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[Auto Addict]

...valves that is, can someone explain (in laymans terms) the difference between the two?

[jimbobmccoy]

I think (from currently looking at them for the same reason as you) the Essex flange is slightly less restrictive in the amount of water it will suck.

Surrey flange goes in the top of the cylinder, Essex can go in at the side, both meant to reduce amount of air sucked in with the water.

I think the Essex flange needs slightly more care with positioning as the slightly curved tube needs to curve away from the side of the tank, or it can suck some air that forms as bubbles against tank edge.

With a 1.5bar pump either should be fine, some places I've looked at say the one to use is determined by age and condition of the tank, as this may affect removal of pipe at top for fitting a surrey, (old tank = seized or corroded pipe) and knack erred tank = possible cylinder tank damage.
I've also seen some sites say a t-joint from the pipe at the top of the cylinder without a flange is ok........so on that aspect I'd say wait for a more experienced opinion than mine

Of course, I could be wrong about the whole thing

[Auto Addict]

I think (from currently looking at them for the same reason as you) the Essex flange is slightly less restrictive in the amount of water it will suck.

Surrey flange goes in the top of the cylinder, Essex can go in at the side, both meant to reduce amount of air sucked in with the water.

I think the Essex flange needs slightly more care with positioning as the slightly curved tube needs to curve away from the side of the tank, or it can suck some air that forms as bubbles against tank edge.

With a 1.5bar pump either should be fine, some places I've looked at say the one to use is determined by age and condition of the tank, as this may affect removal of pipe at top for fitting a surrey, (old tank = seized or corroded pipe) and knack erred tank = possible cylinder tank damage.
I've also seen some sites say a t-joint from the pipe at the top of the cylinder without a flange is ok........so on that aspect I'd say wait for a more experienced opinion than mine

Of course, I could be wrong about the whole thing

It's a minefield

[Kevin Wood]

Yes, Surrey flange just screws into the top of the tank, so much easier to fit.

An Essex flange requires a hole to be cut in the side of the tank.

I suppose, with the Surrey flange, the dip tube that the pump sucks through is smaller diameter - probably around 15mm at its' narrowest, whereas you could get an Essex flange that's 22mm all the way through. Having said that, I fitted a powerful pump with 22mm fittings in the last house, fed from a Surrey flange, and there was no suggestion that it was being strangled.

[Sir Tigger KC]

The Essex flange is much cheaper than the Surrey flange and much more user friendly, but it tends to be a bit noisier ...   







Sorry couldn't resist....    I'll get my coat. 

[Marks DTM Calib]

Essex flange is the best solution as it provides a dedicated feed for the shower pump, its also fitted on the side down from the top of the cylinder (normaly about 50-60mm and away from the seam) so if you do use all your hot water, there is generaly some left at the top of the cylinder for other use. But it is harder to fit as you have to drill a hole in the side of the cylinder plus remove the immersion heater so you can get in to fit the fitting on the inside of the tank.

Surrey will still require some plumbing changes but does not compromise/risk the cylinder.

To make things even more interesting, there are also York and Warix flanges to....(I find Warix flanges easer to plumb to and are in my opinion easier to install than the Surrey ones)

I should add, if it was me, I would be fitting an Essex flange (and probably a new immersion heater at the same time if its over 5 years or so old as they dont last forever......unless you buy a titanium one - pricey!, incaloy is the next best thing)