Plumbing: Hot Water Cylinder Dripping

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raydenl

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Master Geek

Topic # 240853 29-Sep-2018 16:21

Hey

So we just had a new 300L outdoor electric cylinder installed. There is some dripping coming from the cold water expansion valve when the cylinder is heating, which I believe is normal. The thing is, it is warm/hot water. Everything I've read says that the water should be cold, since the valve is on the cold water inlet side. However, this expansion valve is also connected to the tempering valve, which is connected to the hot water outlet :S

So my question is, is it normal for the water dripping from the cold water expansion valve to be warm/hot in this scenario? I've tried to get a straight answer from the plumber who installed it, but he's been a bit vague.

Cheers

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Reply # 2098572 29-Sep-2018 16:25

You should be calling the company that installed the cyclinder and run it pass them

John

Ex JohnR VodafoneNZ 17 years 4 days

raydenl

91 posts

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Reply # 2098574 29-Sep-2018 16:39

Yes, as stated in my post, I have asked, but he either does not reply, or is very vague. I am effectively asking for a second opinion.

k1w1k1d

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Reply # 2098575 29-Sep-2018 16:42

My guess is that the vague answer from the plumber indicates that he doesn't know the correct answer.

Get him to contact his supplier/manufacturer for advice.

Failing that you may have contact the manufacture directly.

What is the make and model of the cylinder?

raydenl

91 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 2098577 29-Sep-2018 16:56

To be honest, I think he is just terrible at comms. I have dealt with him before, and it can take days to get an answer, and then when it comes it usually only answers half the question, etc. Great prices, terrible comms, shrug.

He answered yes it should drip when heating, but left out the answer to the bit about it not being cold water. So I went back to him, but no reply, yet. I am 95% sure it's fine, but think I'm entitled to ask for a second opinion.

It's a Rheem 300L Stainless. But IF there was an issue, thinking it would be a valve issue (not cylinder related) more than anything else.

RunningMan

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Reply # 2098578 29-Sep-2018 16:57

Ping @aredwood

He knows a bit about this sort of thing ;-)

Aredwood

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Reply # 2098584 29-Sep-2018 17:41

Take some photos and post them here. Cold water expansion valve will be installed too close to the cylinder inlet. This means that hot water is getting pushed back from the cylinder and is then dripping from the valve.

Main issue is that the valve won't last as long. Energy content of that water won't be much.

raydenl

91 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 2098587 29-Sep-2018 18:11

Expansion valve circled in the closeup photo. The pipe joining it at the top goes to the tempering valve, and that pipe feels warm all the way to the expansion valve, which seems odd.

MadEngineer

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Reply # 2098588 29-Sep-2018 18:15

Please put a shroud on it before it gets stolen

raydenl

91 posts

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Reply # 2098589 29-Sep-2018 18:17

What's a shroud?

Aredwood

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Reply # 2098596 29-Sep-2018 18:43

Stick a thermosiphon trap in the pipe between the cold water expansion valve and the cylinder inlet.

Other unrelated things - insulate the Temperature & pressure relief valve, and some of its drain pipe.

Relocate the pressure limiting valve to the incoming watermain, so you will have equal pressure cold and hot water. Ideal is so you still have a hose tap that gets direct mains pressure. But all inside fixtures fed via the limiting valve.

Goosey

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Reply # 2098702 30-Sep-2018 10:37

Shroud... cover it / box it up.

Copper is valuble... people nick cylinders for easy money and the scrappy.

Which part of the country are you?

Its well known down here in ChCh that most of the Rheems are starting to blow elements and /or leak due to chlorine levels in the water (and I suspect substandard components).

Nobody can actually prove that the chorline is either within or outside the limits of the cylinders....

pctek

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Reply # 2098821 30-Sep-2018 16:47

3 people support this post

Its well known down here in ChCh that most of the Rheems are starting to blow elements and /or leak due to chlorine levels in the water (and I suspect substandard components).

Ahem. Chlorine has been in Auckland water for almost forever. Many cylinders here, far more than Ch/ch even.

My friends Rheem is 30+ years, going strong. Mine is 12 years.

The anti-chlorine brigade blaming everything on it....

Goosey

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Reply # 2098960 30-Sep-2018 22:01

pctek:

Its well known down here in ChCh that most of the Rheems are starting to blow elements and /or leak due to chlorine levels in the water (and I suspect substandard components).

Ahem. Chlorine has been in Auckland water for almost forever. Many cylinders here, far more than Ch/ch even.

My friends Rheem is 30+ years, going strong. Mine is 12 years.

The anti-chlorine brigade blaming everything on it....

Yes, indeed however there are literally hundreds of clylinders that are new to a few years old failing down here at a great rate...and still are. Yes, perhaps our chlorine levels in water were a tad on the high side but for so many newish cylinders to fail is rather suspect. My own cylinder is about eighteen years old and hasn’t missed a beat so what is that saying about the quality of the newer ones?

I’ve got a photo of an element....it exploded open. (Relatives 3 year old cylinder), others in Chch experiencing leaks.

Residents are for whatever reason taking it on the chin.

Aredwood

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Reply # 2098964 30-Sep-2018 22:19

Check that the element was the correct type for the cylinder. As the elements are coated in different materials depending on what the cylinder is made out of.

A split open element is quite likely to have been the wrong type.

Goosey

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Reply # 2099006 30-Sep-2018 22:31

Aredwood: Check that the element was the correct type for the cylinder. As the elements are coated in different materials depending on what the cylinder is made out of.

A split open element is quite likely to have been the wrong type.

Try proving that one!
Basically Rheem not taking any responsibility unless the cylinders are within the one year warranty.
Insurance companies don’t want to know and the council isn’t getting involved either however they have reduced the dosage and doing a better job flushing out after each dose. The whole town knows the ccc got it wrong, water was not drinkable (too much chlorine and everyone I know including myself smelt like chlorine.

Speak to any plumber down these parts and they will all have the same stories.....let’s just say they are flat tack busy!

My relative took the opportunity to upgrade to a titanium element as the aluminium ones are not reliable.

Just hope the CCC can quickly get around the 120
Odd well heads to repair them. (Thanks to Havelock).

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