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View Full Version : Help please - hot water tanks, running out of hot water.


crazyjoe_uk
Apr 4, 2011, 04:11 AM
Hi all,

Have just moved into a new house, which has a different water system to my previous house, and I'm trying to gauge what is normal behaviour of this new system. (total layman here I'm afraid). My old house had a smallish Potterton device in the kitchen, that was gas powered - when I turned on hot water, it would fire up, and we'd have hot water no problem, any time of day. Upstairs, in the airing cupboard, there was a bigger 'boiler' - I think it had two parts to it, a main chamber, then a smaller one directly stuck on top. There was no tank in the loft.
In the new house, I have a potterton device in the kitchen again, a 'boiler' in the airing cupboard, and then when I went into the loft, there were two other containers of water - they were both covered in black insulation (like black bags almost). One was small (about the size of a washing up bowl, and one was big (I read '50L' on it - assume that's 50 litre tank). There's a Danfoss CP715 control unit under the potterton, and the Hot Water was set to "ALL DAY" - my girlfriend took a bath, then put the washing machine on. I went to take a bath, and all was fine for a few minutes, then I noticed the running water had gone cold (through a mixer tap) - I turned off the cold water tap and there was no water running at all (even with the hot tap fully open) - does this sound normal? I would have thought if I was out of hot water, I'd still have cold water running through?
Can anyone give me a brief explanation of what could be wrong?

massplumber2008
Apr 4, 2011, 06:12 AM
Hi crazy Joe

No doubt that water should be running through the hot water even if the hot water has been exhausted.

Unfortunately, over here in the USA, we don't work with airing cupboards or potterton devices so I'm afraid we won't be able to help much on this one.

I'd recommend that you call three plumbers and get some free estimates regarding the work that needs to be done. I would also suggest that you talk to your real estate agent and see if any work required may be covered under new home warranty.

Wish we could help more.…

Mark

crazyjoe_uk
Apr 4, 2011, 06:16 AM
Ah, right - sorry, didn't realise you guys were in the USA! Well, thanks for taking the time to reply, I'll do as you suggest.

Thanks again
Joe.