T
TiloKastner5 Mar 2022 21:34Hello forum community,
My cistern (built in 2015) seems to be leaking. At least, I have no other explanation.
It consists of two 5000-liter (1300-gallon) tanks connected by a PVC pipe. I have sealed off the supposedly defective tank with a screw plug.
The second tank and the PVC pipe up to the plug are holding the water.
The tank that seems to be defective receives rainwater from the house roof and has a submersible pump from Gardena (pressure submersible pump 6000/5).
From the pump, the water goes to the irrigation system on my property (to faucets, no underground sprinklers or similar).
I noticed I was using considerably more water and conducted a test.
I filled the cistern (the defective one) completely. All faucets were closed, and the pump was disconnected from power. The result was that after a few days without drawing any water, the cistern was almost empty. (A new test by closing the supply line to the property to prevent backflow can still be performed if needed.)
Previously, I also noticed that the cistern level dropped below the intake strainer of the pump, which can only happen if the bottom of the cistern is leaking, right? I inspected the bottom with a flashlight but found no visible cracks (however, dirt and deposits accumulated over the years might make detecting the leak harder).
Do you have any ideas on how I can find a possible leak? Are there other tests that might help me get closer to the cause?
If you need more information to assist me, just let me know.
Replacing the entire cistern would be too involved, so I would like to seal it, for example, with epoxy resin. Does anyone have experience with that?
Looking forward to your replies :-)
My cistern (built in 2015) seems to be leaking. At least, I have no other explanation.
It consists of two 5000-liter (1300-gallon) tanks connected by a PVC pipe. I have sealed off the supposedly defective tank with a screw plug.
The second tank and the PVC pipe up to the plug are holding the water.
The tank that seems to be defective receives rainwater from the house roof and has a submersible pump from Gardena (pressure submersible pump 6000/5).
From the pump, the water goes to the irrigation system on my property (to faucets, no underground sprinklers or similar).
I noticed I was using considerably more water and conducted a test.
I filled the cistern (the defective one) completely. All faucets were closed, and the pump was disconnected from power. The result was that after a few days without drawing any water, the cistern was almost empty. (A new test by closing the supply line to the property to prevent backflow can still be performed if needed.)
Previously, I also noticed that the cistern level dropped below the intake strainer of the pump, which can only happen if the bottom of the cistern is leaking, right? I inspected the bottom with a flashlight but found no visible cracks (however, dirt and deposits accumulated over the years might make detecting the leak harder).
Do you have any ideas on how I can find a possible leak? Are there other tests that might help me get closer to the cause?
If you need more information to assist me, just let me know.
Replacing the entire cistern would be too involved, so I would like to seal it, for example, with epoxy resin. Does anyone have experience with that?
Looking forward to your replies :-)
Please run another test with all the pipes closed. We need to rule out any issues caused by siphon drainage.
If the problem still occurs, then there is likely an actual fault in the floor.
In that case, I would recommend contacting the manufacturer of the cistern. They may have a goodwill policy or be able to provide the appropriate sealing materials.
Please keep us updated.
If the problem still occurs, then there is likely an actual fault in the floor.
In that case, I would recommend contacting the manufacturer of the cistern. They may have a goodwill policy or be able to provide the appropriate sealing materials.
Please keep us updated.
T
TiloKastner6 Mar 2022 07:36rick2018 schrieb:
Please do another test with all the pipes closed. Just to make sure it’s not caused by vacuum drainage.
If it still happens, there really is a defect in the floor.
I would then contact the manufacturer of the cistern. There is probably some kind of goodwill arrangement, and/or they can provide the appropriate sealing material.
Please keep us updated. I would disconnect and seal off the pipe from the submersible pump. This should completely rule out vacuum drainage.
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