Making sure I don't cause a flood.

scubapete · 3 Oct 2007

Hi,

New bathroom again (thanks for all help so far)....

My job for this weekend is to remove asbestos CWC and plumb in a new Aqualisa Axis digital pumped shower.

Below is my airing cupboard:

I'm going to cut the pipe at (A) and replace with new copper from new CWC and replace that gate valve with a lever ball valve.

I'm also going to cut in an equal T at (C) (hot water out from HWC - pipe hidden in photo) and run a pipe to shower pump unit.

Finally, the gate valves with red wheel handles did go to the old power shower which I removed. The cold will come away with my chop at (A) and I intend on cutting out the hot at (B) or at least shortening the branch.

Now notice the drain cock below (A). I can use this to drain the CWC, right? Will it also drain the HWC?

I would prefer to keep the hot water in the HWC. I'm thinking that if I replace pipe to (A) and close the new valve I can cut (B) and (C) without fear of the HWC emptying over my landing. Is this correct?

Bahco · 3 Oct 2007

A looks like the cylinder feed from the tank. You will drain the tank and also the cylinder.

Maybe the pros will prove me wrong.

Breesey · 3 Oct 2007

For a pumped shower you will need a dedicated cold feed from your CWC and a dedicated hot supply from your HWC using either a Surrey or an Essex flange on the HWC. Teeing into the hot distribution pipe coming off the top of the cylinder could cause the pump to cavitate if a hot tap is used else where while the shower is in use.

Cutting the pipe at A will empty both the cold and hot onto your landing, unless you drain these down first!!. Drain the cold through the taps and the hot via that drain off below A.

John M · 3 Oct 2007

CWC = Cold Water Cylinder ?

How comes cylinder & not just plain olde tank .....

Just wondering

Breesey · 3 Oct 2007

John M said:
CWC = Cold Water Cylinder ?

How comes cylinder & not just plain olde tank .....

Just wondering

Cistern old Chap!

John M · 3 Oct 2007

Breesey said:
Cistern old Chap!

Oki .......... Err whats the diff between a Cistern & a Tank ? (Or am I just being St00pid now)

Softus · 3 Oct 2007

John M said:
CWC = Cold Water Cylinder ?

How comes cylinder & not just plain olde tank .....

Just wondering

The problem with the word "tank" is that many people use it to refer to the cold storage cistern, so it's less ambiguous when referring to the DHW tank to call it a cylinder.

Breesey · 3 Oct 2007

John M said:
Breesey said:

Cistern old Chap!

Click to expand...

Oki .......... Err whats the diff between a Cistern & a Tank ? (Or am I just being St00pid now)

Not alot!!

John M · 3 Oct 2007

Softus said:
it's less ambiguous when referring to the DHW tank to call it a cylinder.

But isn't a cylinder called a cylinder cos its well ..... Cylindrical ?

Softus · 3 Oct 2007

Breesey said:
Oki .......... Err whats the diff between a Cistern & a Tank ?

Something that is open at the top and filled using a float valve is a cistern.

Something that is entirely enclosing, and capable of being full to the brim, is a tank.

Softus said:
"John M"

Softus said:

it's less ambiguous when referring to the DHW tank to call it a cylinder.

Click to expand...

But isn't a cylinder called a cylinder cos its well ..... Cylindrical ?

Your point being...?

John M · 3 Oct 2007

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh Now I geddit

scubapete · 4 Oct 2007

Thanks, saved my new landing carpet! Will fit the Essex flage as suggested.

I thought the HWC would have been air-locked because all the hot taps are turned off. Is it the HWC vent pipe that allows it to empty? Or is it just plain old gravity?

Here's another one:

If I close the gate valve feeding the HWC, I will no longer get hot water out of the taps, right? If I were to then chop the hot pipe just under the bath tap, will I flood the bathroom?

At the very least won't gravity 'equalise' the water in the hot pipe between HWC and bath? i.e. in diagram the contents between A and HWC will come out.

Sorry for the paranoia. I will be fitting service valves everywhere through this project.

Softus · 4 Oct 2007

scubapete said:
I thought the HWC would have been air-locked because all the hot taps are turned off. Is it the HWC vent pipe that allows it to empty? Or is it just plain old gravity?

Both.

If I close the gate valve feeding the HWC, I will no longer get hot water out of the taps, right?

You'll get the contents of the vent pipe.

If I were to then chop the hot pipe just under the bath tap, will I flood the bathroom?

Not if you open the tap first and put a drip tray under where you cut the pipe.

At the very least won't gravity 'equalise' the water in the hot pipe between HWC and bath? i.e. in diagram the contents between A and HWC will come out.

Correct.

Thomasthepiperson · 23 Mar 2014

How old was the cold water cylinder? I am just wondering are they all made out of Asbestos? Would my Cold water cylinder contain Asbestos? presumably fitted around 1995 or 1996.

Dextraneous · 23 Mar 2014

The thread is 7 years old

diynot

If you need to find a tradesperson to get your job done, please try our local search below, or if you are doing it yourself you can find suppliers local to you.

Select the supplier or trade you require, enter your location to begin your search.

Are you a trade or supplier? You can create your listing free at DIYnot Local

Making sure I don't cause a flood.

Similar threads