Help required to identify a valve on Hot Water Draw-off

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Help required to identify a valve on Hot Water Draw-off

Discuss Help required to identify a valve on Hot Water Draw-off in the Plumbing Jobs | The Job-board area at PlumbersForums.net

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Steve-Scotland

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Hi there,

Hoping someone on here could assist with a query I have regarding a valve on our hot water draw-off from our Megaflo system.

Have called out British Gas Homecare engineer as hot water pressure has decreased on all taps/baths/showers to the point that it takes ages to fill bath/sinks or (mixer) shower is running tepid.

Long story short, he is going to replace a large pressure relief valve but as part of his investigation he noticed another valve on our 'hot water draw-off'.
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He didn't know what it was (thought it looked like either another PRV or a Mixer valve) but couldn't understand why this would be on the hot water draw-off - He called a couple of guys who could not identify it or its purpose.

He removed it to check it and it appeared clear, but when he to put it back in place, it started leaking when the cold water infill was turned back on.

He has said that when the other PRV is being replaced (tomorrow), he will take the leaking valve out and replace with a piece of pipe.

I'm looking for help to identify what it is, and would it be safe to remove it and replace with pipe (I'm thinking it must have been put in for a reason)?

Any help that anyone can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks

Steve

PS If it helps, he said there appears to be 3 pressure relief valves on the system - 1 at the main stopcock into the property, 1 big one on the Megaflo (which is the one he is going to replace), and this possible one on the draw-off.
 
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Hi there,

Thanks for replying - The guy was great enough, and as he wasn't working on the cylinder as such (just the pipe-work running off it), I didn't think it was an issue (however I have absolutely zero experience with these things so really appreciate your assistance). I don't want to annoy/upset the guy who is coming back tomorrow, would calling BG back to request an unvented engineer do that?

Thanks again

Steve
 
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Doesn't matter if it upsets anyone.
They should have sent a G3 in the first place.
You're paying them for a service and with unvented you really need to know what you're doing and it is a requirement for the engineer to have a G3 ticket, just like a gas man needs to be gas safe.
The guy didn't know what it was so was just going to remove it and join the pipes up? That's appalling, don't let him near it if he comes back.
 
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Hi,

Thanks - I'm now looking around the gas-safe register to get an engineer out that is authorised to work on unvented cylinders - unless there are any plumbers on here that are ticketed and are able to attend in Central Scotland? Also, any idea what the cost would be(I know thats a pretty dumb question as it would depend on whats wrong and how to fix, but was looking for ballpark on callout charge etc)

Thanks

Steve
 
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Steve-Scotland said:
Hi there,

Thanks for replying - The guy was great enough, and as he wasn't working on the cylinder as such (just the pipe-work running off it), I didn't think it was an issue (however I have absolutely zero experience with these things so really appreciate your assistance). I don't want to annoy/upset the guy who is coming back tomorrow, would calling BG back to request an unvented engineer do that?

Thanks again

Steve
Click to expand...
Shouldn’t annoy anyone. He maybe G3 registered but inexperienced. No harm double checking
 
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Steve-Scotland said:
Hi,

Thanks - I'm now looking around the gas-safe register to get an engineer out that is authorised to work on unvented cylinders - unless there are any plumbers on here that are ticketed and are able to attend in Central Scotland? Also, any idea what the cost would be(I know thats a pretty dumb question as it would depend on whats wrong and how to fix, but was looking for ballpark on callout charge etc)

Thanks

Steve
Click to expand...
What level of British Gas Homecare do you have? No need to call other companies just yet.
 
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Hi everyone,

I've just checked with BG and they have confirmed the engineer that called is ticketed to work on unvented cylinders so am happy with that aspect.

What is still a concern though is that the unknown valve will be replaced with a piece of pipe as I'm sure it must have been put in for a reason.

Has anyone ever seen this sort of set-up before? (if it helps, the valve turns round a scale from 1-6)

Oh, and its Homecare 400 we have

Thanks

Steve
 
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The fact that the B.G engineer has not identified the cause of the pressure loss and is also prepared to remove a device because "He didn't know what it was" is quite concerning, just as much that his other couple of Guys didn't know either.

3 thoughts;
Have B.G blocked the use of Google on their Engineer phones?
And do B.G not have any inhouse Engineering Technical support, who actually know about systems they maintain and repair?
Do B.G not have a standing instruction along the lines , if you don't understand what you have found, don't just ignore or remove it, seek help?
 
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Steve-Scotland said:
Hi everyone,

I've just checked with BG and they have confirmed the engineer that called is ticketed to work on unvented cylinders so am happy with that aspect.

What is still a concern though is that the unknown valve will be replaced with a piece of pipe as I'm sure it must have been put in for a reason.

Has anyone ever seen this sort of set-up before? (if it helps, the valve turns round a scale from 1-6)

Oh, and its Homecare 400 we have

Thanks

Steve
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Ok. If you have 400 that should cover everything including Plumbing. Personally. As an G3 engineer. I would call BG and request a more experienced full time Engineer. It may have been a contractor that attended.
 
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@Harvest Fields

Sorry if I upset you pal.

I'm a hvac electrician so have some experience of figuring out how to get into boilers and cylinders etc and agree with what you say as when I was an apprentice I came across things I was inexperienced in but soon figured out what it was doing there is what it is.

Just saying if he spent a bit of time there looking at it and rang two friends and they didn't know he can't of explained it well so can't have a clue what he looking at,
 
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Wetbandit said:
@Harvest Fields

Sorry if I upset you pal.

I'm a hvac electrician so have some experience of figuring out how to get into boilers and cylinders etc and agree with what you say as when I was an apprentice I came across things I was inexperienced in but soon figured out what it was doing there is what it is.

Just saying if he spent a bit of time there looking at it and rang two friends and they didn't know he can't of explained it well so can't have a clue what he looking at,
Click to expand...

No offence intended mate. Threw my teddy out the Pram a little then. What I meant was this is an open forum and no offence to the op we only know there side of the story. It is ok giving advise but if it then leads to the op doing the work themselves (not saying they would) this then becomes dangerous itself.
 
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Your right pal I suppose I'm eager to get into the conversation when I should of kept my mouth shut,

People who aren't qualified shouldn't be messing with it and I don't want to give them help identifying parts only for them to attempt it.

My bad just getting used to the forum etiquette.

Wet bandit
 
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Wetbandit said:
Your right pal I suppose I'm eager to get into the conversation when I should of kept my mouth shut,

People who aren't qualified shouldn't be messing with it and I don't want to give them help identifying parts only for them to attempt it.

My bad just getting used to the forum etiquette.

Wet bandit
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No worries mate. I’m just a stickler for the rules. Especially on G3. As you can see from the Ops post, it is sometimes bad enough when you have supposedly qualified people working on it.
 
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Hi there,

Don't worry, I have absolutely no intention of trying to fix anything related to to Central Heating or Hot Water, I was really just trying to get confidence that the valve could be removed safely and replaced by pipe without me being woken one night by a boom or a cascade of water running down my hall.

I've just checked with one of my neighbours that has the same house style and set-up as me, and it appears that he does not have this valve on the hot water draw-off so am now a bit more confident that if he can live without it, then so can we (unless someone wants to say otherwise).

Once again, I really appreciate everyone's input on this - Thank you all

Cheers
Steve

PS. I'm now 99% sure it's a Boss Pressure Reducing Valve
BOSS-PRESSURE-REDUCING-VALVE.png
 
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We do have 1 on the inlet also - that's the one that he is going to replace tomorrow (as he had to order the part) - just need to have a night off from hot water - oh well, at least it gives me a reason to use my gym membership tonight (for the 1st time in about 2 years) lol

One other question, would it be better to ask him to replace the 'unknown' one with another of the same type to save any potential future issues?
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