How to fix an overflowing water tank

Fixing an overflowing water tank will save you money on your water bills especially if you use a water meter. Read on to find out how to fix your overflowing water tank.

Level of difficulty

Level 2: Intermediate

What you need

  • Tape
  • String
  • Old rag
  • Ball valve
  • Plumbing auger / plumber's snake
  • Corrosion inhibitor
     

The steps to follow

  1. Turn off the mains water supply near the water tank.
  2. Attach the ball valve to the side of the water tank and let the water drain out of the tank.
  3. When the tank is emptied, unclog the tank feed by pouring corrosion inhibitor (follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the exact amount.)
  4. Let the inhibitor react in the tank. In some cases, you might need to wait for a week until the tank is unclogged.
  5. Refill the water tank when it is unclogged.
  6. If water still overflows from the water tank, try to replace the existing ball valve with a new one.
  7. Another reason for the water tank to overflow could be that the tank feed is clogged up with waste and residue. You can try unclogging the tank with corrosion inhibitor. However, if the corrosion inhibitor fails to work, try unclogging the tank feed with a plumbing auger or plumber's snake.
  8. Insert the plumbing auger into the tank feed.
  9. Keep feeding the plumbing auger into the water tank passage until it’s loosened the residue and unclogged the water tank.
  10. Detach the ball valve once the water tank is unclogged and let the water tank refill to its usual water height.
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