New smart circulating pump/ are they win or bin

[Gazzt]

Do you like the new smart circulating pumps or prefer the standard circulating pumps, plumging suppliers in northern Ireland report they have alot of returns of faulty smart pumps.

 

[Best]

Hard to like the A rated pumps that cost a lot more than ordinary pumps, but save a few pence in electricity and then need replaced in only 2 or 3 years.
I now think of the older pumps as quality

 

[king of pipes]

Dab Evosta is a nice pump for the money 7m head and the option to switch from a positive head or to modulate down on load , as for grunfosses latest offering a pump which you can control and monitor via a app on your phone the jury is still out on these cheers kop

 

[townfanjon]

When brexit finally happens we can go back to the old ones lol

 

[Gazzt]

Dab pump is a decent pump.

 

[Best]

Dab Evo pumps also give trouble. Electronics and heat don't mix well I suspect, although it might just be faulty electronic parts.
The pump in the photo is 1962 and has been working virtually everyday from then. I was in same house that still has the original owners this week and the heating was still working.
It doesn't even have any isolating valves, but I guess with that reliability it doesn't need them. It is not A rated though, - probably more like Z rated.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

View attachment 29439 Dab Evo pumps also give trouble. Electronics and heat don't mix well I suspect, although it might just be faulty electronic parts.
The pump in the photo is 1962 and has been working virtually everyday from then. I was in same house that still has the original owners this week and the heating was still working.
It doesn't even have any isolating valves, but I guess with that reliability it doesn't need them. It is not A rated though, - probably more like Z rated.

I'm sure somewhere in the lockup we have a brand new one (smc)

And these days pumps are designed to fail, if they didn't manufacturers wouldn't have much of a call for new pumps

 

[Best]

I'm sure somewhere in the lockup we have a brand new one (smc)

And these days pumps are designed to fail, if they didn't manufacturers wouldn't have much of a call for new pumps

What I find incredible is not only has that pump been working for over 54 years, but also the system is filthy.
I wouldn't mind if modern pumps are designed only to last 10 - 15 years max, but they are not up to the job if they cost more but last only 2 or 3 years. The cost to the customer is unfair.

 

[cr0ft]

I'm sure We were chatting about old boilers being the same recently too! Consumers are being ripped off and big companies are allowed to get away with it :/

 

[Harvest Fields]

I'm sure somewhere in the lockup we have a brand new one (smc)

And these days pumps are designed to fail, if they didn't manufacturers wouldn't have much of a call for new pumps

Been asked to rip out a very old system, so went around to quote and found this in the loft next to the cylinder. Excuse the state of the picture. iPhones are rubbish at taking pictures in the dark so had to turn the flash off and use a torch

 

[ShaunCorbs]

One for hot water one for heating before the days of port valves and after gravity hot water

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Sorry didn't know if you knew what they were cant see the branding , don't suppose you took any note of them ?

 

[Harvest Fields]

I believe they we're a British Gas favourite at one point. Tried to find out how old it is but current landlord has only had the property for 4 years. It looks at least as old as me

 

[Harvest Fields]

Sorry didn't know if you knew what they were cant see the branding , don't suppose you took any note of them ?

No offence taken. I knew how they worked but that is the first One I have seen if I am honest. It is an SMC which is what made me post the picture.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

No offence taken. I knew how they worked but that is the first One I have seen if I am honest. It is an SMC which is what made me post the picture.

Thought it was but wasn't 100% but the smc blue gave it away

 

[ShaunCorbs]

And @Best or @Last Plumber @lame plumber or a few of the older generation would be the best to ask

I'm guessing 60-70s

 

[Harvest Fields]

As above though the pump is the only thing on the system that is still working properly.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

As above though the pump is the only thing on the system that is still working properly.

It will and for another good 30 years if oiled and cleaned

 

[Harvest Fields]

At a guess I would say 60's but the system does look like it has had some work done on it since then.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

At a guess I would say 60's but the system does look like it has had some work done on it since then.

Gloworm boiler ?

 

[Harvest Fields]

Not sure what the original was but there is a potterton netaheat profile in there now. But that is about 20 odd years old.

 

[Best]

Those pumps are called Comet, if I recall correctly. They are SMC and were the replacement for the excellent SMC Commodore pumps. I am not looking this up, - just remembering it.
I used to install both types.
I believe that model came out about 1983/84. I fitted the last previous model Commodores then in late 1983. So it is not that old really.
If I removed that pump, I would keep the heads at least. In fact, a mate of mine has the identical twin head pump on his system. Those pumps can last a very long time if cleaned or kept clean.
Motorised valves were around in the 1960s for sure, but those twin head pumps were just a simple way of doing fully pumped systems. Personally I prefered single pumps

 

[Best]

Here is a photo I found online while checking if I was correct.
The left one is indeed a SMC Comet pump and typically the more well built pump on the right is the older SMC Commodore model.

 

[leesparkykent]

Grundfos still do a setup like this called pump plan

Grundfos UPP15/50 Pump Plan | Plumb Center

 

[quality]

Grundfos still do a setup like this called pump plan

Grundfos UPP15/50 Pump Plan | Plumb Center

Dont see many of those around nowadays

 

[Dan]

View attachment 29439 Dab Evo pumps also give trouble. Electronics and heat don't mix well I suspect, although it might just be faulty electronic parts.
The pump in the photo is 1962 and has been working virtually everyday from then. I was in same house that still has the original owners this week and the heating was still working.
It doesn't even have any isolating valves, but I guess with that reliability it doesn't need them. It is not A rated though, - probably more like Z rated.

Looks like somebody has used it as an anvil at some point too and taken a chunk out of it and it's still fine lol

Couldn't do that with a smart pump.

 

[Harvest Fields]

Grundfos still do a setup like this called pump plan

Grundfos UPP15/50 Pump Plan | Plumb Center

I did see that but to be honest the pipework is all old and battered and I'll have to change the cylinder any way so thought it best practice to just upgrade the lot to a y plan. Think I will quote a small combi also. (Think that may be the most cost effective)

 

[ShaunCorbs]

I did see that but to be honest the pipework is all old and battered and I'll have to change the cylinder any way so thought it best practice to just upgrade the lot to a y plan. Think I will quote a small combi also. (Think that may be the most cost effective)

S plan never do a y unless your changing like for like

 

[leesparkykent]

Dont see many of those around nowadays

Yeah defiantly not. Out of the thousands of domestic heating systems I've wired over the years I think I've only come across it twice. You have to use the supplied grundfos printed circuit board wiring centre unless you want to start adding relays etc....Just another point of failure that's not needed IMO.

 

[Harvest Fields]

S plan never do a y unless your changing like for like

To be honest the whole lot is coming out which is why I said y plan. But I'm open to options. It is only a 2 bed flat which Is why I may do a combi

 

[leesparkykent]

S plan never do a y unless your changing like for like

I agree S-plan over a y-plan any day of the week.