Direct or Indirect ? All aspects of plumbing questions and answers, help, tips and information

[gtman]

Can I ask your expert advice. I have recently moved house and I am trying to get my head round the plumbing and heating systems.

The sink, toilet and bath in the bathroom are fed by the rising main on it's way to the loft.

In the loft there is a Double Feed Coil Indirect Combo Unit Cylinder and a plastic feed and expansion tank with ball cock which I presume is for the heating.

The system is noisy, especially when both bath taps are on at the same time. Would it be a good idea to convert the bathroom cold water supply to an indirect low pressure supply from the loft.

Could a good DIYer manage this or would it be better to call in the experts.

Also I was thinking of having an electric shower fitted, will there be enough pressure from the loft to the floor below.

Cheers

[plumbbob]

Would it be a good idea to convert the bathroom cold water supply to an indirect low pressure supply from the loft.

Under the current regulations this is no longer considered satisfactory. You may also walk in to other problems too. The toilet will not fill without replacing the float valve and the taps need to be low pressure which may not be the case. You would also need to replace the header tank as its capacity will need increasing.

Partly because of the health risk, it is now customary to do away with all stored water.

Also I was thinking of having an electric shower fitted, will there be enough pressure from the loft to the floor below.

No. The shower would not work at all unless you purchased a special pumped version.

[gtman]

Thanks for the reply plumbob, that will save me a lot of money.

As for the noisy system. When both bath taps are on at the same time there is a screeching noise in the pipework. Could this be the ball valve in the storage tank as it fills the hot water cistern up ?

The toilet cistern has a bottom entry float valve, when the valve closes after filling there is a bang in the pipework. Is this a water pressure problem ?

Cheers

[plumbbob]

When both bath taps are on at the same time there is a screeching noise in the pipework. Could this be the ball valve in the storage tank as it fills the hot water cistern up ?

The screeching noise is most likely caused by the ball valve reaching the end of its servicable life. As the parts wear and the rubber seal becomes hard, it causes this noise. A five quid spare from the plumbers merchant should solve the problem nicely. Be aware there are two types. The old style has a straight arm where the modern "Part 2" has a 90 degree bend in the brass arm. Check which you have and replace like for like.

........ when the valve closes after filling there is a bang in the pipework. Is this a water pressure problem ?

Well partly, but this "water hammer" should not happen regardless of the water pressure. The most likely, but not only, causes are, flow restrictor missing from the float valve, loose pipework somewhere that allows the pipe to jump when the valve shuts or a dead length of pipe somewhere in the supply that has trapped air which expands and contracts according to the pressure in the feed.

[gtman]

Thanks for the advice plumbob, I will check everything and remedy it.

One last query, I am going to swap the sink and toilet. What do they use nowadays to bed the basin on to pedestal. Is it putty or is there a compound I could use.

Thanks again.