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nc · Joined: 14 Mar 2008 Posts: 4 Location: england

I am planning to put the hot water tank in the loft. I have been advised that I could have problems with this. Is this right and what sort of problems would there be?

thescruff · Moderator Joined: 03 May 2003 Posts: 4401 Location: Bath

Most of the problems should be obvious.

Type of cylinder.

Where's the storage tank going if it has one have you got an G3 ticket if it hasn't.

Weight and full cylinder could be an tonne on the joists, plus as much again for the tank if it has one

expect the water pressure to be poor to no existent

nc · Joined: 14 Mar 2008 Posts: 4 Location: england

Thanks for the reply, I'm not a plumber so it's not obvious to me.

Tank - the standard hot water tank, I think

Cold water storage tank will be above hot tank, don't know what G3 ticket is?

weight will be taken by attaching to wall and Joists

Why will the pressure be poor? if the tanks are high up in the loft surely it would be better?

Any suggestions as want to make space in bathroom and only way is moving tank. Is it better to get a combi, but I've heard they can be low pressure too.

thescruff · Moderator Joined: 03 May 2003 Posts: 4401 Location: Bath

The pressure will depend on the height of the storage tank above the top of the cylinder, so 1m will be 0.1bar 2m will be 0.2 bar.

Alternative would depend on the mains pressure and you need to test this before you decide.

An combi if you need a new boiler would be better than your plan at the moment,

An unvented cylinder would allow you to keep the boiler but you need the G3 unvented ticket.

nc · Joined: 14 Mar 2008 Posts: 4 Location: england

We have very good water pressure.

I estimate that the cold water storage tank would only be above the hot by 2 to 3 ft at the most. would this be enough?

What is a 'G3 unvented ticket'?

Thanks

thescruff · Moderator Joined: 03 May 2003 Posts: 4401 Location: Bath

The hot would be equal to pouring water from an kettle, and you could end up with the worlds worst shower.

Cold should be reasonable though.

An G3 ticket is what you need to install unvented cylinders, otherwise you need to get it signed off by the building inspector.

Would be the way to go if you have an good pressure, you would need to take a 22mm mains into the loft to connect to the cylinder, and take the cold from the valve for an balanced hot + cold to the outlets.

No storage tank has to be a consideration worth thinking about on its own

nc · Joined: 14 Mar 2008 Posts: 4 Location: england

Hot water is not bad at the moment in the bathroom, the worst is the kitchen could this get worse then?

Cold should be okay as it's from the mains and not from cold water storage in the loft.

If I was to go for a combi approx how much would I be looking at, assuming boiler replacement only and piping?

Thanks

thescruff · Moderator Joined: 03 May 2003 Posts: 4401 Location: Bath

If you measure the top of the cylinder to the water level now, say 3m 0.3bar then the new setup would 3 x as bad.

Combi would depend what you have where you are and what is involved.

Best to get a few prices in. at a guess £2k