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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#2662878 26-Feb-2021 08:26

From what you ae describing you don' t have a mains pressure cylinder The only reason your cylinder should overflow is because it has boiled. simply get your thermostat fixed.

if you like you could put a temperature sensor (whatever you like) on the copper overflow pipe. This would work every time

If you are are talking about a pipe on the pressure relief valve of a mains pressure cylinder then the same thing will work

Matthew

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#2663060 26-Feb-2021 10:46

Non-mains pressure cylinders also overflow due to an ajax valve fault. I've had a bad run and have had this happen every couple of years due to pebbles in the water pipes chewing out the washers.

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lyhnz

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#2663063 26-Feb-2021 10:50

Thank you very much for your reply.

My valve is fine now , I just ask future alert or alarm for letting me know if there is an overflow.

In the past was when by chance I checked the roof and found out the overflow, I am asking any device can detect the overflow and letting me know ,

I appreciate if anyone can tell me any product I can buy for this purpose, thanks, My one is low pressure.

mdooher

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#2663065 26-Feb-2021 10:53

lyhnz:

Thank you very much for your reply.

My valve is fine now , I just ask future alert or alarm for letting me know if there is an overflow.

In the past was when by chance I checked the roof and found out the overflow, I am asking any device can detect the overflow and letting me know ,

I appreciate if anyone can tell me any product I can buy for this purpose, thanks, My one is low pressure.

as I said previously uses a heat sensor on the pipe. even a "pipestat" with a battery and a buzzer would work

Matthew

mdooher

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#2663066 26-Feb-2021 10:55

Actually... you don't mean your header tank do you?

Matthew

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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

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Dynamic

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#2663071 26-Feb-2021 11:11

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.

Pressure relief valve may not be the correct term. As you probably know, the height of the water in the header pipe directly affects the pressure of your hot water coming out of the tap. Adding a pressure relief valve at the top of the header pipe effectively allows you to 'extend the header pipe' without actually making it taller, according to my plumber. If the pressure gets over-spec, the valve allows water to escape instead of over-stressing the cylinder.

In our case, the valve used to drip briefly every now and then, and we were advised to expect this. On my walk between the garage and the house, I'd have a quick glance up and look for a trickle instead of a drip, which meant the ajax valve needed attention again.

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mdooher

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#2663074 26-Feb-2021 11:17

Dynamic:

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.

Pressure relief valve may not be the correct term. As you probably know, the height of the water in the header pipe directly affects the pressure of your hot water coming out of the tap. Adding a pressure relief valve at the top of the header pipe effectively allows you to 'extend the header pipe' without actually making it taller, according to my plumber. If the pressure gets over-spec, the valve allows water to escape instead of over-stressing the cylinder.

In our case, the valve used to drip briefly every now and then, and we were advised to expect this. On my walk between the garage and the house, I'd have a quick glance up and look for a trickle instead of a drip, which meant the ajax valve needed attention again.

It can be done by removing the header tank adding a low pressure pressure reduction valve and supplying the cylinder form that.

But if you still have a header tank the water pressure is controlled by the vertical distance from the top surface of the water in the the header tank to the outlet of the hot water tank. "you canny change the laws of physics Jim"

one way to get more pressure in your shower would be to lower the height of the shower rose compared to the header tank

Matthew

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#2663076 26-Feb-2021 11:29

Thanks for the clarification. In my case, there was no cold water header tank. Pipe from the street, into the ajax valve, into the cylinder.

Maybe I used the wrong term for the water pipe on hot side of the cylinder that sticks out the roof? I was calling that the header pipe.

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lyhnz

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#2663083 26-Feb-2021 11:44

Thanks Matthew.

To make my case clear, ok. My low pressure cylinder has a pipe out over the roof. before it had twice overflowed a lot of water , later results in washer needed to be replaced. but you only replace the washer in the valve once you notice the overflow. so how to notice the overflow is a big issue for me now, as I am not sure when I need to change the washer-not sure when it overflow-not sure how to notice it, only I climb up the roof be able to see it . that is why I ask if any thing can detect the overflow. I was thinking why there is no such a product in the market, maybe I can make one and sell it here, hahah.

Thank you Matthew again

lyhnz

11 posts

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#2663087 26-Feb-2021 11:54

NO , I just need something can detect the overflow and let me know , otherwise I can to climb the roof every day to check it

mdooher

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#2663088 26-Feb-2021 11:55

lyhnz:

Thanks Matthew.

To make my case clear, ok. My low pressure cylinder has a pipe out over the roof. before it had twice overflowed a lot of water , later results in washer needed to be replaced. but you only replace the washer in the valve once you notice the overflow. so how to notice the overflow is a big issue for me now, as I am not sure when I need to change the washer-not sure when it overflow-not sure how to notice it, only I climb up the roof be able to see it . that is why I ask if any thing can detect the overflow. I was thinking why there is no such a product in the market, maybe I can make one and sell it here, hahah.

Thank you Matthew again

Ok, so it is your header tank overflow, it will be cold water. I wouldn't even bother. just take look every 6 months

you could extend the pipe...so it drips on your head if it overflows. then you would see it :)

Matthew

lyhnz

11 posts

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#2663091 26-Feb-2021 12:00

Yes Matthew, I just need something, even an extension of pipe can let the water drip on my head so I know there is an overflow.

Ok, for this way, the problem will be

1: need to buy an elbow as the pipe is up right, to change to direction, so what elbow to buy, where, brand

2: what pipe need to buy, size, material , clear plastic? rubber tube? any idea is appreciated

lyhnz

11 posts

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#2663092 26-Feb-2021 12:02

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

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