Reverse auto air vent devise?

[Sammyt]

Is there a devise that can be attached to a fixed ceiling shower head to allow the water to drain out once the shower has finished being used. There is pipework in the loft that we can attach a devise to.


Im in thinking something that's a reverse of an auto air vent. Or a durgo. Does such devise exist??


So we installed a new aqualisa digital system with a big 400mm shower head fixed in the ceiling.


Randomly the shower will will be heard running, only dribbling out from the fixed ceiling head but can run like this for a matter of 5-10minutes. Sometimes during the middle of the night which wakes them up.


i think it's the water sitting inside the large head dribbling out randomly.

 

[Chalked]

The trouble is you could fit something in the loft, but the water dribbling is in the shower head, so won't stop it. A small check valve fitted into the inlet of the shower head might help. ( but don't quote me on that)
Toolstation > Taps & Showers > Shower Valves > Shower Check Valve

 

[PlumbBobBob]

you could put something in the bath to quieten the dripping? a thick towel maybe.

 

[Ermintrude]

A vent won't really work as there isn't enough back pressure from shower to close it or it might work as valve works on floating rather than pressure? Normal Aav on top of pipe, once shower off it will open and allow air in and pipe and head to fully drain?

 

[Sammyt]

The trouble is you could fit something in the loft, but the water dribbling is in the shower head, so won't stop it. A small check valve fitted into the inlet of the shower head might help. ( but don't quote me on that)
Toolstation > Taps & Showers > Shower Valves > Shower Check Valve

thanks for the reply. the shower processor is in the loft, the outlet is a 1 meter run to the ceiling head, so I'm thinking of cutting in a tee with a devise like this just above, so when the shower is running with it's built in pump, no water will escape this devise, but when stopped will allow air in to let the shower head drain out fully...? Hope I've explain that correct

 

[Chalked]

A vent won't really work as there isn't enough back pressure from shower to close it or it might work as valve works on floating rather than pressure? Normal Aav on top of pipe, once shower off it will open and allow air in and pipe and head to fully drain?

Might stick open !

 

[Sammyt]

A vent won't really work as there isn't enough back pressure from shower to close it or it might work as valve works on floating rather than pressure? Normal Aav on top of pipe, once shower off it will open and allow air in and pipe and head to fully drain?

Does an AAV allow air in as well? If so that could work.

 

[Chalked]

Would this work?
Watts Industries - 1/2" MBSP - N36 Vacuum Relief Valve - EDP138457

 

[snowhead]

I remember there being a device fitted onto the bottom of commercial shower hoses around 30years ago when Legionella controls were first being implemented.

Effectively a non return valve which was held closed by the water pressure in the shower hose, but then released to drain the remaining water in the hose when the pressure in the hose dropped.

I've tried searching but can't find them, they may have been prohibitted by later Legionella controls.

 

[Sammyt]

Would this work?
Watts Industries - 1/2" MBSP - N36 Vacuum Relief Valve - EDP138457

that sounds like the kiddy!! Nice find thank you

 

[Chalked]

that sounds like the kiddy!! Nice find thank you

Might fit one to my shower, as it does the same as yours.

 

[snowhead]

that sounds like the kiddy!! Nice find thank you

Won't work, needs a vacuum, it's meant for protecting unvented hot water cylinders

This is what I meant ;

Shower Accessories

You'll have to get creative to fit it to a fixed head and riser

 

[Ermintrude]

Just try Aav?

 

[Sammyt]

Might fit one to my shower, as it does the same as yours.

I'll let you know if it works

 

[Sammyt]

Won't work, needs a vacuum, it's meant for protecting unvented hot water cylinders

This is what I meant ;

Shower Accessories

You'll have to get creative to fit it to a fixed head and riser

Thia looks like it will drain the water via this actual devise which wouldn't be ideal in a loft?

 

[Ermintrude]

http://www.stevensonplumbing.co.uk/auto-bottle-air-vent.html

Probably worth putting bowl under it to check

 

[Sammyt]

Here is the offending article

 

[Killy Bing]

Oh you have a digital mixer type?

talk to manufacturer, they might have a smart idea.

 

[Sammyt]

Just try Aav?

Will try AAV first

 

[Chalked]

Won't work, needs a vacuum, it's meant for protecting unvented hot water cylinders

This is what I meant ;

Shower Accessories

You'll have to get creative to fit it to a fixed head and riser

But won't the weight of water below create a vsccum ? ( small one)

 

[Sammyt]

Oh you have a digital mixer type?

talk to manufacturer, they might have a smart idea.

had aqualisa there today, he agreed with my
theory, replaced complete processor anyway

 

[Killy Bing]

Hmm....an aav would do it but they notoriously leak.

i would test it with a cheap bottle type aav and if it worked fit a spiro top to be on the safe side.
Thread a bush onto the aav outlet to 3/4, put a hose connector and run a hose to a hole in the eaves. If it fails then water will run out of that and down the outside of the house, not fill the loft!

Not cheap but you're not exactly using the aav for its intended purpose so i would do that to be on the safe side

 

[Sammyt]

Hmm....an aav would do it but they notoriously leak.

i would test it with a cheap bottle type aav and if it worked fit a spiro top to be on the safe side.
Thread a bush onto the aav outlet to 3/4, put a hose connector and run a hose to a hole in the eaves. If it fails then water will run out of that and down the outside of the house, not fill the loft!

Not cheap but you're not exactly using the aav for its intended purpose so i would do that to be on the safe side

Thanks I will try this.

im hoping if I put the AAV a good meter higher than the processor the majority of the pumped water will go out the shower head and not a lot will be forced up to the AAV.

Ill ill keep you all posted

 

[Ermintrude]

Aav might scale up but they normally leak when crud in top port. Hose good idea . I was going to suggest dosing pot with two 1/2 trappings and run one to a drain.

 

[albatross]

Auto air vent are renowned for leaking, you may end up with a ruined ceiling.

How about altering pipework so it rises a couple of inches towards the shower head, then drops into the head.

This will have two effects: 1. When shower is off the weight of water in the head will be much less as the weight of the water in the feed pipe will not be pushing too so less chance of loosing vacuum and dripping. 2. If it still drips, it will be a much smaller amount as the water will stay in the feed pipe and only the water in the head will drip out.

 

[Sammyt]

Auto air vent are renowned for leaking, you may end up with a ruined ceiling.

How about altering pipework so it rises a couple of inches towards the shower head, then drops into the head.

This will have two effects: 1. When shower is off the weight of water in the head will be much less as the weight of the water in the feed pipe will not be pushing too so less chance of loosing vacuum and dripping. 2. If it still drips, it will be a much smaller amount as the water will stay in the feed pipe and only the water in the head will drip out.

We've tried this, pipework from the processor rises up a couple of inches before it elbows down to the head, still the same problem, I think it's the amount of water that the large 400mm head contains.

 

[galaxy_plumbing]

thats one bad bum shower head.

 

[Sammyt]

So we put an AAV in the loft as near to the processor as possible, tested it a couple of times and it seems to have done the trick. But we are waiting for the customer to tell us if in dribbles anymore in the middle off the night which is when it mostly does it.

 

[Chalked]

Keep us informed if it works please.

 

[Sammyt]

Auto air vent has been in for over a week and I've had no complaints from the customers.... Looks like its worked.

Thank you to everyone who helped.