Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: billy08 on August 07, 2008, 08:05:31 pm

Title: Flooded van, tank over flowed!
Post by: billy08 on August 07, 2008, 08:05:31 pm
Was topping the van tank up this morning,went back in to do something,suddenly remembered, went back out to van to be met by a 12" high flow of water pumping out the top of the tank,you can imagine the mess.

To make matters worse I moved my van up the drive a bit forgetting the hose was still connected to tank,so it pulled the sub pump out the water butt and emptied another 100litres over the drive way ;D.

Anyway the point of sharing my thursday morning blues with you is to ask, what is the best way to combat this,cause I'd rather this don't happen again ;D
Title: Re: Flooded van, tank over flowed!
Post by: Wayne Thomas on August 07, 2008, 08:50:30 pm
Tie a piece of string around your finger to help you remember :)
Title: Re: Flooded van, tank over flowed!
Post by: Nathanael Jones on August 07, 2008, 08:52:07 pm
A float valve in the tank maybe?!
Title: Re: Flooded van, tank over flowed!
Post by: DaveG on August 07, 2008, 09:28:19 pm
Tie a piece of string around your finger to help you remember :)

works for me! :-[
Title: Re: Flooded van, tank over flowed!
Post by: p1w1 on August 07, 2008, 09:37:50 pm
A float valve in the tank maybe?!

How would this work or how could you do it as you would be pumping water from the main tank with a sub pump so you would need it connected to the sub pump or something.

paul
Title: Re: Flooded van, tank over flowed!
Post by: Nathanael Jones on August 07, 2008, 09:59:24 pm
I've used a standard ballcock (€12 odd from the local builders merchants) drilled a 3/4" hole in the side of the tank and put it in (See where the hose goes in,..) The thread on the valve is perfect to fit the hoselock connectors.
When the vale stops the water flow it doesn't damage the sub pump in the static tank. I've forgotten about mine for hours at a time before and it's fine!

(http://www.avondhucleaning.com/Yabb_2/public_html/yabbfiles/Attachments/05082008178_001.jpg)
Title: Re: Flooded van, tank over flowed!
Post by: [GQC] Tim on August 07, 2008, 10:06:16 pm
First pic I've seen of the heater properly in place. Nice one.
Title: Re: Flooded van, tank over flowed!
Post by: p1w1 on August 07, 2008, 10:13:11 pm
sorry mate i'm still a bit lost but am interested. how does the ball cock actually stop the water overflowing from the tank in your van does it push something under where your lid is to stop it coming out the top or is the lid screwed on when it is filling and you pump the water through the pipe..my senario is this i have my main ibc tank in a lock up and a 400lt flat tank in my van basically i would take the lid off my tank in the van and put the hose pipe in that is connected to the sub pump in the main tank and turn it on.. sorry if i'm sounding thick here...i ask as i have done the same twice in the past.

paul
Title: Re: Flooded van, tank over flowed!
Post by: rhys11 on August 07, 2008, 10:14:52 pm
Tie a piece of string around your finger to help you remember :)

lol :D
Title: Re: Flooded van, tank over flowed!
Post by: Nathanael Jones on August 07, 2008, 10:17:22 pm
Still needs tidying up,... but I'm finally getting it sorted to my satisfaction.

A quick touch up of the floor paint, slight modification to the heater controls, and an SL2 and I'd be almost content!!!

;)
Title: Re: Flooded van, tank over flowed!
Post by: Nathanael Jones on August 07, 2008, 10:30:39 pm
You can just about see the valve in this pic. The orange ball floats, and as it rises it closes the valve and stops the water flow,.. simple really!
Title: Re: Flooded van, tank over flowed!
Post by: p1w1 on August 07, 2008, 10:36:31 pm
lol oh ye.. i was having a dumb moment..thank you..

paul
Title: Re: Flooded van, tank over flowed!
Post by: Oakley Windows on August 07, 2008, 10:39:32 pm
(http://www.avondhucleaning.com/Yabb_2/public_html/yabbfiles/Attachments/05082008178_001.jpg)

All you need is a toaster, shower and a kettle, you could call it a caravan then  ;D  ;D
Title: Re: Flooded van, tank over flowed!
Post by: Nathanael Jones on August 07, 2008, 10:41:37 pm
I was thinking a flat screen on the inside of the back doors,.. a PS3 and a lazyboy,...

:)
Title: Re: Flooded van, tank over flowed!
Post by: Oakley Windows on August 07, 2008, 10:43:35 pm
Yea flat screen, that'd work, go on  you know you want to..........
Title: Re: Flooded van, tank over flowed!
Post by: Nathanael Jones on August 07, 2008, 10:44:59 pm
SL2 first mind,....
;)
Title: Re: Flooded van, tank over flowed!
Post by: steve a on August 07, 2008, 11:06:56 pm
Was topping the van tank up this morning,went back in to do something,suddenly remembered, went back out to van to be met by a 12" high flow of water pumping out the top of the tank,you can imagine the mess.

To make matters worse I moved my van up the drive a bit forgetting the hose was still connected to tank,so it pulled the sub pump out the water butt and emptied another 100litres over the drive way ;D.

Anyway the point of sharing my thursday morning blues with you is to ask, what is the best way to combat this,cause I'd rather this don't happen again ;D

Done this loads of times, done it again yesterday actually, just got talking like you do , van filling for ages and water everywhere but just sprayed abit of TFR in back of van and scrubbed it out, looks good and clean today. Will happen ag\in no doubt. The worst is when you foget you're filling the IBC in the garage and the garage floods with about 2-400 litres of pure.

Steve a
Title: Re: Flooded van, tank over flowed!
Post by: alanwilson on August 07, 2008, 11:19:45 pm
nathanael whats all the white bits in your water??
Title: Re: Flooded van, tank over flowed!
Post by: billy08 on August 08, 2008, 08:46:44 am
I've used a standard ballcock (€12 odd from the local builders merchants) drilled a 3/4" hole in the side of the tank and put it in (See where the hose goes in,..) The thread on the valve is perfect to fit the hoselock connectors.
When the vale stops the water flow it doesn't damage the sub pump in the static tank. I've forgotten about mine for hours at a time before and it's fine!


I have only a 2" hole in the top of tank so a ballcock woulld not be possible.

So except for tying a piece of string round my finger is there anything else I could do

Title: Re: Flooded van, tank over flowed!
Post by: Nathanael Jones on August 08, 2008, 08:49:38 am
nathanael whats all the white bits in your water??

I took the pic when the heater was first installed, and I was recycling hot water back to the tank at the time (Just checking it didn't affect the TDS,... it doesn't!). The water coming out of the heater looks a bit carbonated/fizzy,.. which is the white bits. It disappears within seconds once the heater is stopped.
Title: Re: Flooded van, tank over flowed!
Post by: Nathanael Jones on August 08, 2008, 08:51:07 am
What kind of tank do you have billy?

You can get slimline vertical float valves (For caravan toilet cisterns),.. but 2" is very tight even for one of them.