To Pump or not to Pump?

[Big_Dave]

I live in a single storey flat where the cold water to all appliances is mains. Hot water is via a gravity feed from a cold water tank in the flat (height to top of water in tank approx 2.3mtrs) into a copper cylinder with immersion heater. As you might guess, the flow is pathetic! I have bought a Stuart Turner Monsoon 2bar negative pressure pump to install via an Essex Flange and insert in the system to pump all appliances per manufacturers instruction. So far so good.

My problem is that a "friend" has told me that he was advised not to pump a system where the pipework is over 3 years old or hidden in walls or concrete floors due to "Possible splitting of the pipe or joints blowing". My pipework is 25 years old, copper throughout and I would imagine soldered fittings.

Do I heed his advice and put up with hot water dribble or go ahead!

Sorry for such a long post but I'm desperate!

All comments gratefully received.

Big Dave.

 

[corgiman]

get someone to pressure test the pipework first as you pal does have a point

 

[Agile]

Little point in pressure testing it as that will equally cause the pipes to leak.

You have to weigh up the risk of leaking with the problems of repairing it if it does.

I would say that if you want a more powerful shower then you have to be prepared to replace any leaking pipes!

Tony

 

[ChrisR]

There's no specific reason why the pipes should leak any more than the existing mains pressured ones do! Same age and methods used.
If you test the pipes and they leak, they'll carry on leaking even if you go back to gravity supplies!

 

[corgiman]

Little point in pressure testing it as that will equally cause the pipes to leak.

You have to weigh up the risk of leaking with the problems of repairing it if it does.

I would say that if you want a more powerful shower then you have to be prepared to replace any leaking pipes!

Tony

IMHO better to know if the pipes can stand the pressure before installing a pump. Less expense then aint there.

 

[corgiman]

There's no specific reason why the pipes should leak any more than the existing mains pressured ones do! Same age and methods used.
If you test the pipes and they leak, they'll carry on leaking even if you go back to gravity supplies!

Would have thought it would be an idea to repair any leaks that the test show up before you put em back on chris?


I still stand by my opinion that if you want to be sure that your pipes can stand the added pressure of a pump, and believe me I have come across many soldered joints on gravity systems that havent seen a bit of solder and have been leak free for 30 odd years, BEFORE you buy and expensive pump, pay to install it only to find that you then have to replace all the pipes.

Boo Sucks to Agile and Chris

 

[ChrisR]

But the chappie has already bought his pump!
What you do, if you find a leak, is you turn the pump off while you mend the leak

 

[corgiman]

Ahh yes but one leak has a horrible habit of becoming two leaks etc

I must say that before I pump or seal any old system I whack a pressure test on it, one hour at three times the working rate etc..

Maybe I am just over cautious.

Now stop cos I am a bit scared of locking horns with the two brains of this here site and am now off to hide behind the sofa for a bit

 

[Big_Dave]

Thanks for all the replies guys. Obviously there IS a risk. I would have thought that copper + solder would have stood up to most things but that from the basis of a little knowledge - dangerous!

Tell me, would the pressure on the pipes be the same if I dragged the water throught from the open vented source i.e. CW tank and copper cylinder with a small pump close to say the sink and another at the WHB in the bathroom rather than pushing it round the whole system?

Big Dave