Warm Central Heating Header Tank - Urgent(ish)
 

Hi all

Reason for urgency is the plumber is on site today so want to catch him with
any concerns!

My central heating re-furb is just about complete.
One of my prime objectives was to cure pump over in new system (original
system was serious bodge and suffered considerably with this).

Went up in the loft this morning to check that pump over was not occurring
and discovered header tank is quite warm, not just tepid. The contents also
looked quite agitated (a bit like me).
Discussed this with the plumber who claimed that this heat is going back up
the cold water feed.
I checked the 15mm make up water feed from the header tank and it was
certainly hot, at least to the ceiling in the airing cupboard.
The vent pipe was cold, so it does seem that hot water is being pushed back
up into the header tank to some extent.

The pipe layout they have installed is pretty much text book.
The flow comes up to the airing cupboard with nothing taken off it.
It tees across (with the water make up looped in below this horizontal
section within 150mm of the flow pipe, which continues as the vent) and then
elbows down through the pump.

The plumber claims that it is quite usual/acceptable to have a warm header
tank, but I have concerns over condensation etc.
The header tank has a formica board for a lid and this was dripping wet this
morning.

Should I be accepting this situation?
I haven't paid a penny yet, but want to be sure of my ground before
witholding payment.

Does anyone know a source for lids for circular tanks, both heating and
domestic water?

TIA

Phil

Warm Central Heating Header Tank - Urgent(ish)
 

Nowt to worry about.

Remember the 15mm feed is typically referred to as the F&E - feed &
expansion. Depending on the layout and size of the system this may
cause the F&E tank to become warm, after all the increase in volume of
the water as the temperature increases has to go somewhere. If the vent
is cold then it can't be overpumping.

Personally if I were you I'd seriously consider going sealed, saves a
lot of hassle for a very little cost.

Warm Central Heating Header Tank - Urgent(ish)
 

On Mon, 09 Oct 2006 10:34:26 +0100, TheScullster wrote:

Hi all

Reason for urgency is the plumber is on site today so want to catch him with
any concerns!

My central heating re-furb is just about complete.
One of my prime objectives was to cure pump over in new system (original
system was serious bodge and suffered considerably with this).

Went up in the loft this morning to check that pump over was not occurring
and discovered header tank is quite warm, not just tepid. The contents also
looked quite agitated (a bit like me).
Discussed this with the plumber who claimed that this heat is going back up
the cold water feed.
I checked the 15mm make up water feed from the header tank and it was
certainly hot, at least to the ceiling in the airing cupboard.
The vent pipe was cold, so it does seem that hot water is being pushed back
up into the header tank to some extent.

The pipe layout they have installed is pretty much text book.
The flow comes up to the airing cupboard with nothing taken off it.
It tees across (with the water make up looped in below this horizontal
section within 150mm of the flow pipe, which continues as the vent) and then
elbows down through the pump.

The plumber claims that it is quite usual/acceptable to have a warm header
tank, but I have concerns over condensation etc.
The header tank has a formica board for a lid and this was dripping wet this
morning.

Should I be accepting this situation?
I haven't paid a penny yet, but want to be sure of my ground before
witholding payment.

Does anyone know a source for lids for circular tanks, both heating and
domestic water?

If the radiators were all fully hot then this would be quite normal.
After a while the header tank will cool down and little more vapor will
come off it.

It a pity that given that an overhaul was being done that the heating
engineer chose not to go to a sealed primary. However the boielr maynot
have been suitable, I suppose.


--
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
Gas Fitting Standards Docs he http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/GasFittingStandards

Warm Central Heating Header Tank - Urgent(ish)
 

"Ed Sirett" wrote

It a pity that given that an overhaul was being done that the heating
engineer chose not to go to a sealed primary. However the boielr maynot
have been suitable, I suppose.

Thanks Ed/Mary

It was my decision not to go sealed at this stage.
Having had leaks previously in the buried piping (concrete ground floor), I
was reluctant to up the pressure on the primary/heating side.
House is 1970s build (possibly the worst phase for quality in building
history IMHO).
Prior to this period there was still some pride in workmanship, after it,
the regulations helped to restore some standards.

One or two neighbours have gone sealed/combi. Some have got away with it but
some certainly haven't!!!

Phil