ask neighbours if they also have low water pressure. If everyone else is the same, just wait till pressure return to normal.

maestrojon

Fingers McGee wrote: »

Yes




If you have low pressure then you there won't be enough to force the water up to the header tank upstairs. Could be a leak that's causing the reduced pressure, provided all you're neighbours have good pressure back.

Thanks Fingers. I spent a part of today fiddling with ballcocks and blowing in to pipes etc, trying to make sure it wasn't an air lock. I think it is a leak but the question is where exactly it might be. I'm hoping that it turns out to be the Council's problem rather than my own! Thanks again for the help.

maestrojon

dr.fuzzenstein wrote: »

The tank in my attic was very slow filling last year.
The problem was caused by crud accumulating in the stop cock, so turned off water before the stop cock, took it off, cleaned out crud and after that my tank filled up at a rate of knots.
However, your problem could be cause by low water pressure from the council itself, so there's nothing you can do.
Ask neighbours if they also have low water pressure. If everyone else is the same, just wait till pressure return to normal.

Thanks Dr Fuzzenstein. I removed the ballcock in the tank and blew down the pipe etc. Does not seem to be the problem. As far as I know all the neighbours have a full supply, with full pressure but I will double check with them in the morning. I fear a leak somewhere between the mains and the house but I really hope it is not this. Or, if it is, it's on the Council's side!
Thanks again.

Buford T Justice

maestrojon wrote: »

Thanks Dr Fuzzenstein. I removed the ballcock in the tank and blew down the pipe etc. Does not seem to be the problem. As far as I know all the neighbours have a full supply, with full pressure but I will double check with them in the morning. I fear a leak somewhere between the mains and the house but I really hope it is not this. Or, if it is, it's on the Council's side!
Thanks again.

If its between you're stopcock and the house, then its you're problem and not the councils....... Unlikely to be the other side of the ballcock as this would affect other people's pressure...