What the hell is this tank in my roof space??

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Batman

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#119485 3-Jun-2013 00:42

While hunting for a leak in my roof space I found a tank. It has a pool of cold water.

There is a pipe bringing water IN to the top of the tank which is determined by a valve controlled by the ball float.

There is a big pipe high up to drain the water to outside of the house should the ball float valve fail.

There are multiple pipes (you can't see) at the bottom of the tank going multiple directions.

What the hell is this?

Note my hot water cylinder is old and has its outlet at the top and there is nearly zero hot water pressure.

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#829879 3-Jun-2013 01:10

Water tank?

NonprayingMantis

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#829880 3-Jun-2013 01:22

acid bath for easy body disposal

Batman

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#829881 3-Jun-2013 01:22

oh dear ... you mean my cold water tank? oh dear I've been drinking from that crap!

but why would we need a tank when there is mains supply?!

nakedmolerat

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#829883 3-Jun-2013 01:32

It was fashionable in those days. In fact it is still useful if your main water supply is stopped for maintenance etc

lxsw20

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#829884 3-Jun-2013 01:35

Probably a header tank for the hot water

Elpie

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#829885 3-Jun-2013 01:36

You probably have an old low-pressure hot water cylinder and, if so, this is the header tank for this system. Header tanks were used to add pressure so the hot water would flow out of the taps. If your hot water cylinder is still working okay, apart from the pressure, you can replace the header tank with some kind of valve - its worth asking a plumber.

If you are considering replacing your hot water system its also worth knowing that the cylinder is likely to be copper (therefore worth money). That header tank looks like it is also copper.

farcus

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#829887 3-Jun-2013 02:08

it's a header tank for an old style hot water cylinder.
Usually they have a cover on them to keep the bugs, dust and bird-sh#t out though.

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TinyTim

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#829900 3-Jun-2013 05:22

If there are multiple pipes going out you've probably got low cold pressure as well.

jesterz

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#829912 3-Jun-2013 07:52

Yep, header tank for your water cylinder. May want to get a cover for it tho.

Watch our for a faulty thermostat on your cylinder, we had one a couple of years ago and the hot water backed up into the header tank. Could have been very nasty!

timmmay

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#829928 3-Jun-2013 08:45

I had one, it was removed when I went to a mains pressure hot water cylinder. Mains pressure = good.

As an aside, if your house isn't as warm as you'd like you could lay some more pink batts over the exposed flat wood. Heat can escape that way apparently.

Batman

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#829931 3-Jun-2013 08:51

You know what, i was preparing to bitter cold winter as my previous house had new insukation, 3 heat pumps and half the size of the current one, 3 heT umps going full blast gave me black toes (yes it was that cold)

But this one twice the size half the ceiling insukation and i'm sweating with ONE heatpump for the enitre place twice the size ...

I dont know but i guess i'll sauna up with more insulation! (which is great in dunners) i dont know why the previous place with alu joinery same era was so cold... I think the walls/joinery/door/ were drafty as there are ventilation holes all round the house at floor level

Anyway yes, i cant wait for amazing heat with insulation.

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#829934 3-Jun-2013 08:55

But alas i think the money will have to go somewhere. It has 4 hot water cylinders, we only use 2 one for the bathroom (as big as jonah lomu) with gives only as much flow as my kid's pee from the shower head (the bath which is obviously lower is ok) and another small one looks like 10L for the kitchen. The other two are downstairs and we are not using it.

But it looks like the previous fellas did portions of the house in parts and disnt bother to unify the plumbing.

I think the bathroom cold is fed from mains coz it can fill the toilet it about 7 seconds! (yes will check presure mit need a pressure regulator)

But the kitchen cold is slower and i cant believe i drank from that crap. I guess the roof leak was a blessing in disguise ... (that made me go into the roof)

MikeB4

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#829937 3-Jun-2013 09:00

If you are still using the low pressure system you need to cover that header tank. Filaments from the bats move around with wind and can end up in the hat water, not a good thing. Also calcification in a line down from the overflow indicates that it has or is leaking.

stuzzo

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#829961 3-Jun-2013 10:42

If any plumbing changes to the bathroom/shower have been done they may have run 1/2" line (which is normal for mains pressure) in the anticipation of house being put on mains pressure.

Low pressure systems need 3/4" to give a reasonable flow.

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#830169 3-Jun-2013 18:52

Hey guys thanks so much for all the hints ... Might get a plumber to make things more normal ...

So i guess i'll first clean the tank and the cover it and then find a friend who knows a pllumber :)

I still dont get how it gives (or innthis case fail to give) my shower ANY pressure. We actually have to shower under a kid's pee

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