Water suddenly poured from overflow pipe.

Worztron · 19-07-2019 3:04pm #1

Hi.

What would cause water to suddenly pour out of an overflow pipe for a few minutes and then stop? Is it something to be concerned about? I recall a few weeks back when I was home alone and the toilet was flushed far less often then normal. Later in the eve, water poured (just a steady stream that time) from the overflow pipe for a few minutes and then stopped - was that just a coincidence?

Sorry, but I know nothing about plumbing.

Thanks.

Cerco · 19-07-2019 6:38pm

Assuming it was main water tank, as it is unlikely heating was on, I would check the ballcock on the main water tank, to see if it sticking.
I had this problem after a water outage.

Worztron · 19-07-2019 6:45pm

Cerco wrote: »

Assuming it was main water tank, as it is unlikely heating was on, I would check the ballcock on the main water tank, to see if it sticking.
I had this problem after a water outage.

Hi Cerco. No heating was on. Yes, there's a water tank in loft. On what occasions would it be normal for water to come out of the overflow pipe?

Cerco · 19-07-2019 6:57pm

The ballcock floats on top on the water. It controls the water level by turning on and off a valve on the water input. It moves up and down as the water level changes due to usage.
If the ballcock sticks then the valve maybe held open allowing water in the tank to rise to the level of the overflow pipe. The water comes out through the overflow and prevents the tank itself overflowing.

Worztron · 22-07-2019 3:24pm

A new ballcock was put in.

monseiur · 22-07-2019 4:44pm

New ballcock could be faulty or not designed for your mains water pressure.
Carry out a visual check by going up it the attic, get someone to run tap in bathroom (not the cold one in kitchen) or flush toilet, then wait for attic tank to fill and if ballcock if working as it should the flow in to tank should stop. Repeat exercise a few times in case it's an intermittent problem with ballcock.

Worztron · 22-07-2019 4:59pm

monseiur wrote: »

New ballcock could be faulty or not designed for your mains water pressure.
Carry out a visual check by going up it the attic, get someone to run tap in bathroom (not the cold one in kitchen) or flush toilet, then wait for attic tank to fill and if ballcock if working as it should the flow in to tank should stop. Repeat exercise a few times in case it's an intermittent problem with ballcock.

Hi monseiur. A qualified person did it for me. Thanks.

Water suddenly poured from overflow pipe.

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