Bypassing Cold Tank

[Aragorn84]

ok so after this thread:

http://www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=154004

It's got me thinking, while i'm plumbing in this shower it might actually be an ideal time to remove the tank from the loop all together. I cant say i like the idea of drinking/brushing my teeth etc with water thats sat in a tank for god knows how long, especially after the showers installed as the only thing using water from the tank would be the sink and toilet (and the bath but then that would rarely be used anyway).

So if i were to simply shut off the mains and drain the tank, then connect the mains water feed that used to feed the ballcock valve directly to the tank outlet instead, would this be acceptable?

My first concern was that the fittings in the bathroom arent currently rated for mains pressure, however seen as both the bath and sink are currently being fed hot water from a combi boiler they both effectively are already dealing with mains pressure. So that just leaves the toilet, which i'd imagine should be streight forwards enough to change, if need be?

Anything else i should think about when doing this? or does it sound sensible enough?

 

[John506]

Unless you're suffering from really bad pressure, I don't see a problem, but if the tank is clean and sealed properly, then I don't see why you just leave it.

If the water isn't sitting in the tank, it's only going to be sitting in copper pipes.

I'm not totally sure but I think you have to notify someone if you change the system from indirect to direct, I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

You have an advantage with a tank aswell if the mains get shut off for work being done in your road because at least you have a tank of water to use.

 

[Aragorn84]

The cold tap at the sink is barely more than a dribble, the bath is ok, and you dont realy notice the problem with the toilet,

i just figured if i was up there anyway altering the plumbing to get a mains hookup for the shower, i may as well get the mains flowing everywhere...

 

[John506]

Don't see a problem, good idea in fact

Won't get the best pressure you can from mains thought because your going up the loft then back down to all the appliances but will still noticibly increase

 

[Bahco]

Won't get the best pressure you can from mains thought because your going up the loft then back down

Shouldn't make any difference.

 

[John506]

Won't get the best pressure you can from mains thought because your going up the loft then back down

Shouldn't make any difference.

Ahh well even better then

 

[Aragorn84]

cool sounds like a plan then,

The kitchen already seems to be on the mains anyway, so its just really the bathroom that would be getting changed over!

i presume some plastic pipe and speed fittings will be fine for this job?

 

[John506]

Plastic pipe and pushfit sounds good, whatever is easiest as it doesnt really matter what it looks like in the loft anyway.

Yeah on systems with a tank you have 1 tap coming off mains aswell (usually the kitchen).

 

[kirkgas]

if the cistern is tank fed you will need to change the orifice in the cistern ballcock from low to high pressure, another potential problem i have seen many times when doing this is a leak developing on the cold pipes as they have not been subjected to high pressure, you could decrease the pressure at the valve in the loft which still gives you the benefit of fresh water,

 

[gigz]

Dont forget good lagging, its gonna be a cold winter