Urgent clockwise or anti-clockwise

plumberhelp

hi

In need of help:

Ok needed to change a tap.

I have a boiler (gas) in the garage a hot water tank in a bedroom, for which i simply turn a switch on when i want hot water (electric) and another tank in the roof.

To turn the water off to fit a new tap i went into the roof there are 3 pipes that go into the tank in the roof. One that goes in from the top has a stop co?k type handle on it.

two other pipes come out of the bottom of the same tank just as they exit the tank there is a red circular value looks like a tiny steering wheel. there is one of these on each each of the pipes that come out of the bottom.

now if the tank is on the right should these two red valves be turned clockwise or anticlockwise. i have changed the tap (cold water tap in bathroom), i think i needed to close the stop co?k going into the roof tank and not touch the two red wheels.

In trying to turn the water off i played with them and can't remember which way they should be now that i have finished replacing the tap......i know i know...idiot!

I have a photo at ultimatehandyman.co.uk under the plumbing forums

tomstickland

Clockwise turns a valve off normally.

plumberhelp

this is the answer that i am getting. do you know whether the purpose of these two pipes that come out of the bottom roof tank is to take water to be heated.

if anti-clockwise is correct why do i keep getting lots - not a trickle of water coming- out of my hot water taps in the bathroom as i have currently left both of the valves in the clockwise position (which should be closed)

ormus

normally you should just turn off the main stopcock. then drain all the water off, if a tank is fitted.
always make sure the boiler is off.
the red handles are for hot water or heating pipes. be careful how you use some of these. they must not be off when the boiler is operating. dangerous.

plumberhelp

ormus wrote: »

normally you should just turn off the main stopcock. then drain all the water off, if a tank is fitted.
always make sure the boiler is off.
the red handles are for hot water or heating pipes. be careful how you use some of these. they must not be off when the boiler is operating. dangerous.

but anti-clockwise for normal operation?

ormus

yes.
all taps and valves are clockwise to close. (all that i know of).

Rosebery_2

plumberhelp wrote: »

this is the answer that i am getting. do you know whether the purpose of these two pipes that come out of the bottom roof tank is to take water to be heated.

if anti-clockwise is correct why do i keep getting lots - not a trickle of water coming- out of my hot water taps in the bathroom as i have currently left both of the valves in the clockwise position (which should be closed)

They are called gate valves. The colour of the wheel is unimportant and has nothing to do with the operation.

One of them supplies cold water to your bathoom taps (bath and basin) and probably also to the loo. The kitchen cold is normally fed direct from mains.

The other one supplies cold water to the bottom of the HW cylinder so that when you draw hot off the top of the tank it refills from the bottom to be heated.

Gate valves are notorious - total PITA. The red wheel operates a sliding mechanism to obstruct the flow of water. This mechanism gets gummed up (mostly with lack of use) and then becomes hard to operate and freqnetly doesn't close all the way anyway. When this happens the wheel (which is just a bit of thin aluminium) becomes distorted when you try to operate it and ends up just spinning on the spindle. You may think you have turned it off but its more than likely that you haven't. Take the head off, put an adjustable spanner on the spindle and try again. Most likely you will be able to close it or open it depending on what you atre trying to do. Lever valves are much better.

Cheers

Rosebery_2

ormus wrote: »

normally you should just turn off the main stopcock. then drain all the water off, if a tank is fitted.

Sorry to disagree but the valves are there to isolate the tank when necessary otherwise their presence would be totally pointless.

always make sure the boiler is off.

That is a reasonably sensible precaution.

the red handles are for hot water or heating pipes. be careful how you use some of these. they must not be off when the boiler is operating. dangerous.

Sorry again, but that is not so. The colour of the wheel is irreleant to its usage. Most gate valves in a domestic environment have red tops whether they are used for hot or cold supplies. Its the location on the system thats important as to whether they feed the boiler or not.

Cheers

plumberhelp

Rosebery wrote: »

Sorry to disagree but the valves are there to isolate the tank when necessary otherwise their presence would be totally pointless.

That is a reasonably sensible precaution.

Sorry again, but that is not so. The colour of the wheel is irreleant to its usage. All gate valves have red tops whether they are used for hot or cold supplies. Its the location on the system thats important as to whether they feed the boiler or not.

Cheers

please tell me you agree with anit-clockwise for normal position.

Rosebery_2

plumberhelp wrote: »

please tell me you agree with anit-clockwise for normal position.

Yes I do. Two other small points. If the gate Valve is misbehaving when you shut it it will also, potentially, misbehave when you open it. Also gate valves on your heating system (which these aren't) can be set in a certain position to restrict flow. It is important that if such are touched you take notice of how many turns to shut and then when opening open to the same position. Just like lockshield valves on your radiators. But thats a digression from the topic and just general information.

Cheers