Randomusername

Sorry, it’s another treatment plant thread from me... Projected build is 4 bedroom house with possibility of single bedroom annexe in roof of garage. Surveyor number 1 states that 8 PE Marsh Ensign will be sufficient (in fact more than). Surveyor number 2 does not agree with maximum 8 PE projection, and would fit larger 11 PE WPL Diamond unit (as this is the next size up in the range that their company fits). They are basing this on a directive from British Water, suggesting that as the house/annexe would be classed as two separate buildings, the actual PE would need to be 9 as a minimum. To me, the 9 PE equivalent assertion by the second surveyor appears excessive?

I’ll ask local building control for confirmation/clarification. The man who came round is fairly local and so I’d expect him to know, so that’s a good indication that I’ll be able to site close to the boundary, hopefully.

I’ll ask for clarification of why they expect to charge me. I’m perhaps approaching this the wrong way - maybe I should instead insist that it is a new domestic supply for the caravan which I will be siting there in which I intend to live over the duration of the build...

That’s all fine, as I intend to discharge directly into the covered drain, I fortunately won’t have to worry about the expanses required for infiltration/soakaway. It’s interesting that the regs make no stipulation for the proximity of the actual unit from certain features, but then the manufacturer guidance indicates the below: Although it is headed as “guidance only” it then goes on to state that “these are minimum distances”. ?

While reading the brochures for various treatment plant units, I’d been given the definite impression that there were minimum distances from certain features which must be observed. Obviously the requirement to site away from habitable buildings is a requirement in case of nuisance noise and smells - but others are less clear cut. If for instance I followed the minimum distances specified for the Marsh Ensign, I’d most likely not have space to site anywhere within the boundary - possibly not even within the same county - particularly if I then had to discharge to an infiltration field! However I had a gentleman from a well established local company, whose business is installing such systems, come out to quote recently. He raised no such issues and suggested that they would happily install a unit on the very edge of the boundary, close to the road verge and right next to the piped drain that runs along the boundary edge. Surely a major point of paying out extra for a proper treatment plant is that you don’t have to worry as much about the issues that otherwise restrict the siting of outdated septic systems? So who is correct?

The site is former garden, there has not been an electrical connection in memory, other than where the former owners supply crossed through to the house next door. This has now been moved off my land. It’s definitely a new connection.

WPD are installing the supply connection. The charge that Eon have referred to can only be related to installation of the meter. It’s not practical to install the permanent supplies at this point, unfortunately.

I recently made enquiries with EON with regard to installing meter to my TBS - by the time I spoke to the 4th person over 3 days, I finally managed to get someone who apparently knew what they are talking about. Complication apparently arose due to the fact that this will be a completely temporary supply, and will not be made into a permanent feed to a property when it is completed, but will instead be disconnected and removed. (There are reasons for this). They have now replied that “we are having a price change on Monday so I will get the quote to you Tuesday”. I’m surprised as I was not honestly expecting a charge to be made for fitting the meter! Is this normal? Is it because they are treating the supply as a commercial and not a domestic arrangement? Are there any supply companies who will fit a TBS supply meter for free (after all they’re going to be charging me for the power for a couple of years...)

they don’t seem too keen to help me unfortunately - I’ve had a reply which basically questioned my motives in trying to find an alternative replacement, and that’s it. ☹️

I’ve sent them a message. I did wonder if I could cut down a normal 38mm flush pipe and fit it in place with a corresponding rubber bung into the back of the toilet, but I’m not sure that there is space... that would be my preferred method as I could then use the Fluidmaster valve and still overall spend much less than I would have had to fork out for the probably inferior OE type unit... ?

Yeah that basically the OE unit but it is, and always has been rubbish - I was hoping to fit something better! The one that’s in there still works - it needs a new neoprene flush seal washer - and I’d have to refit it back in the cistern with a load of sealant as the original washer that seals it in the outlet was either inadequate, or very badly fitted by the original plumber... loads of PTFE around the stem and a good helping of silicone sealant... ☹️

@MJNewton it’s going to suck air out through the bathroom ceiling, through a heat exchanger and out the gable wall, in parallel sucking air in, through the heat exchanger and out the landing ceiling next to the bathroom. So yes, in lieu of an extractor fan, providing constant trickle input ventilation and extraction, with a boost setting for when steam and vapour is being created.

I could be wrong but I remember it as being fixed in position there.

I’ve got some short lengths of the plastic solid 100mm - can I use a short section as a joiner onto the flexible ducting? There will only be short runs so I’m not sure that flow restrictions will be too much of a problem?

That starts to make sense - I’m still baffled as to what purpose that foam performs - it looks like it’s meant to form a seal, but when pushed into the socket, it does not make contact with the surface of the plasterboard or the flange of the socket. There will always be a gap?

What type of ducting should be used?

Decided this evening to replace the flush mechanism on my parents toilet, as it has always been fairly rubbish, and had for some time been letting a constant trickle of water through. Unfortunately I’d forgotten that it’s a weird toilet - not close coupled, but not with a standard diameter flush pipe. So the standard Fluidmaster mechanism does not fit due to the flush pipe being 50mm OD. Does anyway know of a sensibly priced flush mechanism which fits, and allows a top push-button?

Doh! ? You’re right about that. I’d thought it was a single piece because of how tightly assembled, but it does in fact come apart into 3 pieces. I’m still not much clearer though regardless...

I’ve got a small MVHR unit to install in the house that I’ll be renting out again next year. It had 2 vents supplied with it but I’m not sure what tubing I’m meant to use to connect into pipework. The concertina foil tube supplied with the system is more or less 100mm as expected, but the vents seem to be made for slightly smaller tube - see images. The spring clips in the recess suggest that it’s designed so that pipe is pushed into the recess and held in place that way, rather than taped around the outside? Any suggestions please?

So if you trim a fair bit off along the split, it’s possible to get 28mm x 13mm thickness pipe insulation into a 63mm duct, and just about leave space for a 25mm MDPE water pipe. Tight though!

There’s been a fair amount of unkind references to the size of my standpipe housing, without having any reference to scale. With that in mind I post the following image showing that I barely even fit inside it with the door shut! Therefore I struggle to see how my bricklayer will ever manage to use it for shelter, particularly when I’ve put in a shelf for the kettle? ?

@Dilwyn Taff a further option is to sell this one to someone who wants a back boiler model - should get a reasonable price now it’s refurbed - and buy a decent second hand model that doesn’t have a back boiler installed?

I read an article once about back boilers being left in place safely. Probably in ex council properties? Will see if I can find it. Here we are: https://www.hse.gov.uk/services/localgovernment/boilers.htm

The box ended up exactly the same size as the offcuts of marine ply I was given, for obvious reasons... once you start trimming down already odd shaped bits of wood, things get increasingly wonky... I have to point out that the picture was taken from a very low angle due to glare from the security light. There’s possibly just about enough room to house a pixie in a Beefeater costume?

Spent the afternoon making a standpipe enclosure from some offcuts of marine ply, and scrap wood... (It’s not finished yet!)