Leaking overflow question

[tenohfive]

I've got a leaking overflow pipe that sticks out from just under the roof. No other problems with the plumbing (apart from one radiator thats knackered) and everything works fine...but this pipe is dripping whenever the hot water is turned on.

Is it likely to be something simple that someone with next to no experience of plumbing can deal with, or do I need to reach for the yellow pages and get someone out who knows what they're doing?

[homeimprovements]

Yes its a simple fix and it is your ball valve not shutting off properly. You should be able to adjust the level of the water by adjusting the height of the ball in the tank in your loft. Even if you needed to change the valve you shouldnt be looking at more than £30 - 35 to get a plumber to fix

[tenohfive]

homeimprovements said:

Yes its a simple fix and it is your ball valve not shutting off properly. You should be able to adjust the level of the water by adjusting the height of the ball in the tank in your loft. Even if you needed to change the valve you shouldnt be looking at more than £30 - 35 to get a plumber to fix

Ah, good. I'll have a look in the loft tomorrow and see if I can adjust the ball valve height then.

Thanks.

[Gingerbread Man]

tenohfive said:

homeimprovements said:

Yes its a simple fix and it is your ball valve not shutting off properly. You should be able to adjust the level of the water by adjusting the height of the ball in the tank in your loft. Even if you needed to change the valve you shouldnt be looking at more than £30 - 35 to get a plumber to fix

Ah, good. I'll have a look in the loft tomorrow and see if I can adjust the ball valve height then.

Thanks.

I'd be surprised if you can adjust it to fix it. I bet the balls half under water. It'll be a new ball valve job.

[Ricky_M]

If it only happens when the Hot Water is on, could be either the heating system or the cylinder is pumping over.

Go into the loft when the hot water is on, look at both tanks and check to see if water is coming out of the pipe that hooks over the top of the tank. If it is, you have an overheating/expansion issue.

Or it could simply be a ball valve that is passing. Easy fix.

[Simpo Two]

A quick fix might be to bend the arm down a little so the ball is more submerged and so exerts more upwards force on the valve to close it.

ETA I think there's a screw thread at the valve end that allows you to do this.

Edited by Simpo Two on Thursday 13th May 20:05

[Mobile Chicane]

Sounds like a knackered pressure release valve from either the boiler or unvented hot water cylinder (if you have one). Either way, a pro job.