Anybody know anything about this type of hot water system?

[Taipan]

This is the hot water system in my lads new flat. He’s got hardly anything coming out of the hot tap but all the valves are open? We’ve now switch that tank on, so will it get hot water when it’s full and heated?

[Bowman]

That's a very basic system. You won't get much flow in a flat as theres no head of pressure. It looks like there may be a boost pump in the bottom left of the picture. Could be worth checking that it's turned on.

[Taipan]

Cold water is fine but this is just trickling out when the hot taps are turned on. It was all turned off in that cupboard so we turned it on and could hear something going on, but no more flow from the taps. We've left it on for tonight and he'll go back tomorrow and see if anythings happened, if not ring the estate agensts I suppose?

[Nobby]

Two elements suggest it could be “Dual Tariff” or OffPeak for the old duffers.
The lower element should heat the whole cylinder overnight??, and the top one can be used 24hr as a top up function
I’d be looking at the meters and any control switches to confirm that.
If it’s the amount of hot water flow, then that pump needs looking at. Is there a flow switch controlling the pump ?
Without the pump working you’d only get enough out of a tap to wash your hands, forget about a shower.

[David]

With that system, low flow suggests a bunged up ( you are in a hard water area) inlet valve. It will be a float and lever type. Just swap the whole thing.

[Count Steer]

My vague memory from last time I used an immersion heater system was you used the upper heater to do the washing up and the lower one for a bath. Just had 2 switches.

The hot water pressure was dictated by the tank in the loft. If there's no loft/header tank, as Bowman said, I'd be giving that pump a hard stare. Got to have pressure created somehow and the only other option is mains pressure.

The estate agent should be able to ask the seller. (Purchasers should get a 'User Manual' with a property .

PS If that upper tank is the header and that's the only pressure creator the hot water flow isn't going to be v impressive).

[Taipan]

On the contracts everything was declared fully functional and working. So I assume we just don't have it turned on right although i cant see how it could be complicated? There is what look slike a pump on the floor next to teh tanks, so I think that's not switched on. Will have to look later on. My Son is ringing the estate agent this morning to check with the vendor what's what...

[636mick]

Did it get sorted mate??
Mick

[Taipan]

Did it get sorted mate??
Mick

Yes, well sort off. Spoke to a neighbour and asked on a local facebook group and apparently they are just all like it. Below is the reply we got from the vendor via the estate agent. A couple of people have fitted a pump to sort it so he has that option. I've emailed the heating engineer I know for a quote to do this and if my Son cant live with it, i'll get a pump fitted for him. But as most people have a dishwasher and electric showers running off the good cold water pressure they just accept it, so i'll leave it up to him. I suspect he'll just come home if he wants a bath and use my hot water.

[Taipan]

Ouch! He can live with it!

Those tanks shouldn't run off pumps as it drains the header tank at the top too quick.
Best and only solutions is unvented cylinder which runs off the mains. Which is about £1500 off top of my head
Supply and fit