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Author Topic: What's the deal with water tanks in the loft?  (Read 2039 times)

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theolodian

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What's the deal with water tanks in the loft?
« on: 20 January 2008, 10:08:05 »
Went to look at a rental house yesterday. I don't understand the water system. It has GCH, a hot water tank upstairs, and 2 covered but unsealed cold water tanks in the loft. Huh?

The hot water tank was a really pretty copper thing in a blanket with what looks like an electric element in the top, but may not have been on? Tank was hot.

The two tanks in the loft were lined with black plastic sheeting, and had random things used as covers. Looked in good condition overall, except one of the covers had collapsed. Are these really there for water pressure? Didn't notice any floats or other mechanisms, just lots of pipes.

No power shower at least!  :y
« Last Edit: 20 January 2008, 10:13:47 by theolodian »
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Timbuk

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Re: What's the deal with water tanks in the loft?
« Reply #1 on: 20 January 2008, 10:11:13 »
Gravity fed system, tank in loft feeds the cylinder
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theolodian

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Re: What's the deal with water tanks in the loft?
« Reply #2 on: 20 January 2008, 10:13:26 »
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Gravity fed system, tank in loft feeds the cylinder
How does that compare to a 'normal' system?
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Timbuk

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Re: What's the deal with water tanks in the loft?
« Reply #3 on: 20 January 2008, 10:17:57 »
That is a normal system, basically only two types in this country, the one you have just seen and combi boiler which heats the water up on demand unlike the one you have just seen which stores hot water in the cylinder
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waspy

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Re: What's the deal with water tanks in the loft?
« Reply #4 on: 20 January 2008, 10:18:44 »
Hi mate.
Iv'e  a header tank in my attic & it's for the GCH, it just keeps your system topped up. It should have a good amount of lagging though incase of frost (yeh right, with our weather)
I'm sure we must have a plumber that drives a Mig on here that could give you more detail.  :y
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theolodian

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Re: What's the deal with water tanks in the loft?
« Reply #5 on: 20 January 2008, 10:21:30 »
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That is a normal system, basically only two types in this country, the one you have just seen and combi boiler which heats the water up on demand unlike the one you have just seen which stores hot water in the cylinder
I more meant about the loft tanks than a hot water tank, or do they go hand in hand?

The realtor thought that it still had a combi boiler. Would that be feeding the hot water tank, maybe with the element maintaining temp, or is it just electric hot water?
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Timbuk

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Re: What's the deal with water tanks in the loft?
« Reply #6 on: 20 January 2008, 10:28:56 »
Quote
Quote
That is a normal system, basically only two types in this country, the one you have just seen and combi boiler which heats the water up on demand unlike the one you have just seen which stores hot water in the cylinder
I more meant about the loft tanks than a hot water tank, or do they go hand in hand?

The realtor thought that it still had a combi boiler. Would that be feeding the hot water tank, maybe with the element maintaining temp, or is it just electric hot water?

It will have a water heater not a combi boiler, as Waspy says one tank keeps the CH topped up the other feeds the cylinder, once you turn on your hot water tap the water that comes out of the cylinder is replaced by water from the tank in the loft aiding water pressure. The immersion heater in the top of the cylinder is there for back up really
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Timbuk

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Re: What's the deal with water tanks in the loft?
« Reply #7 on: 20 January 2008, 10:31:55 »
google 'indirect heating system' and you should be able to find a diagram with the layout of the system on it
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theolodian

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Re: What's the deal with water tanks in the loft?
« Reply #8 on: 20 January 2008, 10:54:09 »
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google 'indirect heating system' and you should be able to find a diagram with the layout of the system on it
OK, cheers! Now I got it, there is a heat exchanger inside the hot water tank that takes heat from the boiler.
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Marks DTM Calib

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Re: What's the deal with water tanks in the loft?
« Reply #9 on: 20 January 2008, 11:28:34 »
Yup.....the boiler heats water in the heating system and a valve(s) direct the heated water either through the radiators and/or through the heating coil in the hot water tank to heat teh stored water.

The smaller of the tanks in the loft provides a head and feed for the water on the boiler side of the heating system and the big tank provides the head for the hot water cylidner (and on modern houses at least one toilet  - dependent on local water regs).

I will shortly be removing the smaller tank on my setup and going for a sealed system and may longer term fit a sealed hot water cylidner to get rid of the large tank to (need building regs for that though).
« Last Edit: 20 January 2008, 20:11:33 by Mark »
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theolodian

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Re: What's the deal with water tanks in the loft?
« Reply #10 on: 20 January 2008, 11:35:25 »
WTF is a toiler?

Tanks both the same size, hope the one with the dodgy lid is for the GCH.  ::)
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Doodley

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Re: What's the deal with water tanks in the loft?
« Reply #11 on: 20 January 2008, 11:39:52 »
i think toiler is toilet!
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Markjay

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Re: What's the deal with water tanks in the loft?
« Reply #12 on: 20 January 2008, 11:42:35 »
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..I'm sure we must have a plumber that drives a Mig on here that could give you more detail.  :y

You must be joking... with the hourly rate plumbers in London charge, they will not be driving Omegas, I can tell you that...  >:(
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theolodian

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Re: What's the deal with water tanks in the loft?
« Reply #13 on: 20 January 2008, 11:42:37 »
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i think toiler is toilet!
Ah, I was fixated on misspelling vs. boiler and didn't think of that.
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Golfbuddy

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Re: What's the deal with water tanks in the loft?
« Reply #14 on: 20 January 2008, 11:44:12 »
My last house had a combi boiler and an immersion heater in the airing cupboard.

I guess that the immersion was a back up incase the combi packed in. We never had it switched on.
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