Life expectancy of header tanks and ball valves, relocate or replace.

[malx42]

I am going to move my central heating header tank and started to think about the life expectancy of various plumbing items.

The tank is polypropylene and has a brass ball valve with plastic float. It’s 40 years old. With the issues of sustainability etc, it’s it likely that these items will last another 40 years if moved? Is it a case of “they don’t make them like they used to?”

You don’t routinely think about replacing these items or copper pipework .... how long will they last?

 

[Riley]

As with a lot of things it will depend on how its installed in the first instance and how well it is maintained going forward It can be proper finger in the wind stuff.

 

[Rob Foster]

They dont make them like they used to. My last house the tanks and valves where from 1948 when it was built and I moved the lot when I did a loft conversion in 2000 just sold 4 months ago. No problems except a valve washer. Spray the gate valves with wd40 or chainsaw oil a few days before you want to play with them
Rob Foster aka centralheatking

 

[Best]

The plastic heating tank is better replaced. I have come across them being heat damaged due to systems occasionally putting hot water into the tank via the vent or feed pipe.
Remember one being so brittle I could just break parts of it with my fingers.
Same with large cold water storage tanks. Definitely the rectangular types need replaced as the stresses on the sides can and will eventually cause plastic to crack.
Round plastic tanks if installed correctly are capable of lasting much longer if no hot water or UV rays could damage them.
Also got to consider woodworm can damage plastic tanks, do do not assume if the tank looks okay, that it is

 

[Rob Foster]

The plastic heating tank is better replaced. I have come across them being heat damaged due to systems occasionally putting hot water into the tank via the vent or feed pipe.
Remember one being so brittle I could just break parts of it with my fingers.
Same with large cold water storage tanks. Definitely the rectangular types need replaced as the stresses on the sides can and will eventually cause plastic to crack.
Round plastic tanks if installed correctly are capable of lasting much longer if no hot water or UV rays could damage them.
Also got to consider woodworm can damage plastic tanks, do do not assume if the tank looks okay, that it is

Round tanks are ace, especially when going thro a restricted loft access. We warm them up and squash them down so they fit thro. Rob Foster aka centralheatking

 

[Best]

Round tanks are ace, especially when going thro a restricted loft access. We warm them up and squash them down so they fit thro. Rob Foster aka centralheatking

Never thought of warming them up.
Guess only safe way is use warm water.
Or a hairdryer carefully?

 

[Rob Foster]

Never thought of warming them up.
Guess only safe way is use warm water.
Or a hairdryer carefully?

that will do done it for years