Megaflo problem?
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Discussion

condor

Original Poster:

8,837 posts

266 months

Monday 23rd November 2009
quotequote all
Just noticed that there's a large damp patch on the carpet next to the airing cupboard - look in the cupboard and there's dampness on the floor - but no obvious sign of where it's coming from.
Upon further investigation the lower external overflow pipe is dripping ( ie not the toilet overflow pipe) - can only think it's a problem with my Megaflo system, but can't think what it might be. Anyone able to suggest a cause?

TVR keith

1,691 posts

240 months

Monday 23rd November 2009
quotequote all
Perhaps you need to re generate the air gap. The pipe in question if I have understood you correctly, should go outside the building, so not sure why its making the floor wet.

Hereward

4,686 posts

248 months

Monday 23rd November 2009
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You really need to positively identify the source of the leak.

Is water passing through the Megaflo tundish?

Ferg

15,242 posts

275 months

Monday 23rd November 2009
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When was it last serviced? It probably needs the bubble regenerating.

condor

Original Poster:

8,837 posts

266 months

Monday 23rd November 2009
quotequote all
Just in from work - it hasn't been serviced, I didn't know it had to be serviced. Think it's about 2 or 3 years old now.

condor

Original Poster:

8,837 posts

266 months

Monday 23rd November 2009
quotequote all
TVR keith said:
Perhaps you need to re generate the air gap. The pipe in question if I have understood you correctly, should go outside the building, so not sure why its making the floor wet.
Sorry for not explaining myself properly - yes that pipe is outside of the house and it's dripping but only about a cupful a day.

condor

Original Poster:

8,837 posts

266 months

Monday 23rd November 2009
quotequote all
Hereward said:
You really need to positively identify the source of the leak.

Is water passing through the Megaflo tundish?
I don't know what a tundish is or where I'm likely to find it.

Ferg

15,242 posts

275 months

Tuesday 24th November 2009
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It should be looked at once a year, really. It does sound like it's the air-bubble.
Turn off the water going into the cylinder, then open the hot taps to lose the pressure. If the bubble is gone this will be almost immediate.
Then you need to drop the water level below the dip-tupe inside.
There may be a drain-off cock half way down the cylinder. If not, you can manually open the Pressure/Temperature Relief valve and that will discharge into the tundish (an open normally plastic device which is beneath the relief valve somewhere).
Emptying the cylinder MAY be more involved, but chances are it'll be emptying at this point. When water stops coming out of the DOC or PTR valve, stop, then close hot taps and open the valve to allow water back into the cylinder.

condor

Original Poster:

8,837 posts

266 months

Wednesday 25th November 2009
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That sounds way too complicated for me to do - I think I'll just call in a plumber smile

condor

Original Poster:

8,837 posts

266 months

Wednesday 3rd March 2010
quotequote all
An update - I called a plumber and had a sort of service in December, he got the air bubble put back...result, carpet dried out and there was no water coming from the overflow pipe.

I've since had my bathroom fully redecorated and the pipework all boxed in with intention to sell shortly. I've just noticed that the overflow pipe has started dripping again. The carpet is still dry at the moment, but I am concerned.

I thought after I'd had this problem fixed a couple of months ago, it wouldn't need looking at for some time. Was there another issue it could have been?

anonymous-user

72 months

Wednesday 3rd March 2010
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This happened to me on Christmas day no less, when the water started dripping through the ceiling below. The plumber diagnosed that the plastic opening type thing (technical term!) below the pressure release valve was faulty, and as well as dripping into the pipe below (tundish?) the water was running down the outside of the pipes and pooling below, it was tricky to diagnose as it was running down the back of a pipe - run your hands around all of the pipes to see if any are wet, then trace back to source.

Ferg

15,242 posts

275 months

Wednesday 3rd March 2010
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condor said:
An update - I called a plumber and had a sort of service in December, he got the air bubble put back...result, carpet dried out and there was no water coming from the overflow pipe.

I've since had my bathroom fully redecorated and the pipework all boxed in with intention to sell shortly. I've just noticed that the overflow pipe has started dripping again. The carpet is still dry at the moment, but I am concerned.

I thought after I'd had this problem fixed a couple of months ago, it wouldn't need looking at for some time. Was there another issue it could have been?
It depends how much of a bubble he reinstated. The whole space should last you a year, really, but often if the air is 'oxygen-hungry', perhaps when it's drawn from a borehole rather than a reservoir, it might absorb that bubble more quickly. There MAY be an other issue. Is the water coming out only when the cylinder is being heated? Or all the time. It may be a faulty valve, there are plenty of problems that could cause a discharge via the tundish.

condor

Original Poster:

8,837 posts

266 months

Wednesday 3rd March 2010
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Ferg, thanks for your help...but I don't know.
I'll call him back again, and go through what's happened...the annoying thing is I've spent a lot getting the bathroom redecorated, all the plumbing boxed in thinking I 've got the problem sorted, and the boxing in is all going to be ripped apart..I feel I'm wasting money , when I need to conserve it.
To having it dripping from the overflow again, so soon after I thought it was fixed is awful.

Ferg

15,242 posts

275 months

Wednesday 3rd March 2010
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YHM

condor

Original Poster:

8,837 posts

266 months

Wednesday 3rd March 2010
quotequote all
Thanks Ferg smile I replied smile

condor

Original Poster:

8,837 posts

266 months

Friday 5th March 2010
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Did you get the pics Ferg? They weren't very good ones, but hopefully were enough?