Advice on how to repair?

[DaveReading]

Our trusty water softener has given up the ghost after 20-odd years of sterling service. It still softens the water OK, but it's developed a leak in the float valve that means the brine tank fills up with water until it overflows to the outside drain.

Here's the offending component:

There's a pinhole crack in the seam of the plastic valve moulding which produces a fine spray when subjected to mains water pressure via the inlet on the RHS. I've tried wrapping the valve in self-amalgamating tape, to no avail, and clamping a rubber pad against the crack, with limited success for a short time only.

Any suggestions for a more permanent, pressure-resistant repair?

MTIA

 

[pauldavid]

Buy a new one?

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Plastic welding maybe?

 

[classic33]

What colour is the plastic either side of the crack itself. If white, go with the first reply and replace.

 

[sheddy]

do you have a soldering iron or even an old iron ?

Get it hot and give it a firm rub (warning - it will stink, best tried outdoors!)

 

[Piemaster]

Here at work I'd have a look in the Wencon box and find something in there that would work. But it would only be a temporary thing till got a new one.
At home, after 20 years service - just buy a new one. Don't think it owes you much, and repairing would only be delaying replacing it anyway. Plastic will be hard and brittle.

 

[Accy cyclist]

Are water softeners a southern thing?

 

[classic33]

Try http://inspectapedia.com/plumbing/Water_Softener_Brine_Tank.php

 

[screenman]

Are water softeners a southern thing?

We could do with one here, we are a bit up north

 

[Levo-Lon]

If you ever live down here @Accy cyclist youd know..
when up your way a smidge of soap is too much...
the limescale water here is awfull..tastes bad and cloggs everything up..especially boilers ..

as for op problem....id think its gone hard so as @classic33 says..its gone brittle and had it

 

[mjr]

Are water softeners a southern thing?

More a south eastern thing, I think. Parts of the southwest have slimy water like up norf.

 

[Globalti]

The part has gone brittle. Time for a new one..... or just move to Lancashire where our water is delicious and soft.

 

[DaveReading]

Thanks, everyone.

I should have made it clear in my original post that due to the age of the softener, the part in question is sadly no longer available from any of the sources that I've investigated.

 

[mjr]

Self vulcanizing tape may be a better bet than self amalgamating, but the only long-term fix that comes to mind is 3D scanning and printing if you know anyone with the kit. Not cheap, though.

 

[steve50]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Peugeot-R...849351?hash=item2a4a389807:g:C8gAAOSwDwtUrCQ2
I would use this until i could source a replacement, perhaps use araldite or similar on the crack itself before wrapping.