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URGENT Leaking hot water cylinder (pressurised) HELP
Hi
My hot water cylinder is dripping, and to be honest, it looks pretty dead - huge amounts of corrosion everywhere. Sadly its not simple... I've got a pressurised water system, and the cylinder is labelled Polystel PS125 / 3 - with operating pressure of 3 bar. All the pipework goes into the to of the cylinder through a metal cap that looks like a beer bottle top. Its leaking from under there. The rust is quite evident and obvious. Photos of tank are at:- http://www.ryanandmel.com/tank1.jpg and http://www.ryanandmel.com/tank2.jpg I have no idea if its direct or indirect (don't even know what this means) - and as an avid DIY'er I know I can swap it for a like item. However, I can find nothing at all on the web about this cylinder and all the ones I can find have side entry pipes - which clearly isn't what I'm looking for. I've called 3 plumbers, and one can't quote for 3 weeks, one can't speak to me till Monday and one isn't interested. Oh what a trade! Any recommendations for plumbers in West Drayton/Uxbridge area appreciated! ANY HELP AT ALL is appreciated - this forum has been very helpful in the past - so here's hoping! Thanks! RJ |
URGENT Leaking hot water cylinder (pressurised) HELP
RJ wrote:
Hi My hot water cylinder is dripping, and to be honest, it looks pretty dead - huge amounts of corrosion everywhere. Sadly its not simple... I've got a pressurised water system, and the cylinder is labelled Polystel PS125 / 3 - with operating pressure of 3 bar. All the pipework goes into the to of the cylinder through a metal cap that looks like a beer bottle top. Its leaking from under there. The rust is quite evident and obvious. Photos of tank are at:- http://www.ryanandmel.com/tank1.jpg and http://www.ryanandmel.com/tank2.jpg I have no idea if its direct or indirect (don't even know what this means) - and as an avid DIY'er I know I can swap it for a like item. However, I can find nothing at all on the web about this cylinder and all the ones I can find have side entry pipes - which clearly isn't what I'm looking for. I've called 3 plumbers, and one can't quote for 3 weeks, one can't speak to me till Monday and one isn't interested. Oh what a trade! Any recommendations for plumbers in West Drayton/Uxbridge area appreciated! ANY HELP AT ALL is appreciated - this forum has been very helpful in the past - so here's hoping! Well, if you had to post three times, you are obviously despreate. I have no good news for you. Its obviosuly a mains pressure cylinder, and these are expensive to replace and install and SHOULD be tested by qualified plumber. First off, this is not going to be a quick fix. Talk to insurance company and see if they will fnd whatever you need to live a decent life whilst your house is effectively wihout hot water. Secondly get a plumber in who can at least isolate the thing and still leave you with central heating. That is not such a hard job. Then take three deep breaths and get on the net to find out more about the system you have, and what might replace it. Expect at least 4-6 weeks of no hot water though. My deepest sympathies too. Thanks! RJ |
URGENT Leaking hot water cylinder (pressurised) HELP
"RJ" wrote in message om... Hi My hot water cylinder is dripping, and to be honest, it looks pretty dead - huge amounts of corrosion everywhere. Sadly its not simple... I've got a pressurised water system, and the cylinder is labelled Polystel PS125 / 3 - with operating pressure of 3 bar. All the pipework goes into the to of the cylinder through a metal cap that looks like a beer bottle top. Its leaking from under there. The rust is quite evident and obvious. Photos of tank are at:- http://www.ryanandmel.com/tank1.jpg and http://www.ryanandmel.com/tank2.jpg I have no idea if its direct or indirect (don't even know what this means) - and as an avid DIY'er I know I can swap it for a like item. However, I can find nothing at all on the web about this cylinder and all the ones I can find have side entry pipes - which clearly isn't what I'm looking for. I've called 3 plumbers, and one can't quote for 3 weeks, one can't speak to me till Monday and one isn't interested. Oh what a trade! Any recommendations for plumbers in West Drayton/Uxbridge area appreciated! ANY HELP AT ALL is appreciated - this forum has been very helpful in the past - so here's hoping! Replace it with a heat bank. They operate at low pressures. Forget an unvented cylinder. http://www.heatweb.com http://www.range-cylinders.co.uk (go to thermal stores) http://www.albion-online.co.uk (the mainsflow) --- -- Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.558 / Virus Database: 350 - Release Date: 02/01/2004 |
URGENT Leaking hot water cylinder (pressurised) HELP
How embaressing.
Sorry indeed! I only meant to post once - the google posting engine kept failing - it was not meant to be posted 3 times. Hopefully I don't look too stupid! ;) I'll read your thoughts. Only initial comment is entire top of the tank is corroded and "flakey" as hell - as if its been leaking for years. In fact its how it was when I moved in. So maybe its beyond that. I've jimmied up a nice gaffer tape and bic-biro contraption that conveniently routes all the water to be collected in a container! Ahem. Not a great solution - but does mean hot water and heating! I don't mind replacing the whole thing - 15 years is a good life - but can't find any equivalent models anywhere - and the local plumbers are too busy. Thanks again - I'll read and consider! The Natural Philosopher wrote in message ... RJ wrote: Hi My hot water cylinder is dripping, and to be honest, it looks pretty dead - huge amounts of corrosion everywhere. Sadly its not simple... I've got a pressurised water system, and the cylinder is labelled Polystel PS125 / 3 - with operating pressure of 3 bar. All the pipework goes into the to of the cylinder through a metal cap that looks like a beer bottle top. Its leaking from under there. The rust is quite evident and obvious. Photos of tank are at:- http://www.ryanandmel.com/tank1.jpg and http://www.ryanandmel.com/tank2.jpg I have no idea if its direct or indirect (don't even know what this means) - and as an avid DIY'er I know I can swap it for a like item. However, I can find nothing at all on the web about this cylinder and all the ones I can find have side entry pipes - which clearly isn't what I'm looking for. I've called 3 plumbers, and one can't quote for 3 weeks, one can't speak to me till Monday and one isn't interested. Oh what a trade! Any recommendations for plumbers in West Drayton/Uxbridge area appreciated! ANY HELP AT ALL is appreciated - this forum has been very helpful in the past - so here's hoping! Well, if you had to post three times, you are obviously despreate. I have no good news for you. Its obviosuly a mains pressure cylinder, and these are expensive to replace and install and SHOULD be tested by qualified plumber. First off, this is not going to be a quick fix. Talk to insurance company and see if they will fnd whatever you need to live a decent life whilst your house is effectively wihout hot water. Secondly get a plumber in who can at least isolate the thing and still leave you with central heating. That is not such a hard job. Then take three deep breaths and get on the net to find out more about the system you have, and what might replace it. Expect at least 4-6 weeks of no hot water though. My deepest sympathies too. Thanks! RJ |
URGENT Leaking hot water cylinder (pressurised) HELP
"IMM" wrote in message news:btp98a$937
Replace it with a heat bank. They operate at low pressures. Forget an unvented cylinder. If the cylinder needs replacing - then I guess that is a reasonable idea. However I've read that these [may] need descaling every couple of years or so - and hence the running costs are very expensive? |
URGENT Leaking hot water cylinder (pressurised) HELP
"RJ" wrote in message om... "IMM" wrote in message news:btp98a$937 Replace it with a heat bank. They operate at low pressures. Forget an unvented cylinder. If the cylinder needs replacing - then I guess that is a reasonable idea. However I've read that these [may] need descaling every couple of years or so - and hence the running costs are very expensive? Heats banks have a plate heat exchanger. These stainless steell flexible plates that resist scale. In a hard water areas a phosphor de-scaler should be fitted anyway, no matter what type of system you have. --- -- Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.558 / Virus Database: 350 - Release Date: 02/01/2004 |
URGENT Leaking hot water cylinder (pressurised) HELP
RJ wrote:
"IMM" wrote in message news:btp98a$937 Replace it with a heat bank. They operate at low pressures. Forget an unvented cylinder. If the cylinder needs replacing - then I guess that is a reasonable idea. However I've read that these [may] need descaling every couple of years or so - and hence the running costs are very expensive? Install a water softener - a proper one - and forget de-scaling. Without getting onvolved in heatbanks, I had the opportunity to completely design HW and CH for the new house. The numbers of baths and showers really meant that combi/heatbank looked more expensive than a smaller boiler (hate wasting space) driving a mains pressure system. Plus if I ran out of oil, I could immersion heat the HW. I insatlled a water softener and mains pressure system. Its fabulous. Only downsiode to teh water softener - apart from filling it with 5 quid of salt a month - is that peak flow rates are reduced a little. If you have to start ripping stuff out, I'd strongly recommend you fit a new pressurised tank, and an ion exchange water softener. No scaling on your equipment, no nasty scum on your bathwater, use less soap on teh washing...its works as advertised. My softener is quite large, and so is my tank. About 500 quid each from memory. Its at least a days work to plumb the tank, less for the softener. You SHOULD vave all the pipes there you need, but you MAY need to extend and adapt them. I shold get planning and researching and hope that your bodges hold up long enough to get the job planned properly for the spring. |
URGENT Leaking hot water cylinder (pressurised) HELP
Cheers. See other thread from the poor multiple post....
The heat bank idea is growing on me - esp if I can't find a plumber! Just wish I could chat to someone for 1/2 hour over a beer and a pen & paper so I can fully understand how the heck everything works. i.e. exactly what pipe does what (why aren't they all labelled!?) which would help with a full replacement! hahahahaha!!! Time for some Sunday beer contemplation and surfing of plumbing sites. "IMM" wrote in message ... "RJ" wrote in message om... "IMM" wrote in message news:btp98a$937 Replace it with a heat bank. They operate at low pressures. Forget an unvented cylinder. If the cylinder needs replacing - then I guess that is a reasonable idea. However I've read that these [may] need descaling every couple of years or so - and hence the running costs are very expensive? Heats banks have a plate heat exchanger. These stainless steell flexible plates that resist scale. In a hard water areas a phosphor de-scaler should be fitted anyway, no matter what type of system you have. --- |
URGENT Leaking hot water cylinder (pressurised) HELP
Ion exchange water softner? Time to do some more research!
Though the installation of unvented systems needs to be by a qualified plumber etc, why does a replacement when in effect, I guess, it'll be factory tested cylinder and all that needs is it to be disconnected and reconnected. All joins can be tested with cold pressure water, and all the other pipework is "as designed" and as per building regs by the original installer. SO especially if its like-for-like, it should be a trivial job to replace cylinder and all anciliaries...? Unless I'm missing something. Oh more good news - can't find any Polystel references on the web - so no spares here and probably need just a replacement if I go that route. Lots of ideas and research needed!! The Natural Philosopher wrote in message ... RJ wrote: "IMM" wrote in message news:btp98a$937 Replace it with a heat bank. They operate at low pressures. Forget an unvented cylinder. If the cylinder needs replacing - then I guess that is a reasonable idea. However I've read that these [may] need descaling every couple of years or so - and hence the running costs are very expensive? Install a water softener - a proper one - and forget de-scaling. Without getting onvolved in heatbanks, I had the opportunity to completely design HW and CH for the new house. The numbers of baths and showers really meant that combi/heatbank looked more expensive than a smaller boiler (hate wasting space) driving a mains pressure system. Plus if I ran out of oil, I could immersion heat the HW. I insatlled a water softener and mains pressure system. Its fabulous. Only downsiode to teh water softener - apart from filling it with 5 quid of salt a month - is that peak flow rates are reduced a little. If you have to start ripping stuff out, I'd strongly recommend you fit a new pressurised tank, and an ion exchange water softener. No scaling on your equipment, no nasty scum on your bathwater, use less soap on teh washing...its works as advertised. My softener is quite large, and so is my tank. About 500 quid each from memory. Its at least a days work to plumb the tank, less for the softener. You SHOULD vave all the pipes there you need, but you MAY need to extend and adapt them. I shold get planning and researching and hope that your bodges hold up long enough to get the job planned properly for the spring. |
URGENT Leaking hot water cylinder (pressurised) HELP
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URGENT Leaking hot water cylinder (pressurised) HELP
"The Natural Philosopher" wrote in message ... RJ wrote: "IMM" wrote in message news:btp98a$937 Replace it with a heat bank. They operate at low pressures. Forget an unvented cylinder. If the cylinder needs replacing - then I guess that is a reasonable idea. However I've read that these [may] need descaling every couple of years or so - and hence the running costs are very expensive? Install a water softener - a proper one - and forget de-scaling. Without getting onvolved in heatbanks, I had the opportunity to completely design HW and CH for the new house. The numbers of baths and showers really meant that combi/heatbank looked more expensive than a smaller boiler (hate wasting space) driving a mains pressure system. I don't think you loked hard enough. Plus if I ran out of oil, I could immersion heat the HW. Heat banks can have immersions too. If you have to start ripping stuff out, I'd strongly recommend you fit a new pressurised tank, Forget this idea. --- -- Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.558 / Virus Database: 350 - Release Date: 02/01/2004 |
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