Un vented system hot water

[Servotech]

You don't have to be "G3 registered" to carry out installations, but you do need it to self certify. You can continue by notifying the installation to the applicable local authority.

You don't suddenly become unsafe.

O.K., I went for a more dynamic statement with the word "unsafe", lets say "untrustworthy" for arguments sake.

 

[Servotech]

Registration proves nothing about a persons competence.
A persons competence can only really be measured by their "SKETUA".
Paying for a ID card with a photo on it and remembering a few answers to a few questions before paying ££££s to go on a register every 3 years proves nothing.


End of.......... As I said I'm not going to get into "trade politics" on here it was just an answer to Davids question.

Servotech,

 

[David2749]

Thanks for your replies.
Had a plumber come to review my fault and identified it as the high flow inlet control valve. Problem is:- he isn't G3 certified (on the phone he said he was)and that worries me, plus he wants to charge £500 to change the valve as he has told me the whole tank needs draining.

 

[David2749]

I realise I've dragged this thread on a little, but first is £500 about right, and does the whole tank need to be drained

 

[Friday round]

You need to maintain the system. Have a look at the manual. It says this needs to be done annually. If you don’t know what any of this means, then get an engineer to do an invented cylinder maintenance and watch what they do.

1) Twist the cap of the expansion relief valve on the inlet control set and allow water to flow for 5 seconds. Release and make sure it resets correctly. Repeat with the pressure / temperature relief valve. In both cases check that the discharge pipework is carrying the water away adequately. If not, check for blockages etc. and clear.
WARNING: THE WATER DISCHARGED MAY BE VERY HOT! 2) Check that any immersion heaters fitted are working correctly and that they are controlling the water at a temperature between 55°C and 65°C.
3) Inspect supply cord. If the supply cord is damaged, it must be replaced by a qualified person in order to avoid a hazard
4) Recharge the expansion space by following the instructions on page H1. Turn off the water supply to the unit and open a hot tap and drop the presure in the cylinder. Hold open T&P valve until flow stops. Release T&P valve and turn water suply back on. When water flows from hot tap turn tap off. Check for any leaks.
5) Unscrew the head on the inlet control set and clean the mesh filter within.. valve until wate
6) The Benchmark Log Book supplied with this unit should be updated at each service.

 

[denso13]

It says this needs to be done annually

It needs to be serviced annually, by a competent person. This isn't DIY work.

 

[Friday round]

What did the guy who quoted £500 do to figure the combination valve needs a new one? Did he at least do step 5 and look at the strainer to see if it was filled with sediment?

 

[Servotech]

Thanks for your replies.
Had a plumber come to review my fault and identified it as the high flow inlet control valve. Problem is:- he isn't G3 certified (on the phone he said he was)and that worries me, plus he wants to charge £500 to change the valve as he has told me the whole tank needs draining.

Thanks for the update David (I thought we'd bored you off with plumbing politics).
He's told you exactly what I thought it most likely was - although the "high flow inlet control valve" is strange terminology for what's know in the trade as the "Pressure Reducing Valve".
You don't normally need to drain the cylinder to replace this valve because it's on the incoming mains.
Granted you can sometimes get a couple of buckets of water back-flow if the valve is fitted at a low level so perhaps he's covering himself for a worse case scenario.
£500 seems a bit high to me, although someone has to pay the cost for all this G3 registering (oops plumbing politics creeping in again).

servotech,

 

[denso13]

G3 registering

Which you don't have to be, but nevermind.

 

[denso13]

£500 seems a bit high to me though someone has to pay the cost for all this G3 registering

And the £500 quote is from someone who isn't registered.

 

[Servotech]

Just to get the final word in I'm a maintenance plumber and cannot legally work on any unvented systems if my registration as expired (even by a day).

 

[David2749]

 

[David2749]

I dont mind hear about the politics, it adds flavour.
The guy who came was only here for less than 5 mins, which cost me £25 , which he will reduce if he gets the job, which he wont get. Maybe I'm too cautious as he didnt have a van...
Anyway now I know what the problem is I can at least get a registered plumber and by telling him what I think it is.

 

[denso13]

I dont mind hear about the politics, it adds flavour.

Sorry David, I'm a pedant for correctness. @muggles is the expert.

 

[denso13]

Anyway now I know what the problem is I can at least get a registered plumber

Where abouts in the country are you, roughly? Some on here may be able to help.