Unfamiliar Hot water tank

[otourist]

Hi

I own a rental property. It's a flat in a purpose built block, ie not a house conversion. I was called out there recently due to a leak to the flat below, which I disovered came from the overflow of the hot water tank. Trying to adjust the ballcock of the tank I discovered everything was coroded and thought I'd better put a new tank in before the worst happens to the old one, however I'm not sure what to replace it with!!!

The existing tank is a square copper design with what appears to be a cistern type affair at the top where cold water enters from the main and there is a ballcock controlling the flow. It's an economy 7 heater with what looks like a single element, but I'd need to go back to double check this. I should think the tank has been in place since the flats were built some 25 years ago

I've been looking for something similar to do a straight swap but can't find anything. I'm wondering if a need to change it for a more regular hot water cylinder but I'm worried about how it would work with the existing overflow mechanism. Has anyone ever come across something like this before?

Regards

Otourist

 

[Aquaheat]

Sounds like a direct combination cylinder. Not sure where you can get square replacements. (pretty sure ther about though, i'll open the floor to others)

but there are alot of "cylindrical" ones available just depends on the capacity and size constraints of where you want to put it.

The only other thing to be aware of is that alot of the square tanks have a dual header. eg one for the DHW and the other feeding the heating system. You would need to check this as well.

 

[otourist]

Sorry should have mentioned. The heating in the flat is night storage heaters so the tank only heats the domestic hot water. Two sinks and a bath. Should simplify things I suppose. I'm not concerned about getting a square tank. I think a cylindrical one will fit just fine. My main concern is the operation. ie how to account for the overflow as I don't have a header tank just a direct feed from the mains.

 

[swidders]

How is the current tank overflow dealt with?

 

[otourist]

It runs through a regular overflow pipe to outside

 

[bellairaphon]

fortik cylinder??? i.e built in in header tank fed from mains via ball cock

 

[Aquaheat]

As swidders has said above,

If there is a header tank at present with a ballcock then there should also be some provision for an overflow somewhere. If not the youv'e been lucky!

If there really isn't an overflow present then it would require one putting in but witout knowing any layouts of the building and existing wastes then its impossible to say.

The only thing i would say is that if you connect it to another waste then there should be some form of tundish near the cylinder to provide a visual indication that there is a fault.

Any more info provided would be a help.

 

[Aquaheat]

You should be able to connect to the existing overflow with a few mods to incorporate height changes and a continous downward fall

 

[swidders]

Overflow not a problem as before then

johnjb:
http://www.heatandplumb.com/acatalog/900_x_450mm_Albion_Direct_Combination_Hot_Water_Cylinder.html

or
bellairaphon
http://www.heatandplumb.com/acatalog/900_x_450mm_Range_Fortic_F1_Direct_Combination_Cylinders.html

 

[otourist]

Thanks everyone for your help. Just to confirm then...

In the suggestions from Swidders, cold water feeds the header tank via a ballcock which then feeds to the base of the the hot water part heated by an element. I can connect the overflow (from the header tank) to my exisintg overflow pipe. Ignore the fact that it's a combi and just connect up the DHW.

 

[Aquaheat]

Swidders,

Am i missing something?

What are you trying to say from that post that i may have failed to mention?

Am i having a blonde moment?

 

[Aquaheat]

Thanks everyone for your help. Just to confirm then...

In the suggestions from Swidders, cold water feeds the header tank via a ballcock which then feeds to the base of the the hot water part heated by an element. I can connect the overflow (from the header tank) to my exisintg overflow pipe. Ignore the fact that it's a combi and just connect up the DHW.

Basically yes but you cant ignore the fact that it is a combi as that is what it is called. You need to get a A x B direct combination cylinder ( A= height B=diameter) suitable for Economy 7. Then, as we have now established!!, connect all the other connections including the overflow! lol

 

[otourist]

I'm guessing a fortic/combi tank is pretty easy to fit then?

 

[swidders]

Swidders,

Am i missing something?

What are you trying to say from that post that i may have failed to mention?

Am i having a blonde moment?

Nothing at all - not clarifying what you're referring to for your benefit, but for the op's. Just trying to remove all doubt for him. Please don't take offence

 

[Aquaheat]

Being fair if it is what you say it is then it should be pretty straight forward. its basically one 4 one with adjustments to suit the new cylinder.