Can't clear this air lock

[Dan Masey]

This is the hot fees from gravity fed cylinder. It tee's off as you can see to a shower pump just below. Iv got a air lock on the hot water that I cannot shift. Iv connected hot/cold washing machine taps together and tried to blow it through but nothing. Any ideas??

 

[lbp plg & htg]

Tee a vent in it?

 

[diamondgas]

There should be another draw-off on the top of the Cylinder for the domestic side. How do you know it's an air-lock? How many draw-off points are effected? Does the water just stop running? Bit more info Dan please as what you show is an Essex flange connection into the side by the looks of it! Normaly the rest of the taps for the house are taken from a top connection 🙂

 

[hammers4spanner]

wet vac

 

[Dan Masey]

The vent come's out of the top of the cylinder.

I'm wondering if the pump is sucking air down the vent pipe?

 

[Dan Masey]

2 basin taps upstairs and a down stairs kitchen mixer tap. Runs for about 30 seconds then splutters air out and stops. I'm not 100% it's an air lock. I'm wondering if the gate valve is faulty.

 

[hammers4spanner]

That plumbing is shocking tbh on that cylinder, could be gate valve change for a tenner or use wet vac

 

[Keefy]

That plumbing is shocking tbh on that cylinder, could be gate valve change for a tenner or use wet vac

Definitely a DIY'er who knocked that lot up.

 

[buckley plumb]

that vents wrong vent should be 450mm from top of cylinder then rise from text book example

 

[Howsie]

Wasting heat big time on that.

 

[Keefy]

Wasting heat big time on that.

When I see an OSV going straight up like that I always imagine an open fire and the heat going straight up the chimney.

Edit: In fact, Dan, get it ripped out and done again.

 

[Dan Masey]

I got called to the job and previous plumber had connected the pump to the vent pipe. Couldn't believe it actually dragged any hot water through. Tiny tank on loft as well. So Iv installed new pump, new 50gl cold water tank.

Turns out it wasn't an airlock. The gate valve was wrecked. Installed a lever valve it and seems fine now.

I did pump cold water back through the hot pipe until it came out the vent pipe in the loft. It still did not solve the problem. That's when I decided to renew gate valve. Fingers crossed that's solved it.

Yep agree it needs to be 450mm from the top. Shocking instal.

 

[Howsie]

Everything about the picture is wrong. Everything.

 

[Whn1]

Wowzer!

 

[MRDrip]

A professional would have used Meccano for that job but the DIYer came along and used Leggo = fail. ( You can tell it's been a long week)

 

[Whyme]

I love looking at pics like that. We could do with a museam of horrors thread where we can all post dodgy plumbing pics.

 

[Whn1]

http://www.ukplumbersforums.co.uk/g...sforums.co.uk/activity.php&ss=3347j2351463j13

Already have one 😉 enjoy

 

[Dan Masey]

The customer is claiming back the massive amount that the "electrician" apparently fitted. It was an electrical firm that had a plumber on board. Lol. Crazy what some people charge / get away with.

 

[Dan Masey]

This is how it was plumbed before. It amazes me (and the salamander technician) how it lasted 2 years and worked the shower fine.

 

[Howsie]

Doesn't smell right to me...

 

[PlumbersMate]

I got called to the job and previous plumber had connected the pump to the vent pipe. Couldn't believe it actually dragged any hot water through. Tiny tank on loft as well. So Iv installed new pump, new 50gl cold water tank.

Turns out it wasn't an airlock. The gate valve was wrecked. Installed a lever valve it and seems fine now.

I did pump cold water back through the hot pipe until it came out the vent pipe in the loft. It still did not solve the problem. That's when I decided to renew gate valve. Fingers crossed that's solved it.

Yep agree it needs to be 450mm from the top. Shocking instal. View attachment 10967

Blimey give everyone else a chance for Job Of The Month