Back boiler thicko!

[Dan the plumber]

Evening all,

Have spent most of my afternoon scratching my head & stroking my chin (nothing new there then-lol)

So, I am currently doing a bathroom refurb for a customer who still has a back boiler. Today, i was working in the loft & noticed that the vent pipe (or so i thought!) that was going into the f&e tank was full of limescale & was weeping in places. After consulting the customer, i agreed to change the pipework.
The pipework is ran exactly like a vent pipe having an open end and running in to the top of the f&e. As i started cutting in to the pipe, water started to run out and after a few mins of this, the f&e started to empty & fill again!?

I turned the mains off, drained the f&e and then replaced the pipework so thats all sorted, but am still a bit baffled as to what this pipe is? is it the flow/return and if so, why does it have an open vent and water doesnt run out as the pressure builds!?

As you can gather, i dont do a great deal of work on back boiler systems so an clarification you can give would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance all.

 

[gasmanrob]

Did you cut it bellow the water line of the f and e tank?

 

[Dan the plumber]

yeah bout 50mm (approx) below

 

[gasmanrob]

Then that will be the water finding its own level.

 

[Dan the plumber]

why does the water not flow out of the vent when the heating is on!? expansion and all that!......am i being a complete div here-lol

 

[stevetheplumber]

are you sure about the last two words of your name?

 

[Dan the plumber]

I often ask myself that very same question

 

[plumben]

Id get your lvl 2 books back out

the pressure in the system if from the level in the f&e

 

[Dan the plumber]

<---- *bows his head in shame at his stupidity and repeats over & over again "today is going to be a better day"* lol

 

[jtsplumbing]

Kid's what can you do with them ??

 

[quality]

why does the water not flow out of the vent when the heating is on!? expansion and all that!......am i being a complete div here-lol

Its called gravity, although we take it for granted it is very powerful

 

[Rickster123]

Dan don't let this put you off asking questions on here!

 

[Dan the plumber]

Dan don't let this put you off asking questions on here!

not at all mate......I don't mind being a div as the only way you find out is to ask......even if it's a stupid question that I should know the answer to-lol

 

[Dotty]

The only stupid question is the one that doesn't get asked.

 

[SimonG]

Aint that the truth.

 

[Dan the plumber]

The only stupid question is the one that doesn't get asked.

This is true my friend, very true.............and on that note, Im off to get my level 2 book out of the loft lol

 

[SimonG]

This is true my friend, very true.............and on that note, Im off to get my level 2 book out of the loft lol

You will look back on asking this question and laugh, and why not. If you are not sure and dont ask you will never know.

Keep the questions coming. Every day is a school day no matter how long you have been in the game.

 

[Rickster123]

And you didn't throw your toys out the pram and have a swearing rant. Fair play to ya.

 

[SimonG]

And you didn't throw your toys out the pram and have a swearing rant. Fair play to ya.

Indeed, nearly as chilled as me, or is that the drink spouting

 

[Rickster123]

Indeed, nearly as chilled as me, or is that the drink spouting

Chilled?! Potty mouth!

 

[SimonG]

Potty mouth?

 

[Dan the plumber]

Lol life is too short i take it all in my average size 9's

 

[SimonG]

Lol life is too short i take it all in my average size 9's

Ask away.

 

[Rickster123]

Potty mouth?

your little rant the other day that had me snorting tea out of nose!

 

[SimonG]

your little rant the other day that had me snorting tea out of nose!

You should hear me on full flow. Oil supplier and customet got both barrels the other week. Yes I am in the service industry but I still expect to be spoken to how people would like to be spoken to. I'm not afraid to call it as it is when I need to.