Hot water cylinder overflow detector , alarm

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lyhnz

11 posts

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#281566 25-Feb-2021 22:34

I would like to know how to get notified if my hot water cylinder has overflow, do you know if any water leakage detector or other product and let me know the issue? My pipe overflow until I saw it, I need to find a product can detector the flow and let me know , or simple connect a pipe hanging down the roof so I can notice it ,do you sell elbow or connector for the overflow pipe so i can divert the direction of the pipe and extend it to the height I can notice it ?
thanks

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Dynamic

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#2663068 26-Feb-2021 10:59

We had a plumber add a pressure valve to the end of the header pipe sticking out of the roof, and when he did this, the end of the pipe stuck out rather than sticking up. This means we could see the drips from the end of the pipe, rather than the excess water drizzling down the pipe in a way that made it hard to see unless the sun was reflecting off the wet pipe. I can't find a picture, but I hope you get the idea. In our case the pressure valve he added allowed us to slightly increase the pressure of the hot water to our shower. If this was not needed for you, a simple 90 degree elbow and a short piece of pipe extending from this would do the same job.

Putting some automation around leak detection would be possible, but is the cost and time worth the effort?

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mdooher

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#2663069 26-Feb-2021 11:05

Dynamic:

We had a plumber add a pressure valve to the end of the header pipe sticking out of the roof, and when he did this, the end of the pipe stuck out rather than sticking up. This means we could see the drips from the end of the pipe, rather than the excess water drizzling down the pipe in a way that made it hard to see unless the sun was reflecting off the wet pipe. I can't find a picture, but I hope you get the idea. In our case the pressure valve he added allowed us to slightly increase the pressure of the hot water to our shower. If this was not needed for you, a simple 90 degree elbow and a short piece of pipe extending from this would do the same job.

Putting some automation around leak detection would be possible, but is the cost and time worth the effort?

You put a pressure relief valve on a Low pressure cylinder overflow? ... how would that increase the pressure? it would just blow back into the header tank.

Matthew

lyhnz

11 posts

Geek

#2663095 26-Feb-2021 12:09

Thanks actually what you said is the cheap option I want, ok, my low pressure relief valve, what elbow, where to buy, size , specs, what pipe , size, material? thank you very much .

DonH

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#2663096 26-Feb-2021 12:12

mdooher:

You put a pressure relief valve on a Low pressure cylinder overflow? ... how would that increase the pressure? it would just blow back into the header tank.

There are two types of low pressure system. One type has a header tank somewhere above the cylinder. As you draw hot water, cold water flows down from the header tank to replace it. The level in the header tank drops, opening a ballcock (same as in a toilet cistern) to refill the header.

The other type has no header tank. Instead, the cylinder gets refilled directly from the mains via a pressure reducing valve. ("Ajax" valve). There is a long pipe extending above the cylinder, usually sticking out of the roof. Once the cylinder is full, the water rises up the pipe. This increases the back pressure on the valve, closing it. Drawing off hot water lowers the water level and thus the pressure, opening the valve. If the valve is maladjusted / leaky, the water overflows at the top of the pipe.

With both systems, if the cylinder is filled with cold water and then heated, the water expands. In a header system, the water expands up into the header tank, usually unnoticed because the header is not full to the brim. With the "Ajax" system, the water expands up the pipe and can drip from the top.

Putting a pressure valve on top of the "Ajax" pipe (and increasing the Ajax valve setting) will raise the pressure in the system. You have to be careful not to exceed the cylinder pressure rating of course.

For the OP's issue, a right-angle elbow on the top of the Ajax pipe will make overflow easier to see. Since it's likely a standard copper pipe, a simple copper elbow slipped over the end of the pipe should do. See your local plumber's merchant...

People hear what they see. - Doris Day

wellygary

8323 posts

Uber Geek

#2663098 26-Feb-2021 12:15

lyhnz:

Matthews, as you said every 6 mth to check it , I have the risk if it overflows 4 mth without notice

Your power bill will tell you something is wrong well before 6 months...