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START AT PARAGRAPH 4.
I’ve recently installed a mixer valve shower – the modern style – a Grohe model - chrome horizontal bar mixer with 150cm spaced inlets. Its installed on the other side of the airing cupboard where the cylinder is situated. With a tank raised to the highest point possible in the loft almost directly above, I did a flow test* and reckoned there was a good head of water. I was wrong, and there isn’t a strong enough flow from the shower.
The space around the cylinder is pretty tight and at the back of what space there is, the CH pump and zone valve is located. I’ve got a twin inlet Stuart Turner shower pump to fit and I think it will have to go in the loft – which is permissible, BUT I will need to fit an Essex or a Surrey (a.k.a Salamander) flange to ensure there are no air bubbles entering the pump.
I’d like to avoid cutting into the side of the tank for an Essex Flange. If I did it would have to go on the opposite side to the CH pump and there space is very tight to accommodate the loop of pipe before it heads up into the loft. The simplest alteration would be to put the Surrey flange in place of the present outlet on the top of the cylinder.
Which brings me to my question – the hot water (28mm, supply, expansion) outlet on the top of the cylinder has been in place for about 34 years.
What are the chances I will be able to unscrew that fitting to replace it with the Surrey/Salamander Flange which would go in its place? If anything were needed, I could well imagine the plumber would have used white hawk. I fear that the fitting is well fused in place, and the necessary force will deform the copper cylinder and tear it before the fitting releases. Am I being unnecessarily fearful - can anyone give me the benefit of their experience?
(By way of explanation, it seems very difficult to interest plumbers in this sort of job, and anyway they would just quote for a new cylinder and pipework straight off. If I could avoid that, it would be good. My father was a heating fitter and I picked up some of the skills from him, have his tools and as a result I’m not phobic about doing this sort of work….)
Thanks for your time. If I can use the system here, I’ll have added a couple of photos (and sorry if they are too large - I've tried to resize them, but.....)..
Steve
START AT PARAGRAPH 4.
I’ve recently installed a mixer valve shower – the modern style – a Grohe model - chrome horizontal bar mixer with 150cm spaced inlets. Its installed on the other side of the airing cupboard where the cylinder is situated. With a tank raised to the highest point possible in the loft almost directly above, I did a flow test* and reckoned there was a good head of water. I was wrong, and there isn’t a strong enough flow from the shower.
The space around the cylinder is pretty tight and at the back of what space there is, the CH pump and zone valve is located. I’ve got a twin inlet Stuart Turner shower pump to fit and I think it will have to go in the loft – which is permissible, BUT I will need to fit an Essex or a Surrey (a.k.a Salamander) flange to ensure there are no air bubbles entering the pump.
I’d like to avoid cutting into the side of the tank for an Essex Flange. If I did it would have to go on the opposite side to the CH pump and there space is very tight to accommodate the loop of pipe before it heads up into the loft. The simplest alteration would be to put the Surrey flange in place of the present outlet on the top of the cylinder.
Which brings me to my question – the hot water (28mm, supply, expansion) outlet on the top of the cylinder has been in place for about 34 years.
What are the chances I will be able to unscrew that fitting to replace it with the Surrey/Salamander Flange which would go in its place? If anything were needed, I could well imagine the plumber would have used white hawk. I fear that the fitting is well fused in place, and the necessary force will deform the copper cylinder and tear it before the fitting releases. Am I being unnecessarily fearful - can anyone give me the benefit of their experience?
(By way of explanation, it seems very difficult to interest plumbers in this sort of job, and anyway they would just quote for a new cylinder and pipework straight off. If I could avoid that, it would be good. My father was a heating fitter and I picked up some of the skills from him, have his tools and as a result I’m not phobic about doing this sort of work….)
Thanks for your time. If I can use the system here, I’ll have added a couple of photos (and sorry if they are too large - I've tried to resize them, but.....)..
Steve
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