water butt leak

[Oxymel of Squill]

question I also asked in diy group.....
other people have also had leaky Sankeys, anyone know how to fix them?
cheers


My Sankey water butt has developed a leak, a split on the base, even though
it was standing on one of those clever expensive stands.

I tried mending it with that stuff they sell on QVC which mends leaks in
domestic plumbing, allegedly, but it didn't work. Does anyone have any
suggestions what to fix it with? Or how?

[Mike]

Post by Oxymel of Squill
question I also asked in diy group.....
other people have also had leaky Sankeys, anyone know how to fix them?
cheers
My Sankey water butt has developed a leak, a split on the base, even though
it was standing on one of those clever expensive stands.
I tried mending it with that stuff they sell on QVC which mends leaks in
domestic plumbing, allegedly, but it didn't work. Does anyone have any
suggestions what to fix it with? Or how?

Rather interesting that. Was it fitting square and neat in the stand? The
reason I ask is because one of our butts is in a stand and it doesn't fit
'snug'. Should I sit it in a bed of sand in the stand to take out any
unevenness?

Mike

[Chris Hogg]

On Sun, 22 Oct 2006 11:49:40 +0100, "Oxymel of Squill"

Post by Oxymel of Squill
question I also asked in diy group.....
other people have also had leaky Sankeys, anyone know how to fix them?
cheers
My Sankey water butt has developed a leak, a split on the base, even though
it was standing on one of those clever expensive stands.
I tried mending it with that stuff they sell on QVC which mends leaks in
domestic plumbing, allegedly, but it didn't work. Does anyone have any
suggestions what to fix it with? Or how?

I don't know whether it would work on your water butt, but I repaired
a split in a neighbour's preformed plastic pond with a fibreglass
repair kit used for car bodywork. The split was below the waterline
(although not when I repaired it), so the repair seemed to be
waterproof and watertight.

[Gill Matthews]

Post by Oxymel of Squill
question I also asked in diy group.....
other people have also had leaky Sankeys, anyone know how to fix them?
cheers
My Sankey water butt has developed a leak, a split on the base, even though
it was standing on one of those clever expensive stands.
I tried mending it with that stuff they sell on QVC which mends leaks in
domestic plumbing, allegedly, but it didn't work. Does anyone have any
suggestions what to fix it with? Or how?

I think that you may be doomed to purchase a new one - or possibly go after
the company for a replacement. AFAIK there are not any products on the
market that would be likely to withstand the amount of pressure generated at
the bottom of a large water butt. If anyone knows different I would be
pleased to hear about such a product.

Gill M

[Oxymel of Squill]

to purchase a new one - or possibly go after

Post by Gill Matthews
the company for a replacement. AFAIK there are not any products on the
market that would be likely to withstand the amount of pressure generated
at the bottom of a large water butt. If anyone knows different I would be
pleased to hear about such a product.

surely it could hardly be sold if not fit for purpose as you suggest

[Gill Matthews]

Post by Gill Matthews
to purchase a new one - or possibly go after

Post by Gill Matthews
the company for a replacement. AFAIK there are not any products on the
market that would be likely to withstand the amount of pressure generated
at the bottom of a large water butt. If anyone knows different I would be
pleased to hear about such a product.

surely it could hardly be sold if not fit for purpose as you suggest

If you find a product for mending water butts then doubtless it will do just
that A product advertised for mending plastic water tanks might also work.
All the products I can recollect seeing are for mending pipes or gutters or
pond linings. As these do not usually have 4 or 5 feet deep water in them
they are not subject to as much pressure as you would get in a water butt.
ISTR that you mentioned that the leak was at the bottom of the butt. The
pressure is related to depth of water above the hole. Hence the popular
lower school physics experiment where you take a tall container and punch
holes at the top the middle and the bottom, fill it with water and observe
the relative length of the jets.

Gill M

[Oxymel of Squill]

Post by Gill Matthews

Post by Oxymel of Squill
surely it could hardly be sold if not fit for purpose as you suggest

If you find a product for mending water butts then doubtless it will do
just that A product advertised for mending plastic water tanks might also
work. All the products I can recollect seeing are for mending pipes or
gutters or pond linings. As these do not usually have 4 or 5 feet deep
water in them they are not subject to as much pressure as you would get in
a water butt. ISTR that you mentioned that the leak was at the bottom of
the butt. The pressure is related to depth of water above the hole. Hence
the popular lower school physics experiment where you take a tall
container and punch holes at the top the middle and the bottom, fill it
with water and observe the relative length of the jets.
Gill M

mmmm well it's only three feet deep, shouldn't get the bends coming up from
that, and the circular shape ought to be quite secure.

Bod at B&Q (not your average mumbling hooded teen joe but a senior citizen
who actually carried around in his pocket a set of photos of the shed he
just built, bit of an enthusiast) reckoned to try flashing tape, the
aluminium (is it?) foil with a layer of tar on one side. I happen to have
some of this so I've given it a try. Perhaps I shall blog about my progress
(!). Failing that he suggested the stuff you waterproof roofs with. And he
gave me Sankey's contact details (they seem a bit shy of the web but phone
is 01159277335 if anyone wants to shout at a minion)

[Lez Pawl]

Post by Oxymel of Squill
question I also asked in diy group.....
other people have also had leaky Sankeys, anyone know how to fix them?
cheers
My Sankey water butt has developed a leak, a split on the base, even though
it was standing on one of those clever expensive stands.
I tried mending it with that stuff they sell on QVC which mends leaks in
domestic plumbing, allegedly, but it didn't work. Does anyone have any
suggestions what to fix it with? Or how?

how long (mm or inches not time) is the split and is it on the flat section
of the base if so,

With butt empty of course.

1. Drill a small hole (say 3mm diameter) at each end of the split to stop it
generating.
2. From the inside, clean around split with alcohol or meths and let it dry.
3. Get a largish piece of plastic, cut from say a 1 gallon container or
large milk carton.
4. Using stop cock grease or even silicone sealant give item 3 a good thick
coating.
5. Slap it on the split and place a heavy weight say an old brick on top. In
fact leave the brick in place when the butt is full.

Water pressure will add to the sealing...........

well that's what I would try.

[Oxymel of Squill]

good thought, I fear if I got that far into the butt I'd not be able to
crawl out again. Fixing the tap when it leaked was nightmare enough

if anyone wants to abuse the customer services department of Sankeys
http://www.touchnottingham.com/business/list/bid/2764549
seems to promise contact of some sort

Post by Lez Pawl
With butt empty of course.
1. Drill a small hole (say 3mm diameter) at each end of the split to stop
it generating.
2. From the inside, clean around split with alcohol or meths and let it dry.
3. Get a largish piece of plastic, cut from say a 1 gallon container or
large milk carton.
4. Using stop cock grease or even silicone sealant give item 3 a good
thick coating.
5. Slap it on the split and place a heavy weight say an old brick on top.
In fact leave the brick in place when the butt is full.
Water pressure will add to the sealing...........
well that's what I would try.

[david sutcliffe]

Post by Oxymel of Squill
question I also asked in diy group.....
other people have also had leaky Sankeys, anyone know how to fix them?
cheers
My Sankey water butt has developed a leak, a split on the base, even though
it was standing on one of those clever expensive stands.
I tried mending it with that stuff they sell on QVC which mends leaks in
domestic plumbing, allegedly, but it didn't work. Does anyone have any
suggestions what to fix it with? Or how?

Hi
repaired a similar leak 8 years ago with 2 patches stuck on with araldite.
Still going strong, but then I know nowt about physics.

[mike]

Post by Oxymel of Squill

Post by Oxymel of Squill
question I also asked in diy group.....
other people have also had leaky Sankeys, anyone know how to fix them?
cheers
My Sankey water butt has developed a leak, a split on the base, even

though

Post by Oxymel of Squill
it was standing on one of those clever expensive stands.
I tried mending it with that stuff they sell on QVC which mends leaks in
domestic plumbing, allegedly, but it didn't work. Does anyone have any
suggestions what to fix it with? Or how?

Hi
repaired a similar leak 8 years ago with 2 patches stuck on with araldite.
Still going strong, but then I know nowt about physics.

Ah!! Shades of Aerodynamics and the Bumble Bee. According to the experts, it
can't fly, but nobody told the Bumble Bee :-))

Mike

[MadCow]

Post by david sutcliffe

Post by Oxymel of Squill
other people have also had leaky Sankeys, anyone know how to fix them?

repaired a similar leak 8 years ago with 2 patches stuck on with araldite.
Still going strong, but then I know nowt about physics.

I welded a crack in a polyethylene one with a soldering iron: this was
successful in mending the crack.

However, the butt was several years old and the plastic might have been
losing its strength. Or the design might've been suboptimal: the base
had a three-inch wide rim on which the weight rested, and a recessed
centre which was supporting the water but not getting any support.
One night the bottom fell out of the butt and we had to replace it after
all.

[The Invalid]

On Sun, 22 Oct 2006 11:49:40 +0100, "Oxymel of Squill"

Post by Oxymel of Squill
question I also asked in diy group.....
other people have also had leaky Sankeys, anyone know how to fix them?
cheers
My Sankey water butt has developed a leak, a split on the base, even though
it was standing on one of those clever expensive stands.
I tried mending it with that stuff they sell on QVC which mends leaks in
domestic plumbing, allegedly, but it didn't work. Does anyone have any
suggestions what to fix it with? Or how?

Sikaflex

It worked on ours

[June Hughes]

Post by Oxymel of Squill
question I also asked in diy group.....
other people have also had leaky Sankeys, anyone know how to fix them?
cheers
My Sankey water butt has developed a leak, a split on the base, even though
it was standing on one of those clever expensive stands.
I tried mending it with that stuff they sell on QVC which mends leaks in
domestic plumbing, allegedly, but it didn't work. Does anyone have any
suggestions what to fix it with? Or how?

There used to be some stuff called 'Fix that leak', which was sold by
mail order but I suspect that may be the same thing you have tried. If
not, it may work.