Plumber says we have a Header tank.. But i don't think we do. Any advice?

[ZoyaZedestroya]

I may have this wrong so excuse my ignorance.

We moved into a house two years ago which has a combi boiler (in one of the bedrooms) and i've been into the loft many times (We use it for storage).
I've never once seen any tanks up there above the bathroom or toilet (They're separate).

We had a plumber come around today to see about fitting a bidet (As part of Social services for my mother who I care for).
He said very confidently "Yes, you have a header tank". I asked what that was (I already semi knew but wanted t make sure before correcting him) and he said "It's a water tank in your loft". I said i'd never seen one up there and he said "Oh, well you must have missed it. It's easy for a lay person to miss".. He said it in a very patronising way which ****ed me off.

I asked him "So, how big is this tank?" and he said for our house size it'll be 400x300x300mm. I then again said "No, i would have seen that up there. Can you check for me?" He then got pretty ****ty and said "love, i have more experience than you and i know what im doing, cheers". He then spent the rest of the meeting being very c**ty with myself and my mother and came across as a sexist prick tbh.

I went up into the loft after he went and crawled from one end to the other and didn't see one. There is a cold water pipe supply pipe leading to the toilet (we have a gravity cistern) but no tanks at all. The loft is partially boarded etc. but the joists aren't that deep and highly doubt the last owners would have boarded in a super narrow tank.

Am i in the wrong here?
As far as im aware combi boilers DON'T use tanks?
Would I be able to see this tank?!
If so im worried this prick doesn't know what he's talking about and is a bit of a cowboy. I don't really want him in our house at this point but as it's SS i doubt i could ask for someone else.


EDIT: Sorry i meant to say it's a bidet you put ontop of a toilet (Like a built in seat)

 

[Mottie]

You shouldn’t have a header tank for a combi heating system but on the other hand, if you don’t have a cold water storage tank, you wont have a gravity system for your WC. I’m not a plumber but that’s my understanding of it.

 

[ZoyaZedestroya]

You shouldn’t have a header tank for a combi heating system but on the other hand, if you don’t have a cold water storage tank, you wont have a gravity system for your WC. I’m not a plumber but that’s my understanding of it.

Thanks for your reply.
Would the tank be above the WC? I've crawled over that way and lifted the insulation etc but there is no tank there. I feel bad for calling him a prick on here now lol

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

Combi Boilers usually work on a sealed system, and so do not need a Feed and Expansion Cistern, (Tank's are sealed vessels, Cisterns are open topped), and due to their ability to heat the Domestic Hot Water on demand, negate the need for a Hot Water Cylinder and Cold Water Storage Cistern.

WC can be mains fed. I think the issue will be a Bidet need Backflow prevention to prevent the possibility of contaminated water being drawn back into the Mains Supply should a fault condition occur with the Water Supply. (This is usually in the vent of a Burst or the Fire Service putting a large draw on the Main Supply in the street, which in some cases can result in negative pressure within the mains supply and increase the risk of water that has already been drawn off, being pulled back into the Supply pipework.)

Not 100% sure on what needs to be done in this situation, supplying a Bidet from Stored water is easier as the risk of backflow is virtually eliminated, from a Combi, may just be a case of suitable check vales fitted in the supply, my need more stringent precautions.

 

[CountryFan]

Afaik SS tend to use specific councils or housing associations, so you could ask for a different plumber

 

[HERTS P&D]

Turn your incoming water mains off and open the cold kitchen tap, check all other taps and toilets, everything should stop flowing.

Andy

 

[dilalio]

The gravity fed toilet you mention does suggest a cistern. Are you sure it's gravity fed? Sometimes a combi conversion could leave a CWSC in the loft have seen it a few times.

 

[Razor900]

What make and model is the boiler and is there a pressure gauge on it?

If so what is it showing?

As said a limited amount of combi boilers can be run unsealed but it's unusual

 

[Madrab]

As others suggest - it doesn't really matter and I'm not sure why that would even have come into the conversation anyway, as it wouldn't really have any bearing on the work for the bidet.

Also, as mentioned by @Hugh Jaleak , depending on the type of bidet being considered , then backflow protection is very important. Ascending spray or hose w/ handset fed (and most ablution devices) bidets should not be installed onto the mains water supply in the UK, they must be fed by a supply that has the appropriate CAT5 backflow protection.
Only a bidet with static hot and cold taps with an air gap above the spillover level of the appliance can be considered for connection to the mains water supply and they should aware of the regs, though you could ask them to confirm, just to annoy them even more

If that is their attitude though then you should be able to request someone else I would have thought.

 

[Fred Blogs]

I would ask for another plumber just because of his attitude. There are plenty of arris holes around, especially in the trades, and you seem to have got one

 

[dilalio]

especially in the trades,

Really! I find them amongst quite a few customers lol.

 

[Rodders53]

There are some bidet toilets that have WRAS approval (i.e. include the necessary air-gap required to its internal water store that is usually heated for use). Cold water is not nice.

https://www.wrasapprovals.co.uk/approvals-directory/?section=0278&perpage=all

Fit one of those, if it is the sort of (expensive) device wanted?

 

[ZoyaZedestroya]

Combi Boilers usually work on a sealed system, and so do not need a Feed and Expansion Cistern, (Tank's are sealed vessels, Cisterns are open topped), and due to their ability to heat the Domestic Hot Water on demand, negate the need for a Hot Water Cylinder and Cold Water Storage Cistern.

WC can be mains fed. I think the issue will be a Bidet need Backflow prevention to prevent the possibility of contaminated water being drawn back into the Mains Supply should a fault condition occur with the Water Supply. (This is usually in the vent of a Burst or the Fire Service putting a large draw on the Main Supply in the street, which in some cases can result in negative pressure within the mains supply and increase the risk of water that has already been drawn off, being pulled back into the Supply pipework.)

Not 100% sure on what needs to be done in this situation, supplying a Bidet from Stored water is easier as the risk of backflow is virtually eliminated, from a Combi, may just be a case of suitable check vales fitted in the supply, my need more stringent precautions.

Sorry for late reply. My mother has been ill.

We have a cistern IN the room with the toilet attached to the chain.

I meant to say the Bidet isn't a stand alone one it's apart of a toilet seat that fits over the toilet. Not sure if that makes any difference?

 

[ZoyaZedestroya]

Afaik SS tend to use specific councils or housing associations, so you could ask for a different plumber

Ty! i think we will. Neither of us want him back in the house tbh. A few of his 'jokes' were off colour.. and I love dark humour but not keen on sexist/racist ****.

 

[ZoyaZedestroya]

The gravity fed toilet you mention does suggest a cistern. Are you sure it's gravity fed? Sometimes a combi conversion could leave a CWSC in the loft have seen it a few times.

I think it is. Theres a cistern above the toilet like this.