Vent Pipe Blanked Off

[carl233]

Would appreciate some advice I have a Potterton Suprima 60 Boiler system and a plumber doing a routine inspection of the system has stated in their opinion the system is not safe. This they have raised is due to no vent pipe being fitted to the F&E tank. Is anyone able to say if this information is correct, I should say the system has been working fine for well more than a decade without such a vent pipe. Any information and help is most welcome.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Any pictures of the f and e tank ?

 

[Deleted member 120897]

Has it been converted to a sealed system? Do you ever need to top up pressure?

 

[EvilDrPorkChop]

Might be combined feed and vent without a vent. Seen it on a lot of new build estates round here that are about 20 year old but the feed pipe would have to be 22/28mm to accommodate it I believe. Not something I've ever done.

 

[carl233]

Has it been converted to a sealed system? Do you ever need to top up pressure?

It has never been converted, I will take some pictures when back at home. System has been working perfectly and has no issues. The plumber who was inspecting the system and installing a new cylinder due to the old one having a leak has written down the following comment on the paperwork:

'No vent pipe on heating system' to rectify the unsafe situation they have documented: 'Install vent pipe to F&E tank'

The house was built in the year 2000 and the heating system unchanged apart from the recent replacement of the leaking cylinder. There is no evidence that any vent pipe has ever been installed yet this plumber is convinced it needs one and that it is unsafe

 

[John.g]

I have the combined set up but with a vent, both vent and cold feed are 22 MM, the vent passes up adjacent to the F&E Tank with the cold feed teed straight into it , cold feed is only a few cm long.

 

[Timmy D]

When you get pics, check the size of the current feed pipe.

 

[carl233]

Will measure the pipe, here are some pictures of the boiler used and the general view showing the pipework. If anything is not clear now at home in a position to take more pictures

 

[Deleted member 120897]

I think Shaun wants pics of the f&e tank and vent pipe blocked off. Also that cylinder thermostat is too low down.

 

[Gasmk1]

Isn’t that hat looking thing an airjac that will be combined open vent and cold feed

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Isn’t that hat looking thing an airjac that will be combined open vent and cold feed

Yep but still technically have a vent pipe into the f and e tank

 

[carl233]

Thanks for the input really appreciate it, the first picture that is blanked off the plumber today states there should be a vent pipe from this location and without this it is 'dangerous' in his opinion

 

[EvilDrPorkChop]

Thanks for the input really appreciate it, the first picture that is blanked off the plumber today states there should be a vent pipe from this location and without this it is 'dangerous' in his opinion

We want a picture of the tank in the loft, and the size of the pipe going into it.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

We want a picture of the tank in the loft, and the size of the pipe going into it.

It’s 22mm going to the f and e

 

[EvilDrPorkChop]

It’s 22mm going to the f and e

Yeah I saw, possibly could have been reduced in the loft though. Although I very much doubt it.

It'll be a combined feed and vent with no vent - which is fine as far as I'm aware. For some reason new build builders started doing this about 20 year ago 🤷‍♂️

 

[carl233]

Yeah I saw, possibly could have been reduced in the loft though. Although I very much doubt it.

It'll be a combined feed and vent with no vent - which is fine as far as I'm aware. For some reason new build builders started doing this about 20 year ago 🤷‍♂️

Thanks all for the guidance, here are some from the tank in the loft, for some reason the plumber today was describing the system as a potential 'doomsday' that needs a vent pipe ASAP

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Would class it as needing updating slightly aslong as there’s no valves on the pipe leading to the air sep eg lowest pipe on the small tank then there’s nothing that bad

 

[EvilDrPorkChop]

Thanks all for the guidance, here are some from the tank in the loft, for some reason the plumber today was describing the system as a potential 'doomsday' that needs a vent pipe ASAP

Yeah it's fine. If the system was to boil up (Which is why there is a vent pipe), it'll boil up back up the feed pipe. As long as there is no tap on the 'feed' pipe w

As I said, lot of new builds were done like this 20 years ago.

 

[carl233]

Yeah it's fine. If the system was to boil up (Which is why there is a vent pipe), it'll boil up back up the feed pipe. As long as there is no tap on the 'feed' pipe w

As I said, lot of new builds were done like this 20 years ago.

Thank you very much for the information, greatly appreciated, will continue as things are without having any additional unnecessary work done.

 

[carl233]

Would class it as needing updating slightly aslong as there’s no valves on the pipe leading to the air sep eg lowest pipe on the small tank then there’s nothing that bad

Thanks Shaun, good to hear there is nothing too bad here

 

[Ric2013]

Assuming what the OP has is what is shown in figure 3 on page 10 :

Plumbase Manuals

then I fail to see the problem - it meets the boiler manufacturer's installation requirements and the boiler is designed to be installed this way. The OP's plumber may be used to older boilers that did not have the failsafe devices that allowed this kind of installation?

EDIT - just noticed the lack of vent on the cylinder, however. Is that supposed to be a vented or unvented cylinder - can others please comment?