Topic: Any plumbers or water service folks about?

[♠Dirty Harry♠]

I've a contractor quoting for an ASHP/underfloor system and the setup requires a high pressure system so he's asking about our mains pressure.

I honestly haven't a fucking clue, so would anyone be able to tell me how would I be able to measure the water pressure I'm getting from the blue water pipe that comes directly from the mains?


Even if it's just a rough measurement to confirm we're getting the minimum require pressue, should I be expecting to see the water going metres into the air when I open the temporary valve or what should I be looking for?


Cheers 

[Titi Camara]

Water services? Wasn;t that one of Effes side hobbies?

[El Lobo]

Water services? Wasn;t that one of Effes side hobbies?

Yeah he used to play the fire hydrant

[Titi Camara]

Yeah he used to play the fire hydrant

Ha ha brilliant!

[Titi Camara]

I've a contractor quoting for an ASHP/underfloor system and the setup requires a high pressure system so he's asking about our mains pressure.

I honestly haven't a fucking clue, so would anyone be able to tell me how would I be able to measure the water pressure I'm getting from the blue water pipe that comes directly from the mains?


Even if it's just a rough measurement to confirm we're getting the minimum require pressue, should I be expecting to see the water going metres into the air when I open the temporary valve or what should I be looking for?


Cheers 

Summit like this should do the job buddy

http://www.toolstation.com/shop/p75711?mkwid=sqbQsq3EO_dc&pcrid=142003768299&pkw=&pmt=&product=75711&gclid=CMXgyMqo6tICFeQp0wodVq8KAQ

[♠Dirty Harry♠]

Summit like this should do the job buddy

http://www.toolstation.com/shop/p75711?mkwid=sqbQsq3EO_dc&pcrid=142003768299&pkw=&pmt=&product=75711&gclid=CMXgyMqo6tICFeQp0wodVq8KAQ

I'll see if I can get one handy.

Is a simple visual measurement not possible then?

[Alan_X]

I've a contractor quoting for an ASHP/underfloor system and the setup requires a high pressure system so he's asking about our mains pressure.

I honestly haven't a fucking clue, so would anyone be able to tell me how would I be able to measure the water pressure I'm getting from the blue water pipe that comes directly from the mains?


Even if it's just a rough measurement to confirm we're getting the minimum require pressue, should I be expecting to see the water going metres into the air when I open the temporary valve or what should I be looking for?


Cheers 

He should be doing that not you. If he's asking you to verify the water pressure I'd fuck him off. What happens if you think it's ok but you get it wrong?

My plumber did a check on the water pressure before specifying and fitting my new boiler.

[♠Dirty Harry♠]

He should be doing that not you. If he's asking you to verify the water pressure I'd fuck him off. What happens if you think it's ok but you get it wrong?

My plumber did a check on the water pressure before specifying and fitting my new boiler.

Hi Alan, in fairness he's one of a few quoting and he'd have a fair bit to travel with no guarantee of getting the work, he's the only one that's actually highlighted the requirements for a high pressure system.

It's not something I thought to ask the water service, it's a rural site and the mains is quite a bit away, so I'm just concerned it may be an issue.

Otherwise I'd be telling him to fuck off.

[Anthony]

Do you have an outside tap?

If so then 2 approximate measures are either to see how far the hose flow goes in the air like you said  ( my guess would be at least a metre or two above the highest point you want to reach) or, as my guy quoting did, whether you can stop the flow of the tap easily with your thumb.

Bear in mind that you will need to account for your internal pipework up to the point of inlet to the system so the pressure at the mains inlet could be higher than you'll get and the garden tap lower (especially if you are taking this from a self-drilling tap conversion kit in which case what's the pressure from the highest tap in the house?)

As has been said before, though, don't sign up to anything without getting the contractor to test the flow pressure.

[sminp]

I can't find anything about a minimum water pressure for underfloor heating, I don't remember this being mentioned when my mum had hers installed either. If a certain pressure is needed I don't see why your contractor isn't checking that themselves when they visit to assess the work required.

You should be getting at least 15m pressure (approx. 1.5bar) at the point of connection to your property but there are no guarantees that there won't be further losses in the pipework within your property.

At 10m pressure you'd be able to fill a one gallon (4.5 litre) container in 30 seconds so I assume you could just whack a container under your garden tap and time it. If you fill a gallon in 15 seconds for example then you'd have 20m pressure.

[♠Dirty Harry♠]

I can't find anything about a minimum water pressure for underfloor heating, I don't remember this being mentioned when my mum had hers installed either. If a certain pressure is needed I don't see why your contractor isn't checking that themselves when they visit to assess the work required.

You should be getting at least 15m pressure (approx. 1.5bar) at the point of connection to your property but there are no guarantees that there won't be further losses in the pipework within your property.

At 10m pressure you'd be able to fill a one gallon (4.5 litre) container in 30 seconds so I assume you could just whack a container under your garden tap and time it. If you fill a gallon in 15 seconds for example then you'd have 20m pressure.

I think it's min-pressure for an unvented system.

Cheers everyone for your suggestions.

I finally managed to get my hands on a gauge and it's showing 2.5 bar from a 20mm mains pipe, I assume this is more than enough (every search seems to suggest 1bar is sufficient). I took the measurement at dinner time as I imagine mains pressure would be fairly low then.

I'll take a few more measurements at different times (including morning) and see what the average is over the week.

[sminp]

I'll take a few more measurements at different times (including morning) and see what the average is over the week.

No need to keep checking, just check at around 7.30am on a weekday morning. For a truly worst case scenario check at around 7.30am on a Wednesday, however pressure is unlikely to vary massively between any of the weekdays. I work in clean water modelling and our computer models are all built based on a Wednesday as it's the most typical day for water usage. The water pressure will follow what's known as a diurnal profile with the lowest pressures occurring at peak demand which is when everyone is getting a shower in the morning before work (usually between 7am and 8am). One exception to this would be if you live in an area with a large Muslim population, then you can have significant demand on a Friday due to washing before a religious ceremony.

[♠Dirty Harry♠]

No need to keep checking, just check at around 7.30am on a weekday morning. For a truly worst case scenario check at around 7.30am on a Wednesday, however pressure is unlikely to vary massively between any of the weekdays. I work in clean water modelling and our computer models are all built based on a Wednesday as it's the most typical day for water usage. The water pressure will follow what's known as a diurnal profile with the lowest pressures occurring at peak demand which is when everyone is getting a shower in the morning before work (usually between 7am and 8am). One exception to this would be if you live in an area with a large Muslim population, then you can have significant demand on a Friday due to washing before a religious ceremony.

Cheers, I took a measurement this morning (7.25am) and it was the same, so going by what you're saying it should be grand but I'll take one on Wednesday just to keep myself happy.

The reason the contractor asked for this information is he wanted to know whether or not he had to quote for a cold water storage booster (as can be the case in rural builds).

[sminp]

Cheers, I took a measurement this morning (7.25am) and it was the same, so going by what you're saying it should be grand but I'll take one on Wednesday just to keep myself happy.

The reason the contractor asked for this information is he wanted to know whether or not he had to quote for a cold water storage booster (as can be the case in rural builds).

I wouldn't bother personally. Im assuming your first measurement was well away from peak demand, if so and the pressure hasn't altered between that and your peak demand measurement then it's not going to move between peak demand on different days.

[♠Dirty Harry♠]

Anyone able to help me with something, our Warmflow oil boiler packed in tonight and not sure what the issue is, it was on for about 45mins & heated the rads until lukewarm and then stopped.

• The room thermostats are set high (30deg)
• Timers set to constant
• There's oil in the tank
• Power at the boiler thermostat

The reset button the burner does nothing so I'm assuming there's no power getting to it, I can only surmise the burner is fucked or the thermostat is gone. I've read online that the thermostat has a reset button (the recessed red button circled below) but I'm not sure if i'm using it right (pushed it up) or if there's a particular combination of things I need to do.

[Groundskeeper Willie]

I can't help, but I hope it gets resolved quickly. Things like these are a c*nt to deal with and a cause for worrying.

I can suggest the obvious. Have you checked  the fuse?

Reset buttons are normally pushed have you tried? I know that's a daft suggestion, just doing anything I can to help. Which is very little.

[♠Dirty Harry♠]

I can't help, but I hope it gets resolved quickly. Things like these are a c*nt to deal with and a cause for worrying.

I can suggest the obvious. Have you checked  the fuse?

Reset buttons are normally pushed have you tried? I know that's a daft suggestion, just doing anything I can to help. Which is very little.

Nah you're grand.

Not too worried; i'm renting so it won't be me fixing or paying for it; the weather's mild enough but it's a pain in the balls as we'll have to run the immersion to heat water and an oil heater for the boy's room at night so the leccy will be taking a hiding.

Unfortunately it doesn't push in, only pushes up and then falls down again, not sure if it should stay up or not, the service manual is fucking useless and I'm too much of a fanny to mess with wiring to bypass the thermostat.

[Crosby Nick]

Making a film Harold?

[Barneylfc∗]

Another thread here mate where you may or may not find an answer http://www.redandwhitekop.com/forum/index.php?topic=281396.msg12538449#msg12538449

And another here http://www.redandwhitekop.com/forum/index.php?topic=229648.0

[♠Dirty Harry♠]

Another thread here mate where you may or may not find an answer http://www.redandwhitekop.com/forum/index.php?topic=281396.msg12538449#msg12538449

And another here http://www.redandwhitekop.com/forum/index.php?topic=229648.0

Cheers, did have a look through a few threads on here (those two as well) with no luck.

[gazzam1963]

Is that picture the thermostat if so joint the brown and blue cables out and see if it fires up , if so then stat is knackered

[♠Dirty Harry♠]

Just an update for posterity, in case anyone else comes across a similar issue.

I let the boiler cool and then later in the evening I tried the reset again (pushed it in and also up) and I was able to get the boiler to fire, though it cut out after about 5 minutes. It was heating but the water wasn't coming into the house and I'd imagine because the water wasn't leaving it was causing the boiler to reach it's max temp, hence the thermostat cutting it off.

A few guys I know seem to think it's a pump issue, hopefully the landlord can get someone out but it'd be nice to give them an idea of the issue rather than them telling me they have to order bloody parts.

[Groundskeeper Willie]

Just an update for posterity, in case anyone else comes across a similar issue.

I let the boiler cool and then later in the evening I tried the reset again (pushed it in and also up) and I was able to get the boiler to fire, though it cut out after about 5 minutes. It was heating but the water wasn't coming into the house and I'd imagine because the water wasn't leaving it was causing the boiler to reach it's max temp, hence the thermostat cutting it off.

A few guys I know seem to think it's a pump issue, hopefully the landlord can get someone out but it'd be nice to give them an idea of the issue rather than them telling me they have to order bloody parts.

Is the pump built in to the boiler? On my heater, which is a wood furnace, which I've had a wood pellets burner fitted to, the pump is external on the hot water pipe pumping water to a 500 litre water tank. That particular pump can get stuck but is loosened by unscrewing a lid and manually turning the wheel inside.

That the boiler turns off is actually a good sign. Means the failsafe is working and you don't have to worry about an exploding boiler.

[♠Dirty Harry♠]

Is the pump built in to the boiler? On my heater, which is a wood furnace, which I've had a wood pellets burner fitted to, the pump is external on the hot water pipe pumping water to a 500 litre water tank. That particular pump can get stuck but is loosened by unscrewing a lid and manually turning the wheel inside.

That the boiler turns off is actually a good sign. Means the failsafe is working and you don't have to worry about an exploding boiler.

Got it sorted yesterday, the pump had seized but wasn't repairable, so new pump got it  working again, so happy days.

To reset the thermostat you just have to press that red button in, but the fact that it tripped again signalled something else was broken.

Thanks everyone for your help

[Groundskeeper Willie]

In before the lock!