How to Replace a Ballcock & Float Valve

Roger loves solving a plumbing problem and this one is a familiar old favourite.
The noisy ballcock that sounds like a musical instrument or a whale is easily solved and we show you how.
Solve that water hammer problem.
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[@mikechivers5792]

Hi skill builder, love watching the videos. I've just finished my NVQ 2 plumbing. I've started doing jobs now and loving it. Most recently today I changed an old Dudley siphon unit and ball cock fill valve to a push button unit. Customer is happy which is the key. Would love an opportunity to spend a day with Roger doing some plumbing work. Certainly learn alot. Keep up the great work. Thanks skill builder.👍

[@Spark101.]

That made me laugh.....’time to rinse the customer’ 😂

[@ashleykeohan9279]

I like the editor on this it added fun

[@mattyboy3908]

Another great video Roger. You’ve got a nice presenting style and explain things very well. 👌

[@dnsmoker]

Hi roger Thank you for another great video love picking up all these tips from your videos mostly it’s the stuff they don’t teach you at college. Cheers!!

[@brianwood5220]

Great tips Roger, thanks

[@SteveAndAlexBuild]

Very entertaining Rog , good to see you doing a bit today 😉. I thought it was blue Peter when you said you do repairs with an old yogurt pot and some wire . I was expecting you to say “here’s one I prepared earlier “😁😁🧱👍🏼

[@ratchriat1716]

Found this video very informative and useful thanks for sharing Roger

[@anthonycampbell9807]

Nice video roger, I’ve just brought this exact ball valve from selco today going to change it over as my one is worn out and doesn’t stop dripping and goes through the over flow. As an electrician it was good to see how you done it.

[@Firebrand55]

Excellent....apart from one teensy weensy observation; using adjustable spanners...heavy, unwieldy, oversize. The ballcock and valve set spanners sizes are known so really a good idea to use the smaller, lighter set spanner...and...reduces the risk of over-tightening.

[@bradleythechippychandler9228]

Had to read that twice 😁

[@ShadowzGSD]

i read it only once, my auto translate in my mind does the rest.

[@gdfggggg]

But it explained the problem perfectly..

[@shaunglendinning]

Great job Roger!

[@BlackLustWarrior]

Brilliant explanation. We're having this problem right now, except the noise is deafening. Glad to see this could be an easy fix thanks to your video!

[@georgestewart1325]

Very entertaining episode that taught me much about my ballcock. Like this channel very much.

[@PraveenMalhotra-vn5zj]

Great job Roger

[@paulmurphy9663]

Great video as usual 👍keep up the good work

[@AntonyGoodall]

Just brilliant!

[@connormcleod02]

1:23 had me in stitches 😂

[@plumbertime]

Nice to see someone else splitting the valves. Saves carry a fiber washer up 😂 I get grumpy when it’s a coffin tank and have to change the full thing

[@silastetley9643]

Video of water hammer and solutions to it please!?

[@unithecycleguy]

Read that title incorrectly several times before I realised.

[@johntheplumber4936]

Same here lol 🤣😭

[@quidaba9191]

Cover photo for the video looks like a DJ with headphones in his hands 😂

[@LibertypopUK]

great video thanks

[@whigwood]

All that without turning off the water supply - clever!

[@pokoyo8359]

Hi Roger, you mentioned abt yogurt pot and damper. Can you show how do they look like and how do you attach them at the ball valve?

[@derrickknight4985]

Amazing what you find in peoples house as a tradesmen. Plumbing is mainly my game. Changing radiators is always an adventure to missing socks and knickers. Incidentally I keep telling customers not to put damp clothes on radiators, they never listen.

[@thetallcarpenter]

Did I notice a rye smile when you said you could tell you'd had a coffee after you did your American accent? Thanks for the video. Cheers.

[@SkillBuilder]

Yes I did

[@hchwskse]

Funnily enough this was the first plumbing job I ever undertook myself after enquiring locally with three plumbers who all wanted £90 to replace a £10 part! Thanks to you Mr Bisby, James from @plumberparts and @dereton33 I now have a good understanding of plumbing and have overhauled my entire heating system and saved £££ 👍💦👨‍🔧

[@mac7761]

Glad you guys mentioned Bitcoin 👍

[@SkillBuilder]

I once found a load lying in the loft. They must have been there for twenty years......

[@billy4072]

You forgot to have a p iss is in tank. That cameraman must be a relation.? So witty.....👍. (Sic)

[@samnichols]

Great videos as always Rodger. My heat system is making some rather annoying noises at the moment. The underfloor heating makes a very loud humming/ringing noise when running. And we also have noticed a fairly loud bang in the upstairs bedroom (radiators upstairs). Sound alike someone is banging on the ceiling below. Nothing like the sounds you mentioned in your video the other day. Any ideas on how to solve this would be much appreciated. Thanks, Sam

[@jbjoe249]

Radiator valve... It's like machine gun?

[@samnichols]

@@jbjoe249 no is more of a ringing sounds.

[@jbjoe249]

What type of heating are you using, is it water? And is it laying in concrete or it is dry typrs with metal plates. Can be a damaged squeezed pipe, and when water running over that point it makes vibration, which vibrate metal plates and makes noise like that. But can be also valve like on radiators, when he need to shot the water and starts to vibrate. Check valve and try to locate noise in the floor.

[@rickiespanish8422]

Actually laughed. Well done

[@cdh601]

I remember the communal tanks in a block of flats 1" ballvalve with 12" copper float bouncing and causing waves across the surface and resulting slow bang bang though the pipework residents thought an earthquake or something was going on

[@SkillBuilder]

I changed one of those tanks once. I told them all there would be no baths or showers for the day and just after I started I woke up a wasps nest. They were crawling all over my hands and everything. I had to carry on and finish the job and didn't get stung once.

[@SaintCoemgen]

5:12 I had to laugh (and cry) there. Because.... yeah... been there, seen that.... Too much actually.

[@barnesd1976]

I need to change mine on the cold water tank. Seems to happen quite regularly to go and everytime we use hot water a loud humming in the pipes. Change the float and gone until next time. What is the part 1 and part 2 valves. Is one for hot water? Just wondered if there was a better valve to fit on the market. Thank you.

[@SkillBuilder]

The Part 2 is the better valve with no moving parts in contact with the water so less problematic in hard water. Part 1 is the old style piston valve. We don't fit them now

[@lazylad9064]

Your troubles start with a bouncing ballcock. 😂😂. Rinse the customer very apt 👍👍

[@patrickokeeffe6998]

On an older tank, my new stop cock, the thread on new one needed loads of PTFE tape to fit older fitting the first one in tank.

[@SkillBuilder]

Tell me more. It may have been an old 3/4 inch compression fitting. If so you need to swap that 22mm olive for a 3/4 olive which is smaller. Do this as soon as you can because the 22mm could leak or simply blow off the end of the pipe.

[@johnmacgregor6544]

I just replaced mine with a new one due to the drip, but now it is making the whale noises you mention, driving us mad, is it water pressure issue? Ours is low in summer and high in winter

[@SkillBuilder]

Send us a video of the valve in the tank and we might be able to see what the problem is. www.skill-builder.uk/send

[@MrSmid888]

Good banter!! Good tips. Wasps must like the steam from the shower, seen a couple. Buzz off.

[@IANNEIL77]

Look at the roof at 5:29 Those 2 balls are hornets nests

[@MrSmid888]

@@IANNEIL77 Id lean more towards a wasp nest, seen loads in lofts, very similar to a hornets which is usually large. Too far away to tell. If you don’t get rinsed by the plumber you’ll get stung! 😆

[@petemoring67]

GREAT Tip with the yoghurt pot :-) ....... We had the Steam Train running through the house a while ago .... Frightened the Bejeezus out of Me ...... I TOO thought something was about to EXPLODE!! ..... Turned everything off and it stiiiillll carried on - AARRGGHH!!!!!! ...... Plumber laughed, we all laughed, but it WAS a bit Scary!!! to be honest :-)

[@iamonutube1000]

How did you fix it? With the yogurt pot? Where did you tie the pot?

[@petemoring67]

@@iamonutube1000.... Sorry! - Went for the obvious - A new BallCock ....

[@IronmanG74]

Our water ran out tonight. Running a bath and a shower going at the same time. We have 2 cold tanks in the loft connected. Pressure is reasonable. I want to speed up the rate of flow into the cold water storage tanks. Does a 3/4 float valve let more water through? I can change the half inch to a 3/4?

[@SkillBuilder]

I find it is often bits of grit that have clogged the little orifice. I have done loads of them.

[@IronmanG74]

@@SkillBuilder yep done a few myself. Wondering if the centre piece is the correct colour, therefore hole size. Nice job for a Sunday morning anyway👍fitted the red low pressure nozzle instead of the white. Flow increased

[@hoofhearted1102]

How do you adjust the height level of the ballcock?

[@playerone82]

I get the pipes rattle after running the hot tap for a while then turning them off. Yes the steam train noise. Strangely enough this doesn't happen in the winter. Usually starts about April onwards? Any ideas?

[@saulgoodman2018]

And what is that container of water for?

[@SkillBuilder]

There are various theories and one is that you need some water stored in case Napoleon invades. In Britain we had tanks in the roof space to feed the hot water tank or cylinder. It also provided the cold for a bath.

[@getmetospain1196]

@@SkillBuilder haha surely the Americans havent always had unvented systems!

[@fortune461]

Hi Roger, new attic tank fitted with new ballcock.. Now we hear the hummus noise as it refills. Any ideas? The old tank never made this noise. Now the new ballcock makes noise usually as the water has nearly filled to the top

[@SkillBuilder]

It is a very common thing. You can often bend the arm slightly sideways to cure it or hang a yougurt pot on a bit of wire from the arm. It is just vibration as the ball bounces very slightly on the surface. It can also be the valve itself but this is less common with the BS Part 2 valves.

[@fortune461]

@@SkillBuilder cheers, I had the tank replaced and a new ball valve I might contact the plumber to come back as it should be still under warranty, only worked on at the end of February

[@fortune461]

Hi Roger, I had another ball valve replaced by the plumber, but it's still doing the same thing. Could you look at my page I've up loaded a video would be great to get your input

[@iamonutube1000]

​@@SkillBuilder from which part of the arm should the yogurt pot be tied? Middle of the arm or lower down the arm? Please help. Also how to keep the arm bended towards one side? Bending on one side works as you said. It reduces the vibration and the horrendous sounds.

[@akaWooders]

​​​@@iamonutube1000If you do a google search for "practical DIY water hammer" you'll find an article including a drawing showing a yogurt pot hanging from the arm near the ball float.

[@acat6821]

Couple of wasp nests in the shot there at the end.

[@stu7588]

Am having the same problem but the attic water tank ballcock float is under water and ave got water running out the overfill the valve it's self is okay just need a new ball float can i buy a new one and screw it on or do they have different threads

[@SkillBuilder]

You can screw it on. Take a photograph and show it to the plumber's merchant just to be sure. You will probably be looking for a BS Part 2 ballvalve. Shake the float to check there is no water in it.

[@stu7588]

It was an old part 1 model I had in a bent the arm to lower the level but couldn't keep up with the drip as it was leaking a put in a new part 2 and it's working brilliant thank you for this video very helpfull save a few hunner quid too instead of ringing a Plummer

[@jamanjeval]

In the US, I've never seen a water tank in a house like that one . What is that tank used for? Are all the plumbing fixtures gravity fed from that tank?

[@petergordon4525]

Gravity supply to cold taps except kitchen and hot water cylinder usually, In older properties.

[@MrTooTechnical]

kick ass

[@adamprice9214]

Rodger or anyone please.. I want to do this to my tank but do I just shut off the mains and do I have to drain anything down? Thank you in advance 🙂

[@paul55767]

Just shut off mains at stoptap. You could then open a cold tap to drain down water in the tank if you really wanted to

[@adamprice9214]

@@paul55767 thanks mate I did just that, shut of the mains didn't bother draining down didn't need to.. I was draining down tho must have been 50° Celsius in that attic not a nice place to be 🥵

[@tinytonymaloney7832]

I used to hate going in the lofts, fackin big spiders. That's an old house by the looks of that old insulation. They must be eligible for an insulation grant. I don't reckon there ever was a proper roof vent for the fan cos it's old 4 x 1" boarding below the tiles and there would still be a 100mm hole cut out in the board where the roofer stuffed the flexi duct back. Either a DIY job or a cowboy. 🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎 Why don't somebody redesign the float with a saucer type ring moulded to it below the water line to absorb the ripples??? Or an attachment??? Well that's by brain drained for the night, going to finish me beer 🥃🍺🍺😜 PS - I love the poltergeist in the background.

[@SkillBuilder]

Thanks Tony. I must admit I thought the same thing about the hole but then I thought about the soffit. They are a foot wide on this house which is around 150 years old. Good idea about the float valve but tanks are on their way out. Unvented all day long.

[@Pistol_Knight]

Highly unlikely that a close boarded roof has been re-fitted, that fan never went out that roof!

[@SkillBuilder]

You may be right I didn't spend time investigating but I think it went out of the soffit which is 12 inches wide

[@cabra2365]

Ha ha... I have both the noisy ballcock AND the shower extractor venting into the loft. Do I win a prize?

[@laurencebushby713]

when i have come across the problem with that type of valve ,its the rubbed washer inside gone hard so no need to change the whole thing! and they come in packs of two for no money at all!

[@SkillBuilder]

Hi Laurence I used to do servicing on float valves and sometimes I got call backs and had to replace the whole valve so now I just go for the new part. They are not expensive.

[@joeli9658]

I am still puzzled Roger. If the ball valve was nothing wrong, just due to natural vibration of the water, then fitting another ball valve would still producing the vibration, hence sound waves. By changing a new ball valve and the vibration stopped then it must the ball valve being faulty. Please correct me, if I am wrong.

[@SkillBuilder]

Hi Joe It is the pin in the valve. As the pin wears it vibrates. There was a time I used to just change the pin but you can't buy them now so I change the valve.

[@mikebarron4929]

All that was needed was a new diaphragm washer on the part 2 ballvalve as they are of a design that do not last very well the washer gets stretched and ends up having very little elasticity which then lends itself to water hammer.they are especially troublesome in a header tank for the heating systems as they spend most of their life in the off position and get extra stretched and then will not open when they are needed

[@joeli9658]

@@SkillBuilder Very kind. Appreciated, Roger.

[@joeli9658]

@@mikebarron4929 Thanks for the enlightenment, Mike.

[@legionnairegonk4425]

Helpful video for me.... But if any plumbers can help me figure this I would be very greatful: I have a severe water hammer problem right now which I can't fathom out. After a minute or two of the hot water basins taps / shower being on the water hammer starts, but the hanmer is only in the cold pipes! Why is this? I can only get rid of the hammer by opening up the cold taps to release the compression(?). It doesn't make sense why the cold piping / faucets are banging and not the hot that triggers it? That seems back to front?

[@SkillBuilder]

Do you have a tank in the loft?

[@legionnairegonk4425]

@@SkillBuilder Thanks for the reply, and yes, I do have a loft tank.

[@legionnairegonk4425]

Ok, replaced my float valve and it fixed the hammer problem. Thx!

[@baronoflivonia.3512]

Why have a cistern/open tank in attic?

[@SkillBuilder]

It is a British thing.

[@danielbuckner2167]

Think of it as a little private water tower. If the water is off there is still a little reserve to flow in. I would think between the freeze cracking and the vermin attracted by these they would have all bee removed by now.

[@baronoflivonia.3512]

@@SkillBuilder I guessed as much. My last job was Master Plumber of Detroit's Regional Water & Sewerage Department, DWSD, From 1/8" to 120" piping. Any where from 45 psi to 75 psi into customers meter.

[@mrfox3k]

Why the dust mask?

[@SkillBuilder]

Glass fibre loft insualtion and, strangely, dust.

[@LupusMechanicus]

Don't forget Bitcorn indeed.

[@SEAWEEDER1]

Nephews neighbours water tank in his loft has split and water is dripping through his ceiling, Her landlord refused to get a plumber out to fix it so i turned off the water to it. Received an order to turn the water back on and go via the council mediation team in order to resolve the issue. Due to COVID been waiting 18 days with his ceiling dripping water. Ceiling sagging and loft insulation soaked.

[@SkillBuilder]

contact the water supplier. If there is a persistent leak it is wasting water and they should shut the supply off. I would also serve notice on the landlord that there will be a claim for damages.

[@SEAWEEDER1]

@@SkillBuilder The Landlord is a bit of a Twat, Nephew is getting a plumber out in the morning to see what can be done, Work will need to be carried out and claim the costs back via the courts. nephew has had problems in the past with him...thanx for the advice.

[@mrfooziesfilmclub]

The steam is obviously for the two wasps nests....

[@UberAlphaSirus]

Part 2's make me so much money. The tolerances they are made to now, they are not worth fixing, Like you said before, just replace them. Be bloody sure they are all brass, I had a few from buildbase that had brass loooking plasic caps that the arm hinges on. the split pin hole snaps off, as you can imagine, your fucked when that happens. I must change 30:1 Parts 2 to Part 1. And when you are talking of massive tanks with massive floats and eq valves. They all use scaled up part 1 eq valves, they never fail, apart from the rubber slug. (pigeons, squirrels,foxes and last plumber bobbing in the tank excluded)

[@bobby5634]

How much would you charge to change a part 2?

[@UberAlphaSirus]

LOL. I get that every time, it's not happening now. I tell 'em It's because it knows I'm here, it's scared.

[@ricos1497]

Roger, or anyone else, when my water tank refills, it makes a dripping noise (like a dripping tap) for a good 20 minutes or so. The tank is in my daughter's bedroom and sometimes wakes her up in the morning. It's like some form Chinese water torture. Is it normal for this to occur in a water tank? It seems like something that would cause someone - like me - to go insane. Any ideas?

[@Rayblondie]

It is the valve not shutting off properly. Most likely the washer inside of it is worn.

[@ricos1497]

@@Rayblondie nice one, thanks! I've been putting off doing anything about it for a while, you've reminded me that something needs to be done!

[@adamprice9214]

Yes, get and old bike innertube cut a length and zip tie it into the feed and let it hang nearly to the bottom of the tank, that way it will trickle feed and you won’t hear it drip 💧👍🏼 cheap easy fix

[@dzung1969]

👍

[@Pete.Ty1]

😊👍

[@keathbuxton3283]

Why is there a tub of water in the attic?

[@SkillBuilder]

It is a British thing.

[@neilrafferty2097]

Its an age thing .

[@davidcoghill8612]

At least the voices can be helpful sometimes.

[@SkillBuilder]

That one that keeps coming to me. "Kill the cameraman"

[@MagicDoughnut]

Why the gas mask in the loft?

[@Omegaman1969]

Nasty fibreglass insulation in UK lofts, you’ll be coughing for ages otherwise .

[@SuperWayneyb]

👍🤓👍

[@inh92]

My home plumbing likes to make me look a twit when I get somebody over to fix something that then decides to work when they try 🥺

[@SkillBuilder]

I don't know why that happens. Same happens when you go to the doctors.

[@GavinLawrence747]

Good man on wearing a mask in amongst the insulation, hellish stuff to breathe in!

[@SkillBuilder]

I have breathed in more of that shit than I care to think about. It leaves me coughing for an hour or so. Too late at my age to undo all the damage I have done to my body just trying to earn a crust. It is the story of the working man.

[@danielbuckner2167]

@@SkillBuilder Ditto. If I had a mask I couldnt find it or it didnt fit or it fogged my glasses or I was only going up for a second and then worked for an hour. All poor excuses and all done by me. If the fiberglass doesn't ruin my lungs then the silicates from mixing mortars will.

[@joedefloat7802]

Roger why did you not show the viewers how the water could be turned off to the storage tank.

[@SkillBuilder]

Hi Joe It was a little lever valve on the pipe and it was behind the camera man. Every house has a different arrangement so I figure there was not a great deal of value in it. To be honest I think there is always a balance to be struck. If you don't know how to turn the water off it is probably not a job you are going to carry out so the video is all about diagnosing the problem.

[@saulgoodman2018]

That'll be a $69 bill.

[@SkillBuilder]

I said 'rinse' the customer not give them a sponge off. $169 plus tax and the cost of the valve. Call it $200

[@TheRealFOSFOR]

I see them Brits cheating on the shower head. There should obviously be two shower heads for hot and cold separately. In the opposite sides of the shower cubicle ofc.

[@martyjoiner4668]

Nice mask.15 pounds before pandemic .35 pounds now.

[@SkillBuilder]

I didn't know that the price had gone up like that.

[@Tokody]

£19 from Screwfix 2 weeks ago, currently £23, and nice green (not red) trim (apparently colour affected by Covid!)

[@PROPOSITONMAN]

High level cisterns 🤮🤮🤮

[@SkillBuilder]

You know it makes sense