Was my unvented cylinder fitted properly (tundish wasn't fitted)?

[unventedconcern]

Good evening,

I had a direct unvented cylinder installed at the end of last week by a well reviewed plumber on myBuilder.com. He claimed that he was fully qualified to install unvented cylinders, albeit most of his reviews were from gas work. I was away on business at the end of the week, and my wife was on hand to let him complete the install. Some alarm bells went off when I saw the completed install.



The first glaring issue, is that the tundish was not installed. I supplied the cylinder myself, so I know it was supplied with one. I queried him on this matter after the install had been completed, and he claimed that it wasn't needed as the communal discharge pipe it leads into serves essentially the same purpose as the tundish would have.

He also didn't complete the installer information certificate on the side of the cylinder; the certificate is actually totally blocked by the positioning of the tank, as it is 90% hidden behind the wall.

Are there any other issues that you can spot with this install? Is the use of plastic piping acceptable in the manner he has used it? How about the other components he used? Any other advice?

I would appreciate any insight from those familiar with how unvented cylinders actually should be installed.

Here are some more pics:



Many thanks,
J

 

[walterwhite]

Amateur install...I doubt he's qualified

 

[hammers4spanner]

I doubt he is qualified plumber never mind holds a cert for an unvented cylinder ,

Unfortunately rip it out start again as its pretty rubbish

 

[Mike Jackson]

That plastic pipe shouldn't be used for the safety discharge pipework, it's not capable of withstanding the high temperatures that the discharge could reach. Definitely not an install by someone that knows what they are doing.

 

[drip-dry]

I think you got a builder from MyBuilder.com..probably qualified to build garden walls and dig big holes in the ground..the installation needs checking straight away and installation correcting as soon as possible

 

[Meady]

Rip it out an start again, my apprentice who has only been working 10 weeks could have done a better job than that unfortunately.

 

[townfanjon]

J , I am really sorry mate, but as the lads above have said, its a shocking install. Just start again.

 

[hammers4spanner]

Curious how much you paid for this?

 

[Noxer]

Looks crap and why would you put the expansion vessel so high looool

 

[Paulplumb]

That's an absolute pigs ear.

 

[unventedconcern]

Thanks for the responses so far. It's what I was afraid of, although of course not what I was wanting to hear.

The whole thing set me back £400, which included the removal of an old thermal store heater, and the 'parts' he used.

 

[Meady]

I would stick your location up on here if I were you mate and get someone out to fix that ASAP.

 

[hammers4spanner]

So he's basically made £300.00 (less materials)from one of the worst installs i have seen for along time ,

You tried contacting him to explain his install ?
Could see a legal battle looming JUDGE RINDER !!!

 

[snowhead]

Plastic pipe.
Pushfit
And the lack of pipe clips sets the bells off immediately.

 

[BLOD]

The expansion vessel's doing absolutely nothing the way it's fitted !
It should be connected between the expansion valve (where ther is a non return valve ) and the cylinder, not upstream of the pressure reducing valve.
I'd suggest you turn the hot water off until you get someone to sort it for you.

 

[gasmanrob]

Oh dear

 

[gasmanrob]

Oh dear oh dear!

 

[gasmanrob]

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear

 

[P J F PLUMBING]

Very scarey

 

[drip-dry]

So he's basically made £300.00 (less materials)from one of the worst installs i have seen for along time ,

You tried contacting him to explain his install ?
Could see a legal battle looming JUDGE RINDER !!!

Then add back the scrap value of the copper thermol store....

 

[Harryplumb]

Well that just proves that all these "checkatrade" type websites are a waste of time, any tom, dick or Harry can sign up, get a few family and friends to do some fake reviews and away they go, shocking

 

[voivod]

that is absolutely scary.....shut it off asap and get a real plumber in

 

[Ryanmuz01]

That is horrific

 

[Best]

I agree with everything said. Anyone on here, if asked to come out to look at all that would have to turn the water & heat source off to that unit. It is very bad and dangerous as the expansion vessel is not doing anything where it is joined to and the discharge pipe work is laughable.
Frankly, you could take legal action against that work. The basic instructions supplied with any unvented unit would prove that install is completely wrong. I don't like the idea of tradesmen getting legal threats, but this one deserves it. Not G3 qualified no doubt.

 

[paulusgg]

I'm with Voivod on this one, turn it off and get the faults rectified as soon as.
As already stated the expansion vessel is doing nothing at all where it's installed as it's upstream of the control set and any expansion won't reach the vessel and we know where that could lead. With the quality of work shown in these pictures I wouldn't be surprised if the immersions are on to the highest setting.

The discharge pipework also fails to meet the requirements of the G3 regs insofar as there is no tundish meaning the pipe size hasn't been increased and it also discharges into ABS pipe which isn't acceptable. Could the discharge be seen if the TRV or PRV discharged?

Ask to see the plumbers G3 certification card, those of us with the correct qualifications certainly don't mind showing them. And finally the fitting of an unvented cylinder is a notifiable activity which either needs signing off with the Local Building Control or through a competent person scheme as run by APHC or Gas Safe or others

 

[Gray0689]

That is what I call an abortion
As said rip it out and get a proper plumber in to do it right

 

[macackau]

Needs to be switched off! Judging by that install i can't quite tell from the photos but we can't see if he has used immersion grade flex linking the immersion elements and the fused spurs. You could be looking at a potential fire hazard. Switch off the cold water supply to the cylinder and open a hot tap to take the pressure out of the cylinder and switch off the immersion heaters. Get a qualified installer to start from fresh with it.

 

[unventedconcern]

Thanks for all of the feedback. This all escalated quicker than I thought, but I appreciate the honesty. We will definitely be seeking compensation, and getting someone qualified to refit it.

With regard to turning the water tank off, is cutting the power to the elements sufficient at this point, or would you recommend some other measures as well?

 

[paulusgg]

Turning the power off to the immersion heaters and drawing of some hot water to cool the stored water would be sufficient

Best of luck with your new plumber

 

[Meady]

Turn off the power to the immersion heaters, turn off the mains stopcock above the cylinder and them open a hot tap to relieve the pressure.

 

[Best]

Only open a tap at the same floor level that the unvented unit is on!
The electric turned off to the immersions will prevent serious danger, as overheat is the major risk. But the work is so DIY that water off is also recommended incase a pipe joint is badly done.
The tundish must be fitted & within a certain distance from t&p discharge valve. He hasn't a leg to stand on with that work.

 

[iiplumbing]

Shocked :speechless:

Is all I can't say!

I have a link to my website that details all the regulations to do with the tundish, but due to forum rules I cannot post them as they may constitute advertising.

However what the guys say is right and maybe next time ask to see the installers current G3 card and then also check out his other credentials!!!

Hope you get it sorted

Russell

 

[chris watkins]

I don't like the idea of tradesmen getting legal threats, but this one deserves it. Not G3 qualified no doubt.

But then he is NO tradesman is he Best, cos no professional Plumber would carry out work like that.
In an un-regulated industry like ours there is little protection for poor customers like this who get ripped off, it is just a shame that there are not more prosecutions or threats of legal action to deter the chancer's.

 

[gasmanrob]

Post your location and maybe one of our lads is close by to offer you a quote to put the work right. Rest assured were all reputable and knowledgeable lads.

No flyby night in here!

 

[Riley]

That guy is not a plumber. Disgraceful. I assume it's not been notified and there is no hence of getting him back/getting your money back

 

[hammers4spanner]

An insurance company would probably not cover this either if you had a leak , they would class it as poor diy and would turn a claim down.

 

[unventedconcern]

Bit of an update for you guys. I've been in contact with the plumber, and he has agreed to refund me £300 of the £400 I paid him. I also got back in touch with another plumber from mybuilder (one who seemed very knowledgeable, and showed me his G3 card when he was out to give a quote), and he pointed out the exact same concerns that were raised in this thread. We have arranged for him to come and refit the cylinder.

All in all, it seems like things should be getting resolved relatively smoothly. I made the mistake of trying to save a few quid in selecting the plumber I did, but this experience should leave me a bit wiser hopefully.

I'll post an update once the work has been completed.

 

[Riley]

Glad you got a positive response we hear so many stories going the other way

 

[leerdonald]

Should have asked for a full refund as the recycling of your old thermal store would've covered his material costs, don't forget to leave the requisite review on his website as he shouldn't be touching this sort of work and he knows it.

 

[AWheating]

I would report him to HSE, local building control even if they don't do anything. Atleast then if he kills somebody you won't feel guilty for not trying.