Question about the water system

steveodp · Post by **steveodp** » Mon 26 Aug 2019 2:53 pm

Ok, more water issues...
We have a water tank at ground level, a pump, and a tank on the roof, like most people have.
This morning I noticed the ground-based tank was overflowing. I checked the stopcock, and this was ok. I checked the pump and this had the red light on, so needed resetting (I don’t know why it did this).
So my best guess is that the pump had shut off in the open position, and gravity was causing the water in the pipework to the roof, to flow back into the ground tank.
Is this an accurate assumption, and should it happen? Isn’t there a non-return valve somewhere in the piping?

Keithcaley · Post by **Keithcaley** » Mon 26 Aug 2019 3:31 pm

There is (normally ) a non-return valve built into the 'Press Control' unit mounted on top of the pump.

Perhaps it had a bit of grit stuck in it, preventing it from fully closing, so that the water in the house plumbing and in the roof tank was running back 'downhill'...

Just a guess!

steveodp · Post by **steveodp** » Mon 26 Aug 2019 3:34 pm

Pump seems to be running more regularly - maybe still not closing?
If it continues I guess it’s ‘plumber time’.

Keithcaley · Post by **Keithcaley** » Mon 26 Aug 2019 3:50 pm

steveodp wrote:Pump seems to be running more regularly - maybe still not closing?
If it continues I guess it’s ‘plumber time’.

'Pump intermittently running when no water is being drawn' is usually due to the pressure in the system dropping, triggering the Press Control Unit to turn the pump on in order to maintain the nominal system pressure.

Most frequently, this can be caused by dodgy toilets or cisterns - either poor seals/ballcocks/bidet taps not shutting off etc. - but in your case, I think that we have to include the possibility that the Non-return valve in the Press Control Unit may be compromised.

In short, I agree - you could be right!

There is normally a shut off valve immediately after the outlet from the Press Control Unit.

Try turning that to fully closed.

If the pump still runs occasionally, then you are 100% correct!

steveodp · Post by **steveodp** » Mon 26 Aug 2019 4:15 pm

Thanks Keith.

steveodp · Post by **steveodp** » Tue 27 Aug 2019 2:18 pm

Update in case it’s of use to anyone - called Northview Maintenance and they came out next day - replaced the control unit that sits on top of the pump - all works great now, in fact, it has made us realise that what we thought was ok, was in fact running too often, so the signs were there that it was failing, we just didn’t recognise them as this was our first time having this type of water system.