Gone West Posted May 9, 2020 Share Posted May 9, 2020 The water supply slowly stopped working over about a two minute period. I isolated the problem to the water softener and found there was no water entering the softener although there was plenty of pressure. I disconnected the pipe feeding the softener and found a small plastic cup 15mm diameter completely blocking the end of the flexible hose to the softener. Upstream of where the plastic cup lodged is the softener ball valve, pressure reducing valve, stop cock and double check valve. Could the plastic cup have come from the pressure reducing valve or even from somewhere in the supply pipework outside the property? The pipework etc has been connected and in use for at least two and a half years without being altered. I would like to have an idea before I connect everything up again because I’m very puzzled. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperJohnG Posted May 9, 2020 Share Posted May 9, 2020 Very strange. As a guess it is most likely form the ball valve.. possibly the half of the 'ball' part that creates the seal in the ball valve. My guess is it has split in two and come away. I would have normally thought it was metal though. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gone West Posted May 9, 2020 Author Share Posted May 9, 2020 44 minutes ago, SuperJohnG said: Very strange. As a guess it is most likely form the ball valve.. possibly the half of the 'ball' part that creates the seal in the ball valve. My guess is it has split in two and come away. I would have normally thought it was metal though. I don't think so. IIRC the s/s ball sits in a nylon type seal and it's a 22mm full bore valve so larger than 15mm. Everything still works okay, the ball valves and pressure reducing valve. I'm at a loss to explain it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gone West Posted May 9, 2020 Author Share Posted May 9, 2020 @Nickfromwales @PeterW or any other plumbers. Any ideas before I connect it up again, please. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickfromwales Posted May 9, 2020 Share Posted May 9, 2020 Looks like one of the shields around the moving part of the ball valve to me. Can you strip that out and rule it out? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gone West Posted May 9, 2020 Author Share Posted May 9, 2020 5 minutes ago, Nickfromwales said: Looks like one of the shields around the moving part of the ball valve to me. Can you strip that out and rule it out? Do you mean the seal that the ball sits in. It's a 3/4" full bore so wouldn't the seal be more than 15mm diameter. https://www.bes.co.uk/ball-valve-3-4-bsp-p-f-x-f-red-butterfly-handle-11768#product-details-tab Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickfromwales Posted May 9, 2020 Share Posted May 9, 2020 Not sure TBH as I've never disassembled one, just cannot think of what else that could be..... Possibly a stray blanking plug installed by a manufacturer of one or other bits of kit upstream? My best guesses I'm afraid! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterW Posted May 9, 2020 Share Posted May 9, 2020 Is there a non-return valve anywhere in the system ..??? And my guess is the blue butterfly valve swivel ball.. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gone West Posted May 9, 2020 Author Share Posted May 9, 2020 1 minute ago, PeterW said: Is there a non-return valve anywhere in the system ..??? And my guess is the blue butterfly valve swivel ball.. There's a 28mm double non-return valve before the stop cock. The butterfly valve ball is closed and not leaking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterW Posted May 9, 2020 Share Posted May 9, 2020 Could be the ball off the DCV but never seen one do that tbh ..! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gone West Posted May 9, 2020 Author Share Posted May 9, 2020 Just now, PeterW said: Could be the ball off the DCV but never seen one do that tbh ..! I guess that means it's no longer working if it's that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gone West Posted May 9, 2020 Author Share Posted May 9, 2020 @PeterW Sorry for being slow, I see what you mean now. So half of one of the spheres on the DCV has somehow passed through the PRedV. Hopefully the other sphere is still working to prevent backflow and the other half of the broken sphere is still attached inside the valve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterW Posted May 9, 2020 Share Posted May 9, 2020 Yeh they are a spring and a piston - looks like the cap of the piston 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gone West Posted May 10, 2020 Author Share Posted May 10, 2020 Thanks all for your help. It's all back together again and working as normal. It's an RWC Floguard DCV so not cheap but from the picture looks like what @PeterW suggested. I am going to try to find a dimensioned sectional drawing of it to check the diameter of the plastic cup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now