Slow leak in sealed water system
 

6 years ago we went from 'normal' tank-in-the-loft water system to
pumped & pressurised. Fine - wish we had done it years ago.

After 18 months the pump cycled too quickly. Plumber came back & with
tyre pump re-pressurised the blue bomb pressure vessel. A good man -
no charge.

18 months later I knew what to do & did it.

Now the re-pressurising lasts only 2 or 3 months. I assume a holed
diaphragm.

Before buying a new pressure vessel is there anything I should look for
or do to salvage the system or prevent the same occuring again?

Thanks

Phil

Slow leak in sealed water system
 

PFO wrote:
6 years ago we went from 'normal' tank-in-the-loft water system to
pumped & pressurised. Fine - wish we had done it years ago.

After 18 months the pump cycled too quickly. Plumber came back & with
tyre pump re-pressurised the blue bomb pressure vessel. A good man -
no charge.

18 months later I knew what to do & did it.

Now the re-pressurising lasts only 2 or 3 months. I assume a holed
diaphragm.

Before buying a new pressure vessel is there anything I should look for
or do to salvage the system or prevent the same occuring again?

Thanks

Phil

first queation is what pressure did you apply and what was the pressure
on the water side?

if you dont know then that may be your problem, if there is a hole in
the diaphragm then you WILL get water OUT of the pressure in
valve/charge valve

if not the you could be losing pressure somewhere else, pressurize the
vessel then use leak detector fluid to pinpoint and defects in
construction then use any insurance or warranty to get it fixed??????

Slow leak in sealed water system
 

Thanks Gav. The pumped pressure is set to sit at 3bar. Normally the
pump cycles on again at 1bar. Over time to pressure drops from 3 to
1bar more and more quickly. After running down the pressure, by
opening a tap with pump shut off, applying the tyre pump to
re-pressurise the 'empty' vessel from 1bar back up to 3bar the fall in
pressure is slower for a similar rate of running a tap.

As for leaks I have no evidence of any; and each night, & on weekends
away, the whole system is switched off (we are slightly paranoid) with
no pressure loss at all.

There is no makers name on the pressure vessel nor on the plumbers
invoice. Is there any diagram available of what is going on inside
these things?

Thanks

Phil

Slow leak in sealed water system
 

On Sun, 19 Mar 2006 06:06:13 -0800, PFO wrote:

Thanks Gav. The pumped pressure is set to sit at 3bar. Normally the
pump cycles on again at 1bar. Over time to pressure drops from 3 to
1bar more and more quickly. After running down the pressure, by
opening a tap with pump shut off, applying the tyre pump to
re-pressurise the 'empty' vessel from 1bar back up to 3bar the fall in
pressure is slower for a similar rate of running a tap.

As for leaks I have no evidence of any; and each night, & on weekends
away, the whole system is switched off (we are slightly paranoid) with
no pressure loss at all.

There is no makers name on the pressure vessel nor on the plumbers
invoice. Is there any diagram available of what is going on inside
these things?

The SealedCH FAQ has a bit about pressure vessels in it.
This is a blue (potable water) unit. I'd simply change the unit.

However for your setup the precharge pressure on the dry side should be a
around 1.0bar not 3 bar, otherwise the expansion vessel won't start to do
anything until the water pressure is at 3 bar.


--
Ed Sirett - Property maintainer and registered gas fitter.
The FAQ for uk.diy is at http://www.diyfaq.org.uk
Gas fitting FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/GasFitting.html
Sealed CH FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/SealedCH.html
Choosing a Boiler FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/BoilerChoice.html

Slow leak in sealed water system
 

Ed Sirett wrote:
On Sun, 19 Mar 2006 06:06:13 -0800, PFO wrote:

Thanks Gav. The pumped pressure is set to sit at 3bar. Normally the
pump cycles on again at 1bar. Over time to pressure drops from 3 to
1bar more and more quickly. After running down the pressure, by
opening a tap with pump shut off, applying the tyre pump to
re-pressurise the 'empty' vessel from 1bar back up to 3bar the fall in
pressure is slower for a similar rate of running a tap.

As for leaks I have no evidence of any; and each night, & on weekends
away, the whole system is switched off (we are slightly paranoid) with
no pressure loss at all.

There is no makers name on the pressure vessel nor on the plumbers
invoice. Is there any diagram available of what is going on inside
these things?

The SealedCH FAQ has a bit about pressure vessels in it.
This is a blue (potable water) unit. I'd simply change the unit.

However for your setup the precharge pressure on the dry side should be a
around 1.0bar not 3 bar, otherwise the expansion vessel won't start to do
anything until the water pressure is at 3 bar.


thats what i was getting at!

Slow leak in sealed water system
 

Thank you gentlemen. Now I wait to see if cycle time reduces over time
.. . .

Phil