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UK diy (uk.d-i-y) For the discussion of all topics related to diy (do-it-yourself) in the UK. All levels of experience and proficency are welcome to join in to ask questions or offer solutions. |
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Ancient HW Cylinder - replacement
We have a an old solid fuel heating system (which works well and
cheaply too), but the hot water cylinder has corroded and is now leaking. The plumber who came to look at it said we needed a 'specially made' cylinder for solid fuel heating and was going to order one but he's been rushed into hospital. I think I could do this job myself if all I had to do was disconnect it and reconnect the new cylinder....but I suspect the connections are old BSP fittings rather than metric which might complicate things a bit. Suggestions for a supplier would be helpful, and am I likely to be able to get a cylinder with suitable threads on the connections ? TIA |
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Ancient HW Cylinder - replacement
"Britannica" wrote in message ... We have a an old solid fuel heating system (which works well and cheaply too), but the hot water cylinder has corroded and is now leaking. The plumber who came to look at it said we needed a 'specially made' cylinder for solid fuel heating and was going to order one but he's been rushed into hospital. I think I could do this job myself if all I had to do was disconnect it and reconnect the new cylinder....but I suspect the connections are old BSP fittings rather than metric which might complicate things a bit. Threads are still the same. BSP. Suggestions for a supplier would be helpful, and am I likely to be able to get a cylinder with suitable threads on the connections ? I don't know what he means by a special cylinder. It will be most likely gravity primaries, but that does not mean a special cylinder. he may have meant a primatic cylinder. Than mean no F&E tank. |
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Ancient HW Cylinder - replacement
IMM wrote
I don't know what he means by a special cylinder. It will be most likely gravity primaries, but that does not mean a special cylinder. he may have meant a primatic cylinder. Than mean no F&E tank. He probably means a direct cylinder. Or maybe the diameter of the F & R pipes is larger than normal. |
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Ancient HW Cylinder - replacement
Britannica wrote in message . ..
We have a an old solid fuel heating system (which works well and cheaply too), but the hot water cylinder has corroded and is now leaking. The plumber who came to look at it said we needed a 'specially made' cylinder for solid fuel heating and was going to order one but he's been rushed into hospital. I think I could do this job myself if all I had to do was disconnect it and reconnect the new cylinder....but I suspect the connections are old BSP fittings rather than metric which might complicate things a bit. Suggestions for a supplier would be helpful, and am I likely to be able to get a cylinder with suitable threads on the connections ? TIA Sometimes when a "professional" says that something needs to be "specially made" for your system it turns out that they wait a long time then sell you an off-the-shelf item at an inflated price. I would be tempted to get another plumber in to quote for replacing the cylinder - and ask nonchalantly if it is a standard part he will be using (he will probably say that it is a normal "direct" cylinder as this is what you almost certainly need). If the cylinder is off-the shelf and not much needs changing to make it fit then you are probably looking at no more than about £100 for parts and a few hours labour. There is a good chance that a couple of the pipes might need moving a little to make the new cylinder fit, so if you are not into plumbing it may not be a DIY job - and probably not the best one to start a hobby with! |
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Ancient HW Cylinder - replacement
Britannica wrote in
: Suggestions for a supplier would be helpful, and am I likely to be able to get a cylinder with suitable threads on the connections ? TIA I went the other way and had a solid fuel back boiler replaced by gas. The same cylinder was used, in fact the pipes to it were untouched at the cylinder end; so it's hard to see what's "special" - it's worked pretty well for about five years, and was elderly then. Which led to the next problem, the original DHW gravity system has gradually been uprated to a fully pumped CH/DHW system, with the original pipes still in place, so an upgrade is needed that has to start with a new cylinder and move out to central area piping. (or should it be the other way round?) (BTW, they are still 1" BSP, see the thread "confused about BSP threads" starting on the 22nd for lots more info and a bit of entertaining infighting) The most accessible cylinders AFAICS are Albion, available in many sizes and from many online dealers - I can't reccommend as I haven't made my purchase yet, ther's also Range cylinders http://rangecylinders.co.uk but they don't appear as easy to acquire. Screwfix supply a limited range from the rcm group http://www.rcmgroup.co.uk My problem now is that I can get no help at all from plumbers' merchants, I'm convinced that the blokes are all cloned off the same combi enthusuast, and Albion seem to be the only firm with a good online selling network, so now you know just as much as I do HTH mike |
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Ancient HW Cylinder - replacement
"Britannica" wrote in message
... The plumber who came to look at it said we needed a 'specially made' cylinder for solid fuel heating and was going to order one but he's been rushed into hospital. Suggestions for a supplier would be helpful, and am I likely to be able to get a cylinder with suitable threads on the connections ? http://www.solidfuel.co.uk/frame/main.html ? I think the tank, in an emergency, has to take the maxium output from the solid fuel fire and dump the heat somewhere. |
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Ancient HW Cylinder - replacement
On Fri, 25 Jun 2004 23:02:49 +0100, Nick Finnigan wrote:
I think the tank, in an emergency, has to take the maxium output from the solid fuel fire and dump the heat somewhere. You certainly need some form of automatic heat dump on the primary of a solid fuel boiler so when (note: when not if) the tank starts to boil you can dump the heat and not have to suffer the banging and bumping from the cylinder (or a loft full of steam). As for a special cylinder not heard that one before, always assuming that this is a correctly installed system with gravity primary, heat dump radiator etc. -- Cheers Dave. pam is missing e-mail |
#8
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Ancient HW Cylinder - replacement
In article om,
"Dave Liquorice" writes: As for a special cylinder not heard that one before, always assuming It's a term that's used, just after the sharp intake of breath through the teeth, to prepare you for being ripped off. A friend in London needed a "special cylinder" as his wasn't a standard size (more bull****). When it had been fitted, I worked out what was special about it (in addition to the price of course); it has a strange property of being able to pump boiling hot water round the coil for ages without it giving up any heat to the water in the cylinder. So, special meant it had been ripped out of someone else's house, and has several inches of hard water scale encasing the coil, no doubt. -- Andrew Gabriel |
#9
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Ancient HW Cylinder - replacement
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