Bottoms up?

PaulAH · 1 Feb 2006

Busy here, innit.

Right, we've converted the feed and vent to a combined F&E and it all works jubbly. No pumping over and tank stays cold.

However, refilling the system took ages, as ChrisH (or was it R?) warned a while ago, due to air and water on a collision course up the one remaining pipe.

Next time, would it be worth filling from below? Hitch cold supply to drain cock at lowest point and fill from bottom up?

Yours keeping Fernox in business
Paul

chrishutt · 1 Feb 2006

Next time, would it be worth filling from below? Hitch cold supply to drain cock at lowest point and fill from bottom up?

Hi Paul. Yes, sounds like a good idea. You could even leave it filling until you saw water coming out the feed and expansion tank overflow!

ChrisR · 1 Feb 2006

Certainly. Use one of these instead of the usual piece or junk we all use and you can do it through a washing machine hose or garden hose with standard fitting

http://www.bes.ltd.uk/products/graphics/13180.gif

PaulAH · 1 Feb 2006

Yikes that was quick. Thanks Chris (it was your original observation, wasn't it?).

Makes sense to me - it would drive air upwards too. A goldfish wouldn't survive 30 secs in this water.

PaulAH · 1 Feb 2006

ChrisR - what took you so long? You guys are marvels.

Actually, I'd be filling from the cold header tank rather than mains, to use softened water. Makes no difference presumably - it's still a head & shoulder above the CH feed tank.

chrishutt · 1 Feb 2006

ChrisR said:
Use one of these instead of the usual piece or junk

I've long since given up using traditional drain-off valves. Useless devices that don't allow a decent seal to a hose pipe and where the feeble little washers get stuck to the seating.

I generally use 15mm iso valves instead. Not sure how they'll work in 25 years time, but so far they they've all worked like a dream. For extra security a 1/2" cap can replace the nut and olive on the outlet.

Hose connections can be made by inserting short length of 15mm tube in hose end (with jubilee clip) and fitting the nut and olive on the other end of the copper. This hose connection remains fixed to hose.

PaulAH · 1 Feb 2006

I cannot thank you guys enough (where's Oilman, the miserable sdo?) for the earlier advice. This trick has worked a treat.

Now waiting for the explosion.

(Edited to add description of Oilman)

kevplumb · 2 Feb 2006

oiy yow leave my mate oilman alone

ChrisR · 2 Feb 2006

Actually, I'd be filling from the cold header tank rather than mains, to use softened water.

Never ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever use softened water in a heating system. Chlorides will give you pinholes in no time.

Flush it out.

Today!

PaulAH · 2 Feb 2006

EEK! Never come across that one before (OK, tell me to search).

Are you saying lime etc is less harmful than the by-products of a softener? What chlorides? The manufacturer claims no NaCl remains in the supply after regeneration.

Do you also suggest the F&E should be fed from the mains - or are we talking insufficiently large quantities of top-up water?

Not another £40 worth of Fernox, purleeze

PaulAH · 3 Feb 2006

ChrisR - sorry to queue-jump but, in case you missed it, I'd be really grateful for a comment on this.
Paul

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Bottoms up?

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