primatic cylinders

[--tom]

Q1 what usually causes a primatic cylinder air bubble to lose its air?
Q2 what is the remedy: to establish the bubble and re-fill?
Q3 what is the significance of bleed valves on some primatics but not on others?

 

[cozzmic]

Q1. Air in contact with water it will be absorbed into it over time and lose the pocket, also inside the chamber I think there is a pipe which connects between the lower and upper, this can break or corrode at the braising.
Q2 Drain down cylinder and refill this will re-establish the bubble if there is not an other problem.
Q3 Can't think of anything about the bleed valves as the primatic is self airing.

 

[--tom]

Thanks for the reply. If you install a Torbeck drop valve what do you do with the extra hole in the cistern where the old external overflow went?
Do you have to change the flush lever as well?

 

[ArtfulBodger]

What has that got to do with primatic cylinders exactly?

 

[Paul Barker]

You should be able to buy a blank in the merchants, you can get a button flush drop valve kit at merchants where the button fits where the old handle was. Why not just leave the overflow connected?

 

[RichardWh]

"Single feed indirect" is what they call it. Primatic is just a trade name for this sytem type.

To be quite honist, I would seriously condsider a new system long term.

Get it upgraded to a new indirect system, and make room in the loft for a F+E cistern

Primatics can get into trouble if you want to expand your system, like adding another radiator. Hence the bubble bursts.