Surrey Flange... Absolutely necessary or not?

Treadway1

Hey all,

Im hoping that after the childish giggling at the name (;)), someone may be able to offer some advice on whether or not a Surrey flange is essential with the new shower pump Im putting in?

Ive read up loads about them and know that they are to stop air bubbles going through the pump and causing premature wear on it and that one of the connections feeds the existing pipework and the other should be used for a new pipe run to the shower pump, but thats where my problems lies, in that it physically impossible to run a new feed from the hot water cylinder to the bathroom (Well, not without ripping up the floorboards in about 3 rooms anyway!!! :eek:)

So my question is, is it absolutely imperative that I fit one of these flanges and what will happen if I dont?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Treaders

Gloomendoom

I fitted one. It was an easy way to stop the water pressure to the power shower dropping if somebody turned on hot taps elsewhere in the house.

It worked... the power shower never went suddenly cold.

Treadway1

Thanks for that. Was that the only reason you fitted it though?

I live alone so someone else turning a tap on wouldnt be a problem for me (Although Id bloody cack myself if the pressure did suddenly drop while I was showering..... Is anybody there?!!! :eek:)

Do you know if I could get away without fitting one though?

moonrakerz

If you are getting a flange (good practice) make sure you know what you have and how to connect it.
There are several types which can be easily confused. Another common one is a Warix flange, looks identical to a Surrey but needs to be connected up exactly opposite to a Surrey !

Gloomendoom

Treadway1 wrote: »

Thanks for that. Was that the only reason you fitted it though?

Yes, at the time I was unaware of the other reasons you mentioned.

ormus

Common flanges used in plumbing are the Surrey flange or Danzey flange, York flange, Sussex flange and Essex flange. Surrey and York flanges fit to the top of the hot water tank allowing all the water to be taken without disturbance to the tank. They are often used to ensure an even flow of water to showers.

An Essex flange requires a hole to be drilled in the side of the tank.


There is also a Warix flange which is the same as a York flange but the shower output is on the top of the flange and the vent on the side. The York and Warix flange have female adapters so that they fit onto a male tank, whereas the Surrey flange connects to a female tank.

Treadway1

Thanks to everyone for the replies but Im still a little confused. As I say, its nigh on impossible for me to plumb in a new run solely for the shower so will it make any difference to the system if I put a flange in and only use one of the outlets?

The reason Im asking is that since Ive installed a Salamander pump (which is sitting under the bath) every time I run the bath or use the the shower, a short while later the cold water tank starts overflowing because it is being filled from the hot water cylinder vent. Im wondering whether fitting a flange will make any difference to this or if this is another problem entirely???

I used to be an electrician in a past life so copper cabling Im pretty good with, but copper pipework is apparently not my forte!

Canucklehead

Treadway1 wrote: »

Thanks to everyone for the replies but Im still a little confused. As I say, its nigh on impossible for me to plumb in a new run solely for the shower so will it make any difference to the system if I put a flange in and only use one of the outlets?

The reason Im asking is that since Ive installed a Salamander pump (which is sitting under the bath) every time I run the bath or use the the shower, a short while later the cold water tank starts overflowing because it is being filled from the hot water cylinder vent. Im wondering whether fitting a flange will make any difference to this or if this is another problem entirely???

I used to be an electrician in a past life so copper cabling Im pretty good with, but copper pipework is apparently not my forte!

Hi,

Do you have hot and cold supplied from said cold water tank?
Or is the cold direct from the main?


GSR.

To answer your OP.
A shower pump will work best with a dedicated hot and cold supply ( from a Surrey, Sussex, Essex,Cornwall or Scotland it doesn't matter). I think Salamander will not honour their guarantee if the supply is common.(hot or cold also feeds other fittings)
Consult the installation instructions as to the alternative positions for acceptable hot water draw off points, it's all there.

mikey72

Do the shower and bath go cold as well?
If so, the cold is from the rising main, not the water tank.
The flange isn't critical, and won't cause the overflowing.

Treadway1

Ok, so not wishing to keep asking questions.... I think Ive found why the CWS tank in the loft is overflowing. I thought it was the Hot water cylinder pushing water up through the vent (Which it was initially as I saw it pumping water in... Anyway, that another issue entirely and I digress) but now Ive found that due to the new mixer tap Ive put in the bathroom, the cold water is forcing its way back up the hoter water pipes and backfilling the sytem.

Ive isolated the mixer now, as I had wisely installed some isolating ball valves on the pipework under the bath, but that is obviously not a permanent fix as Ill need to turn these on and off everytime I use the bath/shower. Is there a non-return valve I could fit on the hot pipes to stop this? Or any other suggestion you may have. As previously mentioned, I cant run a new feed from tank for either hot or cold water so having a non mains cold feed to the bathroom is impossible.

Sorry for asking so many questions, but this is starting to take over my life... Im constantly paranoid that Ill come home from work to find water pouring down the walls! :eek:

As ever, your views are greatly appreciated.

ormus

try lowering the water level of the CWS tank.
or fit a larger tank. maybe two tanks linked?
(just thinking out loud).