"Rod Speed" wrote in
:



"NY" wrote in message
...
"Roger Mills" wrote in message
...
A lot of cisterns don't have external overflows these days but
overflow into the pan. Bad idea if you're on a water meter because
you're less likely to notice that it's overflowing.

If they do it now (ie it's not contravening some safety regulation) I
wonder why toilet cisterns were *ever* made with external overflows,
given that the overflow pipe could always be connected by T piece
into the outlet pipe of the cistern to the pan - even in the days
before flush-fit cistern/pan connections.

I agree, though, that it makes it almost impossible to tell when the
cistern is overflowing and therefore that the ball valve needs some
attention.

Its not impossible, you can see it running down the back of the pan,
over the part of the pan that is above the static water level in the
pan.



Lift the lid now and again and check the water level. Routine maintenance
(looking for something to play with)

Hmm.. block of flats with shared downpipes? Partial blockage at ground
level and then someone empties a bath.



--
Tim Lamb

Yes! that fits.
I'll get her to fill her own bath, empty it and see what happens.

"DerbyBorn" wrote in message
2.236...
"Rod Speed" wrote in
:



"NY" wrote in message
...
"Roger Mills" wrote in message
...
A lot of cisterns don't have external overflows these days but
overflow into the pan. Bad idea if you're on a water meter because
you're less likely to notice that it's overflowing.

If they do it now (ie it's not contravening some safety regulation) I
wonder why toilet cisterns were *ever* made with external overflows,
given that the overflow pipe could always be connected by T piece
into the outlet pipe of the cistern to the pan - even in the days
before flush-fit cistern/pan connections.

I agree, though, that it makes it almost impossible to tell when the
cistern is overflowing and therefore that the ball valve needs some
attention.

Its not impossible, you can see it running down the back of the pan,
over the part of the pan that is above the static water level in the
pan.



Lift the lid now and again and check the water level.

That isnt going to be useful if the problem is due to
so someone in another flat emptying the bath and
that producing a short term rise in the water level
in her pan, which overflows onto the floor, when
she is out, with a particular blockage in the sewer
line producing that result.

A dash cam or even just the phone aimed at the
pan which can be inspected after a pool of water
is found would be a much better approach.

Routine maintenance (looking for something to play with)

Again, not going to be useful if its due to the
plug being pulled in the bath in another flat.

I can't see that there is any other likely explanation
for what only happens when she is out of the flat.

In message ,
Rednadnerb writes
Hmm.. block of flats with shared downpipes? Partial blockage at ground
level and then someone empties a bath.



--
Tim Lamb

Yes! that fits.
I'll get her to fill her own bath, empty it and see what happens.

er.. Needs to be waste water from a higher flat than hers.

Happened to a flat owned by my wife. Built mid '60's with kitchens and
bathrooms stacked vertically, with shared soil piping.

Fortunately the problem arose with the kitchen waste (sink/washer) slow
to drain and was fixed by rodding the pipe leading to the inspection pit
in the lawn.

--
Tim Lamb

Update:

I gave up with this after emptying a full bath produced no results.

Some months later her neighbour had a pinhole leak in a mains pressure copper pipe under the floor, fortunately it was above a car drive through so no damage downstairs.

When this leak was fixed her problem disappeared.

The damaged pipe was close to the area of the mystery puddle, maybe a couple of meters and at a slightly higher level.

Too much of a coincidence not to be connected.

All that remains unexplained is why the leak was intermittent but I think the case is closed.

Thank you all for your help.

Limescale in the pipe blocking it from time to time.
Brian

--
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This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
The Sofa of Brian Gaff...

Blind user, so no pictures please!
"Rednadnerb" wrote in message
...
Update:

I gave up with this after emptying a full bath produced no results.

Some months later her neighbour had a pinhole leak in a mains pressure
copper pipe under the floor, fortunately it was above a car drive through
so no damage downstairs.

When this leak was fixed her problem disappeared.

The damaged pipe was close to the area of the mystery puddle, maybe a
couple of meters and at a slightly higher level.

Too much of a coincidence not to be connected.

All that remains unexplained is why the leak was intermittent but I think
the case is closed.

Thank you all for your help.