What shower do I need?Shower types are power, electric, manual or thermostatic mixer valves, hydro flow. Electric showers work off the cold mains and have the benefit of being able to heat water instantaneously so you will never run out off hot water but these showers have limited flow rates. Power showers work off the hot and cold water supply and have a high flow rate therefore giving a great showering experience. The shower is powered by a pump either fitted to the shower unit or a remote pump usually fitted at the base of a cylinder tank. Manual Shower valves are used with combination boilers or powered by a remote pump but are susceptible to rapid temperature change when water is drawen off from another outlet. Thermostatic shower valves are used with a combination boiler or powered by a remote pump, the water temperature will not change when water is drawen off from another outlet. Hydro flow showers work on mains cold water and stored hot water. There is no need for electric as they work by the cold water pressure pulls the hot water though. What are the requirements for a loft installation?
Boiler installations in roof spaces should comply with the following additional requirements:-
Enough vertical clearance should be provided to satisfy the static head requirements for an
open vented system
Fixed flooring should be provided under and around the boiler for servicing, also from the
entry point in the loft
A permanent means of access to the roof space should be provided e.g fixed, retractable loft ladder
Fixed lighting should be provided
A guard should be provided to prevent contact between stored articles and the appliance
The exit from the roof space should be provided with a guard rail to prevent anyone falling
Isolation of gas, water and electricity should be possible without entering the roof space Can I fill a system with softened water?
Water supplied via a water softener should not be used to fill any central heating system unless a corrosion inhibitor specifically formulated for the purpose has been added.
Because the chemical composition of softened water is very variable, we recommend that filling a system with it should be avoided by turning off the softener whilst the system is filled, if possible.
Why is system flushing important?
Flushing of a central heating system in accordance with BS 7593 is carried out to remove contaminants such as flux residues, grease, jointing compounds, oxides produced by the corrosion process, bacteria and in hard water areas limescale.
If they are not removed, these contaminants form a harmful sludge in the system which reduces the efficiency of the system, causes noise and could potentially reduce the useful life of the appliance. Do I need to fit a bypass?
On open vented models, a bypass circuit, 3m long and incorporating an automatic bypass valve will be required.
On combi and sealed system models that are supplied with an integral bypass, an external automatic system bypass may still be required if there is any doubt that the minimum flow rate as specified in the installation instructions will be maintained at all times. The above requirements are in line with CheSS best practice.
Can I fit a new boiler onto an existing "one pipe system"?
A 'one pipe system' is not suitable for installation with new HE boilers. The design of such systems makes them difficult to balance and generally had old fashioned 'gravity' hot water. We can discuss your installation in more detail and upgrade to a modern and efficient 'two pipe system'.
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