Warning - check your ballcocks!

treemancyprus


Joined: 13/08/2008
Posts: 82

Message Posted:
21/04/2010 10:12

Here in Alsancak we seem to be lucky to have excellent mains water pressure. Unfortunately, it has been so good lately that it managed to 'beat the valve' on my underground tank, resulting in an overnight flooding. When I noticed the next morning, I discovered the ball valve was unable to close against the mains pressure. On checking the valve, I found the orange ball half full of water - it was a cheap one where the arm screwed in to a threaded hole in the ball itself, rather than a brass threaded insert. On my trip to the yapi market to replace the ball and valve, there were three different valve types all in the same tray. I found one with 'made in germany' cast in to the body, and it was definately better quality than the others. Also bought the largest ball they had (yes, they do slightly different sizes) and on fitting, it sealed perfectly. (Advisor in yapi market suggested the solution was to turn the main at the meter down!)

Lost around 12 tonnes of water!