Extreme limescale in shower bar

[terryplumb]

Ouch not that news I was expecting. Is there an issue if I continue to do what I am doing at the moment by clearing and using until I get it replaced?

I Suppose there is a limited chance that a complete blockage of pipework may occur ,but it's unlikely in my opinion.
You could try contacting the manufacturer claiming it's a design fault and should be replaced free of charge.....

 

[Ibs90]

I Suppose there is a limited chance that a complete blockage of pipework may occur ,but it's unlikely in my opinion.
You could try contacting the manufacturer claiming it's a design fault and should be replaced free of charge.....

I will give this a go. Is this a common fault across all water tank cylinders or this specific one only?

 

[terryplumb]

It's not uncommon on Megaflo cylinders ,exactly which models / what period of manufacture,and how many are affected isn't common knowledge.

 

[Ibs90]

@terryplumb - you've been extremely helpful, so wanted to thank you for your support. I have sent the customer relations team at Megaflo an email.

 

[terryplumb]

Good luck ,hope you get a favourable response. Keep us informed.

 

[Ibs90]

Good luck ,hope you get a favourable response. Keep us informed.

I had BG come down today and look at the issue. He seems convinced that it's not a 'air pocket' issue because this would discolour the water and reduce the pressure. However, he seems to think I have really hard water and I require a water softener. He said the the air separator is usually found with the boiler?

I have also spoken to MegaFlo who can come out and investigate but charge £400 for the call out. If there is no issue with the air pocket or with the tank then I lost that money.

 

[Johntheo5]

Not sure where a air pocket issue was ever raised in the posts?

These Megaflo HW cylinders accomodate the ~ 3.5L of expanded water by having a air space, commonly called a air bubble in the top of the cylinder, others, the most common type of HW cylinders use a external expansion vessel to accomodate the expanded volume. This air bubble must be re established because the air is slowly absorbed by the water, this is why a plastic air separator/baffle is used to extend the frequency of re making the air bubble, I wouldn't expect it (the bubble) to last longer than a year, if its not then a expansion relief valve will lift and expel up to 3.5L of water each time the cylinder is reheated if no HW is being drawn off at the same time, you can see this in a tundish from the waste pipe from the expansion relief valve. You should also notice a extra spurt of HW in the morning when/if you open a HW tap.

Megaflo appear to be very receptive to problems with their cylinders, you might ask them if you were to mail on a sample the plastic bits, would they analyse them and if theirs then I'm sure they would offer some remedy, probaby a new cylinder, you could also ask them what would be your cost if the analysis proves otherwise.

 

[Ibs90]

Not sure where a air pocket issue was ever raised in the posts?

These Megaflo HW cylinders accomodate the ~ 3.5L of expanded water by having a air space, commonly called a air bubble in the top of the cylinder, others, the most common type of HW cylinders use a external expansion vessel to accomodate the expanded volume. This air bubble must be re established because the air is slowly absorbed by the water, this is why a plastic air separator/baffle is used to extend the frequency of re making the air bubble, I wouldn't expect it (the bubble) to last longer than a year, if its not then a expansion relief valve will lift and expel up to 3.5L of water each time the cylinder is reheated if no HW is being drawn off at the same time, you can see this in a tundish from the waste pipe from the expansion relief valve. You should also notice a extra spurt of HW in the morning when/if you open a HW tap.

Megaflo appear to be very receptive to problems with their cylinders, you might ask them if you were to mail on a sample the plastic bits, would they analyse them and if theirs then I'm sure they would offer some remedy, probaby a new cylinder, you could also ask them what would be your cost if the analysis proves otherwise.

Thanks for your response. The BG engineer did seem confused and corrected me when I said there is an air separator valve and he said it's called an 'air pocket'. I just felt like he wasn't experienced enough and had to call his manager. I even showed him the comments on this thread. Let me speak to MegaFlo and see what they say

 

[terryplumb]

Your issue has nothing to do with any air pocket, and the BG engineer needs more training !!

 

[endecotp]

he seems to think I have really hard water and I require a water softener.

You need to do the acid (vinegar) test on a sample of this stuff to prove that it’s not limescale.

Leicester is not known to be a hard water area, is it? I thought the water came from the River Derwent and the big reservoirs in the Peak District.

 

[Ibs90]

I finally got round to doing the acid vinegar test because it's gone bad again. I'm not sure what's the best way to upload the video. It says it's too large to upload.

 

[accelerator]

Just tell us what happened then.

 

[flameport]

best way to upload the video.

If you must, shove it on YouTube and add the link to it here.

However no video is required.
If it was limescale, it would totally disappear in the vinegar.
If not, it's chunks of degrading plastic from the baffle in the hot water cylinder.

 

[Gasguru]

It looks like the classic baffle problem. Do a forum search snd you'll find numerous postings going back 6 or 7 years showing pics.

 

[accelerator]

Also, I don't think limescale would easily be able to totally block flow, it would take chunks of plastic to be able to do that.