No hot water=no fun

[seabisquit]

Hello to plumbing forum UK.
I am wanting to install a hot water heater in the loft of my 2 bedroom 1904 Tenement flat to supply only hot water.
I have tried over 20 local plumbers with no joy. The furthest I got was one came round and promised a quote.
2 weeks later and I am still waiting and its the usual not answering the phone. This is typical in my area
for all trades.
So I will probably have to do it myself...
I orignally wanted an unvented system but my mains pressure is at best 1.4 bar at loft 40 l per minute.
I have installed all the new plumbing to services myself. The mains supply rises 4 floors to the flat 22mm.
Past the initial valve it tees to the kitchen sink and washing machine and heads to the bath and
bathroom sink. It then rises to the loft. The hot water supply follows the same route the opposite direction.
The cold supply can be run direct to the loft with a few alterations (if I seperate it past the main inlet valve)
1st question: depending on what heating I get would I need to seperate the supply to the boiler/tank if volumes were not exceeded?
2nd Q : Gas excluded what other heaters/boilers are available. Since I am lacking pressure for
an unvented sytem does this leave me with only the vented option or are there others?
I plan to have a pump on the shower supply as there wont be much head of water, at the most 3 foot.
Thats the best I can describe my problem as I understand it at the moment...
I'm at wits end here and any advice or solutions alternatives would be welcome including any knowledgeable
Qualified installers in the Aberdeen (Scotland) area who would want to do the job!!
Cheers.
PS.. Solar is not an option...Aberdeen!!

Failing all of that I do have a gas supply. What puts me off them though is I have never seen a decent hot water supply off a gas boiler. I am sure they exist.

 

[ecowarm]

Hopefully somebody from Aberdeen will see this

 

[Halesowen1]

A little too far for me to come and quote.

 

[SimonJohns]

If you have 1.4bar and 40l flow rate. I'd say that's more than enough for uvhws

I'd got for the uvhws with inmersion heaters

 

[seabisquit]

Thank you ecowarm, halesowen and SimonJohns I like what you are saying!!!

 

[SimonJohns]

I should if edited that post. My predictive text makes me sound like a moron!

 

[Guest123]

I'd like to say that I'm disgusted that so called professionals treat you in such a poor manner. I'd definately come up and help if I wasn't so busy, so best of luck with your install. I'd also agree with SimonJohns that 1.4 bar and 40l flow rate is just fine.

 

[seabisquit]

Heh heh SimonJohns, the joys of predictive text. I understand fully.
Hi system3. Yes it is a bit of a struggle here. I think the trades can act like this because it is a lucrative oil city. Its one area that I have to give credit to the States. I have had a leaking roof for 3 years, it is still leaking!!! again I have called maybe 20 or so slaters/roofers and even a few pitched up. One who lives in the next building even gave a full on written quote which I said yes to with the funds waiting. Never heard from them again even after a few calls. Unless its big oil money nobody seems interested. Its not how i would conduct business.

Thanks for the replies. I am still not sure about the uvhw boilers. All I have looked at all reccomend 3 bar with 1.5 as the bare minimum. I would still have to get a qualified plumber to sign it off too which I am sure would be less of a problem. It would be great if they were knowledgeable and could install the system too.

I think I need some definitive advice here before going ahead.

The plumber who did bother to come round opened the bath tap, opened the sink tap looked at the pressure/volume difference and said not possible if another flat was to operate their taps.
I said suggest an alternative then. He did and said he would get a quote together and it wouldnt be cheap. I said fine. He called back the once to check that all he need do is connect the boiler and I would do all the rest ie. electrics and bring the pipes to the boiler.

Last I heard of him! and thats on a job to ensure a properly connected boiler basically. Probably an hours work max for parts and whatever he liked in labour!!!! He could have probably done it whilst on a lunch break from the big job across town he said he was working on if he wished....heck ,I would have even made the lunch!!

Aberdeen....

 

[Halesowen1]

Unfortunately us plumbers/heating engineers aint got much of a good name. We aint all that bad, but I suppose thats why some of us have a good supply of work.

 

[seabisquit]

achhh its the norm up here so it doesn't bother me too much. I too have skilled/professional work, that and never turn down a blank cheque. Its plumbing as well but on a huge scale!. I do stick to my word which is one thing that keeps my work coming and dont waste others time. Guess you could say I am reliable!. Make hay while the sun shines and all that.

Be nice to have hot water system though so I could move in with my wife and leave the hovel I currently live in and continue with the other works that are held up by this.

So, Would I really be able to install a properly working uvhws with my figures which are outwith the manufacturers reccomendations? With that I would definately have to seperate the mains supply to the loft.

What are the alternatives....vented, gas are there any others?

With a vented system would I really need to seperate the supply to the tank?

My main concern here is wasting time and money on something that doesnt work properly due to a lack of detailed knowledge/experience and knowingly outwith a manufacturers recomendation.

I am happy with the information the fella who came round gave me...if he knows his stuff and is correct.

 

[SimonJohns]

If you install a vented cylinder you will have less pressure than an uvhws

There is no minimum flow rate for a uvhws.

IMO I think you should deffo go for the uvhws

 

[seabisquit]

Please let it be true, thanks SimonJohns

You are right Mcdonalds powerflow quote no min figures I will have to call them to check

Just looking at the Range tribune instalation manual though it reccomends no less than 1.5 bar and 25 lpm
As I say, at best I get 1.4 down to 1 depending on the level of the supply caisson/dam/reservoir etc. I guess.

Heatrae Megaflow is reccomending 3 bar (min 1.5 which is a bit deceptive I think) and 25 lpm I think

So I guess if I can find one within my fugures and check with the local authority I should be able to
go with an uvhws which is what I wanted from the start.

Much appreciated thanks.