subject: Some Of The Most Common Plumbing Emergencies [print this page] There are 2 common plumbing issues which you can come across that do not always need the services of a plumber. Discovering how to do it yourself is simple.
Overflowing Can Cistern : The cause might be one of the following : 1. The Ball wants Adjustment : First, raise a touch the arm holding the ball and discern whether or not this shuts off the water inlet fully. If it does, all that must be done is to bend the arm down a little ; this could cause the water to be shut off at a lower level in the tank. Place a short wooden support under the arm close to the water inlet, resting it on the base of the tank so that force on the arm will lead it to bend and not just to open the valve.
2. The Washer is Worn: Again, lift the arm; if the water does not shut off completely, probably a new washer is required. Turn off the water supplying the cistern and remove the brass split pin on which the arm hinges. The arm can then be removed and with it a brass plunger and cylinder. One end of this plunger houses a washer, which can now be examined. It probably needs a replacement, but may be only dirty.
To replace the washer, unscrew the end cap which holds it (taking care not to scratch or damage the plunger); then remove the old washer and fit a new one (obtainable at a hardware store). Screw the two sections of the plunger together again and refit in the tank. Turn on the water and adjust the arm as necessary to obtain a correct water level (as shown by the mark on the inside of the cistern).
3. The Washer is Soiled : Mud or rust found inserted in the washer can usually be removed by depressing the ball by hand a couple of times and allowing a force of water to wash the valve seating. If this isn't effective the arm must be removed as explained above, the washer wiped clean and the valve seating wiped with a tiny piece of wood or the unsharpened end of a pencil. Replace the plunger, then the arm and splat pin.
4. The Ball is Dribbling : If the arm doesn't lift when the water rises in the cistern, the ball must contain water as well as air and isn't watertight. Unscrew it from the end of the arm and screw on another one. The arm holding it should then be altered as needed.
An Air-lock in the Hot-water System : The symptoms are :
(1) no water comes from all or some draw-off points ; (2) only a drip of water comes from draw-off points ; (3) the water in the boiler heats very swiftly.
The cure is generally to clear down the entire installation ( after turning off the boiler ) and refill it with all hot-water taps open. They need to be closed only as a full flow of water is got.
It is often feasible to overcome an air-lock ( again with boiler off ) by connecting the primary water supply to the hot-water supply, using rubber tubing to link the specific taps, then turning both on full for a minute or two.
This could force water thru the pipelines and eject any air that can't be moved by the relatively lower pressure of the cold supply tank. Be careful not to over-fill the cold supply tank when using this methodology.
If neither of these remedies succeeds in overcoming the trouble, call in a hot water engineer.
