Consistent Drip Through Tundish

[pdubz]

Hi all,

I have a new build home (now just over a year old) the hot water system is an RM Cylinders Homeflow. Two weeks ago I noticed a dripping noise coming from my airing cupboard, upon investigation I found it was a consistent drip through the Tundish (I only discovered this was called a Tundish after finding the maintenance manual - I am generally pretty ignorant about plumbing). This drip has continued non-stop for the past two weeks.

What I'd like to know is if this is a problem that needs fixing? It might sound like a stupid question, but to me (an ignorant laymen) the funnel-like design of the Tundish suggests it is how it is purely for the purpose of catching drips, so perhaps it's OK that there is a drip running through it on occassion?

I am including an photo of my system if this helps anyone offer some advice?



thanks

 

[Mike Jackson]

You need to get an plumber with a G3 qualification in to have a look at it. These sort of cylinders require an annual service anyway.

 

[buckley plumb]

any dripping from the tundish needs attention on a pressured cylinder its more dangerous than gas .the dripp indicates there is an expansion or pressure issue. it could just be that the expansion vessel has lost its charge .get an unvented quialified G3 plumber into check it

 

[diamondgas]

:welcome: to the forum pdubz .... You need to get the issue sorted. One of the safety devices is letting you know it has a problem!!

 

[Howsie]

It would have been so easy to make that D1 comply. <sigh>

 

[pdubz]

Thanks all for your replies, most helpful. I'll get it looked at asap.

 

[tweakyboy]

It would have been so easy to make that D1 comply. <sigh>

Lost count of how many times I've seen this, normally its because they can't be bothered soldering another length onto the 1st fix tails. But in this case it just looks like pure ignorance.

To the op - get the builder/plumber back and tell them that discharge pipe D1 is too long! Easy to sort out for someone with G3 qualifications.

 

[RPG 80]

your plumber may have to replace the relief valve as well, once he has rectified the defect, due to not reseating after continued operating

 

[onceceltic]

lol, the Welsh word for funnel is Tundish, maybe this device was invented by "Dai the Plumb"

 

[Heat Kent]

If it’s just a slight drip you might find a bit of grit has got stuck in one of the release valves? They’re spring loaded, so if you give them a turn you might find it’ll flush through and fix the problem? I think that’s as far as you should really go DIY wise.

If your house is a year old then call up the after sales team, they’re usually quite good at sending engineers out quickly. These cylinders come pre built so I know we sometimes have to get the manufacturers to send someone out if there is a fault with the pressure release valves etc.

 

[TBServices]

Thanks all for your replies, most helpful. I'll get it looked at asap.

Just as an FYI, these systems should be serviced once a year, which includes testing of the safety valves.

 

[lbp plg & htg]

Lost count of how many times I've seen this, normally its because they can't be bothered soldering another length onto the 1st fix tails. But in this case it just looks like pure ignorance.

To the op - get the builder/plumber back and tell them that discharge pipe D1 is too long! Easy to sort out for someone with G3 qualifications.

Out of curiosity why do you say D1 is too long?

 

[stevetheplumber]

its a long while since i did unventyed and im lagging behind now but why are there three items discharging into that tundish

 

[lbp plg & htg]

The third I would hazard a guess from the heating blow - off which should be off on its own.

 

[Heat Kent]

I’ve been reading up on this as I was unsure if I had done it incorrectly on one of my installs.

http://www.dfpni.gov.uk/unvented_hot_water.pdf

On page 8 & 9 it looks like it’s saying the max distance from the temperature release valve to the vertical drop above the tundish is500mm, not the length of pipe to the top of the tundish? It talks about the resistance created by an elbow IRO D2 and gives a length equivalent, but there is no mention of the elbows in D1 being factored into the 500mm?

The way I read it the max length of the horizontal pipe out of the valve is 500mm before it reaches the vertical drop to the tundish and the elbows are not taken into consideration. D2 has to be in 22mm with a min distance of 300mm before a bend and a max of 9 meters long allowing 0.8m per elbow.

Don’t take anything I say as fact, I’m new to the trade andjust learning myself… Please correct me if I’m wrong and refer me to the correct documentation so I can update the file I’ll making.

The third discharge is the heating expension vessel...

 

[dancinplumba]

have you got your G3 ticket heat kent ?

 

[Heat Kent]

I don’t hold any qualifications….. However, what do you class as an installer? Presumably a qualified installer can be assisted by an apprentice? What percentage of the work would need to be carried out by the apprentice before he is considered the installer? If I put the cylinder in and pipe it up then a qualified person checks it, we fill up together and a commissioning guy comes round after us to commission it, then surely that’s safe? It’s not like I go out installing these (or anything for that matter) on my own in private dwellings.

Honestly, before this week I was unaware of any building/water regs and just joining in on the forum is really opening my eyes. I have been doing site work for just under a year and start my 6 week NVQ2 in March, I wanted to get a bit of experience before doing the course rather than doing the course and then looking for a placement like all the other career change guys do.

In light of things highlighted to me on the forum this week, I’m going too call the training centre tomorrow and tag these two on the back of my course. I won't be back on site work before my course, so the world's safe for now

Unvented Hot WaterSystems
Course Content

• Unvented hot water systems and their operating principles
• Design and installation of unvented hot water storage systems
• Maintenance of unvented hot water storage systems
• Meeting the requirements of the Building Regulations Part L1 - Conservationof Fuel and Power
• Sealed central heating systems

Assessment procedure

A multiple choice paper, a maintenance paper and a practical fault findingsession.

1 Day £195.00

The cost includes training, assessment and certification.
Water RegulationsAdvisory Scheme (WRAS) Certificate
Course Content

• Introduction, background and legislation
• The Water Regulations
• Materials and substances in contact with water
• Requirements for water fittings
• Water System Design
• Installation Commissioning
• Cross Connections
• Black flow prevention
• Cold Water Services
• Hot Water Services
• WCs and Urinals
• Sanitary Appliances and water for outside use.

1 Day £150.00

The cost includes training, assessment and certification.

 

[Dotty]

Glad we've been of some use. These things have the potential to kill if not treated with the proper respect!

 

[buckley plumb]

Mythbusters Water Heater Explosion - YouTube

very dangerous

 

[Howsie]

Out of curiosity why do you say D1 is too long?

Why do you think it's too short?

 

[lbp plg & htg]

Why do you think it's too short?

Is this a cryptic question?

 

[Howsie]

No. It was a simple question.

 

[Dotty]

was very Zen though.

 

[lbp plg & htg]

No. It was a simple question.

I dont think it is too short but there again the question I asked was to someone else, you asked me why do I thinks it too short but dont know why you would ask that as I never said it was therefore I can only come to the conclusion its a cryptic question.

 

[Howsie]

Too short based on what?

 

[lbp plg & htg]

Too short based on what?

Dont really know where your going with this but who has said its too short?