Recent: Code?

Mend Plumbing

Mend D.I.Y, Plumbing
Find out how to mend it for free.

Ask Question
Mend D.I.Y, Plumbing
Click here to mend plumbing

Mend > Plumbing

Mend D.I.Y, Plumbing

Why is expansion tank overflowing?

For a number of weeks now my F& E tank has been overflowing with hot water after the central heating/ hot water has been on. It is a indirect heating system. I've turned the cylinder thermostat down, didn't make any difference. Also I have checked the ballcock, and this works okay too. I don't understand where the water is coming from. Any ideas?

Ian
March 2008
why don't you answer another question that some bodys not already 99% gave the answer.

muppet

andy giggs
March 2008
Most likley the coil in your cylinder has split and water is entering your heating system via the hotwater clinder it overflows because the water level in your f&e tank is trying to reach the same level as the C.W.S.T, heating coil split in cylinder,

Thanks

Hayden
March 2008
is the cws ball valve filling when the f/e is pumping over out the vent pipe ?

is it constant or spurts out of vent ?

is it doing it on just hw / heating or both ?

try shutting the gate valve from the cws to the cylinder feed give it about 10 mins does it stop then ?

your whole system can be sludged up, pipework, radiators etc causing a restriction so the water will take the quickest route out the vent pipe.

hi-spec plumbing & heating
March 2008
Thanks for the reply! The system is very old, (15yrs+), i'm selling the house so need the problem fixed pronto! I've had the pump speed down to minimum with no success. Bear with me, as i'm a total novice at this, but if the f/e tank did have a blockage, wouldn't this also stop the water going into the f/e tank? Is there a way I can check to make sure the HW cylinder hasn't sprung a leak?

Ian
March 2008
pump speed can be to high.
boiler stat to high.
or blockage in the feed pipe from f/e tank to the system. etc

most common for a blockage if the the system hasn't been touched and been working ok up to now.

if the blockage gets to bad it will stop the system refilling from the f/e tank.

hi-spec plumbing & heating
March 2008
Mend D.I.Y, Plumbing
Click here to mend plumbing

How to mend ...

Find out how to mend just about anything howtomendit.com for free repair help, information and advice.
Mend D.I.Y, Plumbing
Click here to mend plumbing