Water flow and unvented cylinder!

[richbraithwaite]

Afternoon all,

Stop tap inside my house is fed by old plastic pipe with approx 15mm bore; 15mm copper feeds off to house. Static pressure is 5 and a bit bar, which drops to 3 when I turn on the nearby garden tap fully - provides 11.5 litres/minute.

Had a plumber round and he has suggested an unvented cylinder, although I have raised doubts with him due to the relatively low flow rates (not pressure that looks good to me). He reckons by replacing the 15mm copper on the house side of the stop tap with 22mm copper the flow rate can be improved.

However, I am under the impression the 15mm plastic service pipe is the limiting factor, the bottle neck, limiting the flow to 11l/min. As such , I thought my own only options are to replace the main service pipe with one of those blue 25mm MDPE ones or use an accumulator.

Pleasde help. Should I trust the plumber?

Many many thanks in advance for any help you can provide,
Rich

 

[BLOD]

Very difficult without seeing the job but I'd get a couple more quotes if I were you.
Most unvented manufacturers recommend 20 to 25 lpm flow as a minimum.

They will work on much less but it all depend on what your expectations are ?

 

[MK_Swans]

Rich, upgrading the incoming main could be costly and might not improve things all that much.

An alternative option would be to look at a cold main accumulator. Supplementing poor flow rates will be far more reliable using an accumulator

MK

 

[Megaflo-Experts]

I would go for the accumulators. You've got the pressure so no pumps required. You just need the volume which depends on how many bathrooms you have, and your water usage pattern.
Upgrading your water main should give you more flow...but will it be enough. Accumulators are modular, and if you have the space and money, you can just add more!
Best to get several quotes and other suggestions/ideas. Good luck.

 

[Linkyplumb]

as above. minimum of 20 litres recommended.

Post your job and location in the looking for section of this forum, and get someone local to you off of here

 

[Ermintrude]

Static good dynamic ok flow poor = obstruction

 

[richbraithwaite]

Thanks for the replies; sounds like your suggesting the plumber's reasoning could be wrong!

Many thanks again,
Richard

 

[Ermintrude]

Where are u ?

 

[TBServices]

If you have 5 bar pressure you ought to be getting better than 11l/m. There's a restriction somewhere

 

[richbraithwaite]

Where are u ?

TF9 postcode

 

[sheff paul]

I would go for the accumulators. You've got the pressure so no pumps required. You just need the volume which depends on how many bathrooms you have, and your water usage pattern.
Upgrading your water main should give you more flow...but will it be enough. Accumulators are modular, and if you have the space and money, you can just add more!
Best to get several quotes and other suggestions/ideas. Good luck.

you sound like you know your stuff fella,if I have to fit an accumulator I will knock you for advice

 

[Megaflo-Experts]

Thank you sheff paul. I'm always happy to help or advise if I can.

you sound like you know your stuff fella,if I have to fit an accumulator I will knock you for advice