Problems after immersion replacement

claytonie · 03-09-2015 08:43PM #1

Hi

We recently had our bizarre immersion setup replaced (2 small immersions in attic T-ed together having to switch both cylinders on if you wanted hot water) with a joule triple coil cylinder. We have both a back boiler on our fireplace and OFCH. Due to space constraints in the attic the immersion cyclinder was moved back into the hot press. From a hot water perspective from the oild heating etc things have been glorious but tonight for the first time I put the fire on and about an hour later the pipes were rattling like no ones business and hot water is venting into the tank in the attic.

From reading here and other sites it seems I may have been ill advised by plumber and an immersion cylinder cant be placed in the hotpress (bungalow)when using a back boiler as the hot water cylinder needs to be above the fire place for the gravity circuit to work. (so I have fixed one problem only to create another). I have rang the plumber and asked him to come back but before he calls round I just wanted to get some advice here on what he should be doing to rectify the problem and what I should be asking.

Thanks in advance guys.

Wearb · 03-09-2015 11:50PM

Shouldn't be a problem with position of cylinder in hot press. Seems like the back-boiler pipework hasn't been changed to allow for the new cylinder position. Plumber should have spotted this.

There are better qualified people here on boards to elaborate on this. Wait for other replies.

Calahonda52 · 04-09-2015 07:22AM

re for the gravity circuit to work
is there no stat operated circulation pump on the back boiler circuit?
was there no pump on back boiler set up when cylinder in attic.

What happened last night is what is supposed to happen if u have a power failure

u will find the circuits here
http://systemlink.ie/knowledge-zone/schematics-database.html
if there is no pump and he proses fitting one, be careful where it is fitted

I have added to some posts on this topic here before

claytonie · 04-09-2015 09:17AM

There is a circulation pump on a stat in the hotpress that comes on with a stat for the rads. But its the circuit to cylinder thats rattling. There are two pipes coming up hot into the attic from back boiler and two return pipes. The circuit going to the rads seems to be fine.

I had a look at circuit drawing http://systemlink.ie/images/stories/systemlink/Schematics/ME00112010.pdf and the only difference I can spot is that the cold feed on the cylinder circuit is joined to the hot pipe and not the cold return pipe.

I rang the plumber and he thinks its probably air trapped in the circuit so hopefully thats the fix.

Calahonda52 · 04-09-2015 10:11AM

I can't see gravity working for the cylinder if its on same level as the fire, why would it try push all that cold water horizontally to start with when it can just go upstairs to header tank: would you:)

claytonie · 04-09-2015 10:36AM

That was my thinking when I stood in attic scratching my head

Im guessing the only fix would be to have a pump put in for the cylinder circuit or are there other options?

Calahonda52 · 04-09-2015 11:04AM

Head scratching is a bonus, considering the other options!:D

Cant comment re other as don't understand the plumbing you have but just make sure the new pump, if fitted, is not anywhere on the attic flow/return loops

Wearb · 04-09-2015 11:48AM

You may not put any restrictive devices -including a pump- on the back/stove boiler gravity circuit.

claytonie · 04-09-2015 02:32PM

Thanks for the info guys is there anyway to remedy this how are backboilers normally installed in a bungalow when the cylinder is in the hotpress?

Problems after immersion replacement

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