Hot water pressure- strange storage tank

Kebab_Meister · Sep 24, 2021

Hello. We have a system boiler in the kitchen filling what appears to be a two stage storage tank on the landing (under boiler pressure). There is no additional storage in the attic. Hot water from the shower bar is fine but all other hot taps are low pressure. Cold water pressure appears fine.

Is there anything obvious we can do to improve the pressure? Two CH engineers have inspected the set-up and appear slightly confused so I’m unsure if it is something strange or simply something they haven’t seen before.

I’ve attached some photos to show the storage tank etc. There are three red valves - what do these all do - one on left cuts water but unsure of other two? There’s a magnetic sphere powered by electric - what does this do (one side is always cold). And next to sphere there’s a metal box switch connected to power with manual switch - what does this do? There is an electric immersion back up. Grateful for any advice, I know very little about CH!

ShaunCorbs · Sep 24, 2021

Nope you can’t increase the hot water pressure best option is to install a combi

SJB060685 · Sep 24, 2021

You have a combination storage tank. The top part is the storage cistern which feeds the lower cylinder when needed.
The magnet is for catching magnetite and possibly other non magnetic debris to prevent corrosion.
The valve is a 3 port, most probably a mad position valve, used to divert water from the boiler to the cylinder to heat, or the central heating, or both.

SJB060685 · Sep 24, 2021

ShaunCorbs said:
Nope you can’t increase the hot water pressure best option is to install a combi

Why would a combi be the best bet? I'd be more inclined to opt for an unvented cylinder.

Kebab_Meister · Sep 24, 2021

ShaunCorbs said:
Nope you can’t increase the hot water pressure best option is to install a combi

A combi is on our shopping list once all the other improvements have been done.

Any idea what the items do what I queried?

Kebab_Meister · Sep 24, 2021

SJB060685 said:
You have a combination storage tank. The top part is the storage cistern which feeds the lower cylinder when needed.
The magnet is for catching magnetite and possibly other non magnetic debris to prevent corrosion.
The valve is a 3 port, most probably a mad position valve, used to divert water from the boiler to the cylinder to heat, or the central heating, or both.

Thank you very much for the explanation, most grateful. Everyone was asking to see the attic storage tank but I said there was none. The two other valves appear mid position, I just wanted to make sure they weren’t some relief valve; I need as much pressure as possible 😀

SJB060685 · Sep 24, 2021

Kebab_Meister said:
Thank you very much for the explanation, most grateful. Everyone was asking to see the attic storage tank but I said there was none. The two other valves appear mid position, I just wanted to make sure they weren’t some relief valve; I need as much pressure as possible 😀

You're hot water is gravity fed, you would have slightly more pressure if the storage cistern was in the attic and not as part of the cylinder but not much.

Kebab_Meister · Sep 24, 2021

SJB060685 said:
You're hot water is gravity fed, you would have slightly more pressure if the storage cistern was in the attic and not as part of the cylinder but not much.

Thanks.

ShaunCorbs · Sep 24, 2021

SJB060685 said:
Why would a combi be the best bet? I'd be more inclined to opt for an unvented cylinder.

Low demand for hot water as the shower will be off another system/ maybe pumped

Kebab_Meister · Sep 24, 2021

SJB060685 said:
You're hot water is gravity fed, you would have slightly more pressure if the storage cistern was in the attic and not as part of the cylinder but not much.

Thanks

ShaunCorbs said:
Low demand for hot water as the shower will be off another system/ maybe pumped

Shaun I don’t believe there’s any pump for the shower.

ShaunCorbs · Sep 24, 2021

Can you take a picture of the shower ?

Hot water pressure- strange storage tank

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