Plumbing advice sought

[devonwoody]

Had a new toilet put in today, high level comfort model, which replaced an old fashion system with large cistern etc.

New cistern when refills to the 4ltr. level is taking 2 1/2minutes. after 4ltr flush.

to 2 ltr level is taking 3 1/2 minutes after 2 ltr flush.

Low pressure water system from tank in loft and around 5ft higher than cistern tank water level.

Are these figures what I should expect or better.

Plumber coming back in morning to finish the bathroom.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Your inlet might be for a mains (high pressure) system?

 

[devonwoody]

Your inlet might be for a mains (high pressure) system?

Yes ,we adjusted that to suit LP

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Is the isolator fully open?

 

[devonwoody]

I wifi ask plumber in the morning on that one. No knowledge my self

 

[Phil Pascoe]

It should be near the cistern - it looks like a compression connector - the slot is in line with the pipe when fully on, ninety degrees to it when off. In between will restrict the flow.

 

[devonwoody]

It should be near the cistern - it looks like a compression connector - the slot is in line with the pipe when fully on, ninety degrees to it when off. In between will restrict the flow.

It's vertical

 

[devonwoody]

Works like on off tap?

 

[devonwoody]

Next thing can do nothing about.
The plug hole, ain't it small?

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Yes, works as a tap.

 

[deema]

It's probably the isolator valve, there are two types, the standard type which has a very narrow bore and the expensive type that has a full bore the same size as the pipe. With the head you have its highly likely that the isolator is a standard type and the narrowing it has created is restricting the flow significantly by creating a pressure drop across it.

Messy but simple to check by seeing what the flow is before and after the valve.

Tyler may also be a stop **** by the header tank to facilitate servicing. If there is one, check this is fully open and then backed off one turn.

 

[devonwoody]

Thanks Deema.

Do not think it will be stop **** on header tank, flow was OK before and nobody has been near it for a long time.

Will get the isolater valve checked out later this morning.

Wash basin is to be fitted later this morning and the tap feeder tails are flexible and around 3mm bore!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and I am a low pressure system feed from tank in loft, and very concerned at the moment.

 

[Lons]

Thanks Deema.

Do not think it will be stop **** on header tank, flow was OK before and nobody has been near it for a long time.

Will get the isolater valve checked out later this morning.

Wash basin is to be fitted later this morning and the tap feeder tails are flexible and around 3mm bore!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and I am a low pressure system feed from tank in loft, and very concerned at the moment.

Hi DW

As Drema said it's probably a standard iso valve which has a bore of only 10mm, they're cheaper than chips so most commonly used but like having a tap half closed in a low pressure system. The type you need is a "full bore" valve and they're not that expensive.

The stop valve near the feeder tank: Unless the plumber replaced it will be an older full bore type so should be ok however the plumber would have had to turn that off unless, 1. He drained the tank, 2. Froze the pipework or 3. the iso valve for your new bog was already in place.

Most inlets on modern WC cisterns come with high and low inserts which have to be inserted / removed before connecting the pipework, in cases of very low pressure sometimes none at all. There are a few inlet valves which are not suitable at all for very low pressure (though not many).

2 1/2 minutes for 4 litres is far too long and you need to push the plumber to sort it!
cheers
Bob

edit: Std at 85p each. ( 10 packs) . full bore £4.69 each http://www.screwfix.com/c/heating-plumb ... /cat831576

 

[Lons]

Thanks Deema.

Wash basin is to be fitted later this morning and the tap feeder tails are flexible and around 3mm bore!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and I am a low pressure system feed from tank in loft, and very concerned at the moment.

You need to check the taps DW before fitting them. They will, in the instructions have a minimum water flow ( bar ), sounds like the wrong type from here, without seeing them. Your plumber should be able to measure your water flow from the tank.
If it can't be solved then you only other realistic option IMO is to install a pump and flow valve into the system. They're a bit noisy but work very well.
Grundfoss do a "whole house" pump though I can't remember the model number.

cheers
Bob

 

[devonwoody]

Thanks Deema.

Do not think it will be stop **** on header tank, flow was OK before and nobody has been near it for a long time.

Will get the isolater valve checked out later this morning.

Wash basin is to be fitted later this morning and the tap feeder tails are flexible and around 3mm bore!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and I am a low pressure system feed from tank in loft, and very concerned at the moment.

Hi DW



As Drema said it's probably a standard iso valve which has a bore of only 10mm, they're cheaper than chips so most commonly used but like having a tap half closed in a low pressure system. The type you need is a "full bore" valve and they're not that expensive.

The stop valve near the feeder tank: Unless the plumber replaced it will be an older full bore type so should be ok however the plumber would have had to turn that off unless, 1. He drained the tank, 2. Froze the pipework or 3. the iso valve for your new bog was already in place.

Most inlets on modern WC cisterns come with high and low inserts which have to be inserted / removed before connecting the pipework, in cases of very low pressure sometimes none at all. There are a few inlet valves which are not suitable at all for very low pressure (though not many).

2 1/2 minutes for 4 litres is far too long and you need to push the plumber to sort it!
cheers
Bob

edit: Std at 85p each. ( 10 packs) . full bore £4.69 each http://www.screwfix.com/c/heating-plumb ... /cat831576

Thanks Dreema, water was drained via bath and sink taps, no one has been near top loft tank
with mains turned off.
Water is taking 4 1/2 minutes to do 4 litres!!!!!!!!!!!!!! not 2+

Waiting plumbers return at present

 

[Lons]

Thanks Dreema, water was drained via bath and sink taps, no one has been near top loft tank
with mains turned off.
Water is taking 4 1/2 minutes to do 4 litres!!!!!!!!!!!!!! not 2+

Waiting plumbers return at present

Hi DW, twas me not Dreema :lol:

That raises another issue.

You should get the plumber to check the tank. If he's drained it then it's possible that any crud or foriegn boddies in the tank could have got into the pipework and that would definitely cause your problem as it would clog the iso valve / wc inlet and any filter.

I've fitted hundreds of kitchens and bathrooms btw and it's not uncommon with an old tank, especially if it galvanised rather than plastic. If I was doing the job, I would certainly have inspected the tank before draining it.
Just my opinion so don't fall out with your plumber but clearly something is wrong with the system and he needs to put it right!

Bob

 

[devonwoody]

Thanks again all.
Still waiting plumber.

 

[devonwoody]

Lons, thanks re tank clogging perhaps, just went and turned on the cold water bath tap on system we are discussing and that 18mm pipe is working ok and I assume the 12mm pipe is coming off that somewhere down the line.
But will make sure the plumber considers that possibility,. he is thinking air lock last night.

 

[devonwoody]

Cannot envisage getting away with a pump in bathroom. Re electrics.
(We are a bungalow btw)

 

[devonwoody]

Plumber arrived a short while ago and now finds that the valve in the cistern is a high pressure type and is changing it to a low pressure valve in cistern.