Way off topic....

[kiwiholic]

Hi, any PLUMBERS out there? Got a problem with my economy 7 boiler. Making an awful racket when running taps...any advice would be mega.
Cheers

[puddlesurfer]

I'm not a plumber but I know a bit about it what are the symptoms?
Hot tap or cold - if it just when the taps running or does it continue for a while? do you hve a cold water tank inyour loft?

[kiwiholic]

The boiler has been switched off for a bit as I havn't moved in yet but going in and out cleaning etc...when i use the hot tap in the kitchen, havn't tried the other taps, the noise starts and then gets louder, can't describe the noise very well but definately coming from the boiler. its stops when the taps are turned off?

[kiwiholic]

.. oh and there is a cold tank in the loft.

[puddlesurfer]

is it a rattling or a note type sound like a trumpet/oboe/deep whistle

when you turn tap off des the noise stop straight away?

[kiwiholic]

yeah, not rattling. Its like an oboe I guess. gets pretty loud and scares the crap out of me..

[puddlesurfer]

yeah, not rattling. Its like an oboe I guess. gets pretty loud and scares the crap out of me..

but stops as soon as the taps are off?

[kiwiholic]

.. noise subsides gradually after turning off the tap.

[puddlesurfer]

.. noise subsides gradually after turning off the tap.

does it take a while to stop? a minute or so, is it definately coming from the boiler and is it on the cold tap? Try checking your floating ball valve in the loft (BALLCOCK) the spring gets worn and it vibrates - it sounds like the whole house is going to fall down!

The way to check it is to turn tap on (leave on) so noise starts - then go up to loft and lift valve (ball cock) so water stops filling tank, if the noise stops imediately theres you problem, if not then chance are it'll be an air lock in the system, dpending on what type of system it is depends on how to get rid of it.

[kiwiholic]

cheers for that. I am going round there now and will see what happens.
Nice one.

[puddlesurfer]

no worries let me know how you get on - where in Berkshire are you? I grew up in Crowthorne, my parents live in Wokingham

[kiwiholic]

I'm in Langley, well Slough as of next month!!! But kiwi born and Yorkshire raised!!! Where are you now?
Thanks for help with boiler. Whet up there last night and was still making the same noises but think it may be because it hasn't been used for about a month. Tried it a few times and it was getting better. Only makes the noise using the hot tap.

[puddlesurfer]

I'm in Ruislip, so not that far from you, just along the A40 - I'm guessing you've got an air lock, try hooking up a hose in the kitchen from the cold tap to the hot tap and turning them both on. The kitchen cold tap should be on mains pressure so will push the hot water back up the pipe and should clear the air lock

[kiwiholic]

Kinda tried that with hand over hot tap but now I think it is the spring thing in the tank in the loft. Had a tinker with it today and the noise stopped when I lifted the ballcock (great word!!). Going to look into replacing that. Nice one for the advice though. Cheers.

[puddlesurfer]

It's an easy job to replace the whole ballcock, just turn of the mains water and unscrew the ballcock from the tank - you can get kits to replace the spring but to replace a whole ballcock is only about £10

Glad it's an easy fix!