Oxbow16 Posted August 21, 2021 Share Posted August 21, 2021 Hi all For various reasons, we haven't used the hot water system in our house for a couple of years. It's a vented system with a tank in the loft. I want to try it out now but wonder whether there could be any potential problems from Legionella or anything else potentially nasty? I don't know whether the fact that the water has never been heated over the time means it is not a breeding ground for anything dodgy? And if there is a potential for nastiness, will heating the water in the cylinder make it all safe again? Or is the best option to run off enough water so that both the tank in the loft and the cylinder have fresh water in them (I'd rather avoid that but if it needs to happen then so be it). Many thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterW Posted August 21, 2021 Share Posted August 21, 2021 Turn the cylinder stat up to 75°C if you’re worried and then run at least a couple of buckets of water out of the system. If you’re really worried just drop a couple of Milton tablets into the top tank, leave 10 mins and stir it then drain off the couple of buckets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oxbow16 Posted August 21, 2021 Author Share Posted August 21, 2021 Thanks @PeterW Do you mind if I ask - out of curiosity - why just a couple of buckets? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterW Posted August 21, 2021 Share Posted August 21, 2021 I would be doing it to flush the pipework rather than the tanks - static body of water that size will be fine (assume the attic tank has a lid ..?) and more about crap settling in the pipes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oxbow16 Posted August 21, 2021 Author Share Posted August 21, 2021 Aha - that makes sense. Thanks for explaining. As for the tank, it has a lid of sorts.... A sheet of chipboard to be precise! Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteamyTea Posted August 21, 2021 Share Posted August 21, 2021 (edited) Could you not just pop some weak bleach into the header tank, run the hot taps for a few minutes, leave for a few hours. Flush out the system for half an hour, then heat up the water. The presences of legionella bacteria in the water is not, in itself, a problem. It is when that bacteria is dispersed via water vapourisation, as in air conditioning units (where the problem comes from, not your daily shower) that there is a problem. Edited August 21, 2021 by SteamyTea Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickfromwales Posted August 21, 2021 Share Posted August 21, 2021 2 hours ago, Oxbow16 said: Aha - that makes sense. Thanks for explaining. As for the tank, it has a lid of sorts.... A sheet of chipboard to be precise! Cheers Better than no lid, and the pigeons and other vermin drowning in there and you bathing in that soup. Water condition shouldn't be that bad, therefore, so the above advice is ample. Use the electric immersion, if you have one, to sterilise the tank for 24 hrs. 2 hours ago, PeterW said: Turn the cylinder stat up to 75°C Only effective if the heat source stat is turned up / capable of delivering that temp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oxbow16 Posted August 21, 2021 Author Share Posted August 21, 2021 (edited) Thanks @StormyTea - from StormyCoffee... And thanks @Nickfromwales - from Maxalsofromwales! 15 minutes ago, Nickfromwales said: Only effective if the heat source stat is turned up / capable of delivering that temp Would the immersion get it to that kind of heat? Or is that not a simple question to answer!? Edited August 21, 2021 by Oxbow16 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickfromwales Posted August 21, 2021 Share Posted August 21, 2021 Just now, Oxbow16 said: Thanks StormyTea, from StormyCoffee... And thanks Nickfromwales, from Maxalsofromwales! Would the immersion get it to that kind of heat? Or is that not a simple question to answer!? They're typically set to higher temps than the boiler stat, because the boiler stat dictates the surface temp of the radiators so are usually set to a max of 60-65oC. Immersions are usually set to 70-75oC out of the box. Simple answer is switch it no and leave it for 3-4 hours, then carefully put your hand on the top pipe of the cylinder to see if it's uncomfortably hot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickfromwales Posted August 21, 2021 Share Posted August 21, 2021 @Oxbow16 You can 'mention' a member by typing the @ symbol and then type the first couple of letters of their username. Select from the drop list and bingo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oxbow16 Posted August 21, 2021 Author Share Posted August 21, 2021 6 minutes ago, Nickfromwales said: They're typically set to higher temps than the boiler stat, because the boiler stat dictates the surface temp of the radiators so are usually set to a max of 60-65oC. Immersions are usually set to 70-75oC out of the box. Simple answer is switch it no and leave it for 3-4 hours, then carefully put your hand on the top pipe of the cylinder to see if it's uncomfortably hot. Great, thanks for that @Nickfromwales Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oxbow16 Posted August 21, 2021 Author Share Posted August 21, 2021 3 minutes ago, Nickfromwales said: @Oxbow16 You can 'mention' a member by typing the @ symbol and then type the first couple of letters of their username. Select from the drop list and bingo Ah yes, I usually do but an oversight on that occasion. I've edited it but funnily enough it doesn't seem to work in edit mode. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteamyTea Posted August 21, 2021 Share Posted August 21, 2021 20 minutes ago, Oxbow16 said: I've edited it but funnily enough it doesn't seem to work in edit mode That is to stop us all from correcting and clarifying what we have typed more than 30 minutes earlier. So @Nickfromwales, typing this 30 minutes ago, Nickfromwales said: Simple answer is switch it no and leave it for 3-4 hours instead of Simple answer is switch it on and leave it for 3-4 hours 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oxbow16 Posted August 21, 2021 Author Share Posted August 21, 2021 Ah, yes - some forums do indeed put those time limits on I've noticed. With others you can edit years later. But in the case of the above, I WAS able to edit (if you look you'll see that the @'s have been added through an edit), it just didn't do the drop down choose a forum member to link to thing when I added the @'s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteamyTea Posted August 21, 2021 Share Posted August 21, 2021 31 minutes ago, Oxbow16 said: just didn't do the drop down choose a forum member You have to delete the original, including the @, and start again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oxbow16 Posted August 21, 2021 Author Share Posted August 21, 2021 So that's where I went wrong. Thanks for explaining, I'll know for next time. If I haven't died from Legionella that is Cheers 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oxbow16 Posted August 22, 2021 Author Share Posted August 22, 2021 Took a look at the inside of the tank just now, and whilst there I thought I'd take some photos so those with a more experienced eye could say how it looks in the scheme of things. I appreciate not all nasties are visible to the eye though! We've got vermiculite insulation so I think that's what the white floating bits are. The underside of the "lid" has a coating of white mouldy stuff, so I took a snap of that too. Thanks to you all for taking the time to help with your replies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProDave Posted August 22, 2021 Share Posted August 22, 2021 That tank looks pretty clean, I have seen a LOT worse. Before you put it back, take the lid outside and give it a thorough clean with a pressure washer or similar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteamyTea Posted August 22, 2021 Share Posted August 22, 2021 8 minutes ago, ProDave said: Before you put it back, take the lid outside and give it a thorough clean with a pressure washer or similar. Just make a new lid from plastic sheet stuck to some PU insulation. As Dave says, seen a lot worse, mine for a start. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oxbow16 Posted August 22, 2021 Author Share Posted August 22, 2021 Well, good to hear that it at least looks clean. Taste test next... I've just baled some out and made my partner a glass of squash using it. I'll she if she notices anything untoward On a different note, but seeing as we're talking about the tank now, when we get the plumbing work done and the system is drained, I need to have the tank disconnected so that I can change the boards underneath. I'm now wondering what my best option is. Would any plumbers mind giving a rough idea of prices/price differences on the following, to help me decide.... OPTION1 - plumber disconnect pipework to tank, and F+E tank. I will then do the board replacement work. Plumber reconnect all pipework with the tanks in the same places. OPTION2 - plumber disconnect pipework to tank, and F+E tank. I will then do the board replacement work but build a higher platform for the tank for better gravity pressure. Plumber to extend current pipework for new cold water tank position (F+E wold remain in the same place) and reconnect. OPTION3 - as per Option 2, but fit a new tank instead of the re-using the old one (with proper lid, and an insulating jacket, plus the ball valve isn't looking great). Thank you so much Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oxbow16 Posted August 23, 2021 Author Share Posted August 23, 2021 (edited) Hi all I think I'm going to stick with OPTION1 and go for the least intervention and cheapest approach seeing as it's always possible we'll have to get a new heating system at some point in the future anyhow. - Lid. I think I'll see if I can get a new decent fitting lid, although not sure how likely that is. Do lids tend to be "unipart"? If not I'll make one as suggested, but where might I find suitable plastic sheet? - Insulation. I'll get a jacket too. A quick look shows standard types tend to be for a 50 gallon tank, whereas mine is 60. But I'm sure I can hunt something down if they exist. - Cleaning. Think I'll drop some Milton in to be on the safe side. I was thinking also that while the tank is empty I'll give it a scrub and clean, perhaps with a spray or two of anti-this-and-that spray. - Overflow. Someone on another forum pointed out that the overflow should be below the ball valve. Do you think it needs changing? If so, will that involve a whole new overflow, new hole in wall, etc? - Vent pipe. They also pointed out that the vent pipe needs shortening. Will that be as simple as cutting a little off? Thanks everyone and have a great week. Edited August 23, 2021 by Oxbow16 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickfromwales Posted August 23, 2021 Share Posted August 23, 2021 Scrap the lot and fit an UVC ( invented cylinder ) to future proof you and de-bug ( lol ) the system for once and for all? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cpd Posted August 23, 2021 Share Posted August 23, 2021 5 minutes ago, Nickfromwales said: invented cylinder ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oxbow16 Posted August 23, 2021 Author Share Posted August 23, 2021 20 minutes ago, Nickfromwales said: Scrap the lot and fit an UVC ( invented cylinder ) to future proof you and de-bug ( lol ) the system for once and for all? Has that been invented yet? Seriously though, we have discussed and considered this. But if/when our boiler dies on us we'd prefer to switch to combi, which is why we don't want to invest more than necessary in the current system. Thanks for the thought though. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickfromwales Posted August 23, 2021 Share Posted August 23, 2021 4 hours ago, Cpd said: ? It’s a new invention. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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