Essex Flange ?

albalad

are these difficult to fit ?
I've just bought a 3 bar pump to run a new shower column and it's recommending an essex flange fitted midway down the tank.
I had intially thought i would be able to use my existing gate valve(at the top of tank) from my power shower , but that only comes out at 18mm whereas i now need 22mm for the pump.

Can anyone offer me an idiots guide to fitting one of these flanges , as i've read elsewhere that they can be a bit of a b****r to fit - dropping bits inside the tank etc

thanks

HugoSP

I would suggest a Surrey Flange that is fitted at the top of the tank in place of the vented outlet at the top (where your gate valve is fitted).

This is fitted by removing the current pipe and then inserting this in its place. The pipework you removed is then refitted into the top of the Surrey Flange and the shower plumbs into the side of the flange.

This avoids cutting a hole in your tank IIRC.

Forgive me if I'm a little rusty on the detail. I fitted one as part of a shower install a couple of years ago.

snails's_pace

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
sorry, my mind is in the gutter (essex flange)

SmartRRRR

There's this from Screwfix, by Salamander.

http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?cId=A334831&ts=39494&id=76906

It fits in place of the existing top outlet, as HugoSP has said.

(It's upside down in the picture, in case you wondered how it goes.)

albalad

thanks for the replies
it specifically recommends an essex flange over a surrey flange - to reduce the risk of air pockets - that's why it is fitted further down the tank afaik
here is a page from the manufacturers site , showing the recommendations.
the actual manual lists the preferred fitting as

1 existing secondary tappings 22mm

2 essx flange 22mm

3 surrey flange 22mm outlet

edit; page 7 of online brochure

HugoSP

Having read the manual Page 7 it stipulates that the draw off for the HW for the shower must be 1 metre below the base of the cold water storage tank. and it must be below the epansion pipe tee.

It then says if this is not possible then an essex flange must be used.

The Surry flange actually makes the above possible, if it isn't anyway.

I would give showerforce a call. It was them that recommended a Surry Flange to me when I fitted their 3 bar pump.

Canucklehead

Hi

Did you check to see if you have a secondary tapping blanked off somewhere out of sight ?
You will need a hole saw, make sure you file the burr off the inside of the cylinder afterwards. Don't let go of the wire and you'll be alright .

HTH.

Corgi Guy.

gavinp

I used a Warix flange for our shower which screws into the top of the cylinder like a Surrey flange but is designed specifically for power showers:

http://www.speedplumb.co.uk/warix-flanges-p-1519.html?osCsid=e681f8f8b8dc426adc12d9515a634d46

The Salamander flange previously mentioned is apparently almost identical.

This page gives some good details about the flange types recommended for use with the "Techflow" brand of pumps and states "The SURREY or YORK flange types MUST NOT be used as they can restrict flow to the pump inlet.":

http://www.bathroomexpress.co.uk/shop_tec_qtinstall.htm

Thanks

Gavin

EliteHeat

Just fit a Surrey flange - it will work without a problem.

HugoSP

EliteHeat wrote: »

Just fit a Surrey flange - it will work without a problem.

Exactly! - No drilling or cutting into the cylinder.

potshot

Is it possible for a surrey flange to fail ie not stop air getting into a power shower.