Odd pipework

olbas_oil

I am wanting to box off some pipes. I think this used to be a connection for a washing machine (now in another room) and I would gain some space if I removed the poking out taps.
However I am trying to understand what they were for. The pipework runs from floor to ceiling, with no other branches or taps.
Tap A lets out water even if the mains stopcock is off, so I assume it takes a feed from the cold water tank in the attic.
Tap C lets out water until the mains cold is switched off, so I assume it is mains fed from the floor.
But what totally confuses me is that they appear to be in a continuous run (provided Tap B is on). Yet turning the mains off stops C, but does not effect A (B is open - unless the internals are jammed).
I am hoping someone can recognise what this was once used for. Would I be safe to replace both B and C with a straight run (perhaps an inline valve) and the same for A?
That would gain me about 30cm of cupboard space.

Silver-Surfer_2

A may be to drain the central heating system down. The connector maybe to connect a hose to run the water to an outside drain.

olbas_oil

No, the central heating is the lagged pipes - they get warm when the heating is on. There was an upstand pipe drainage like that for a washing machine, so I assume there may have been a washing machine taking its feed from A or C. I don't know what the black part just above C is though?

Mankysteve

That's just Bizarre plumbing. My guess is that is someone weird DIY plumbing.

The black part is some kind of pressure reducer.

personally I trace the whole lot back to figure out what on earth is going on, but if you don't want to go that far then just cut out the T joints and replace with stright pipe. loosen the tap fitting and twist it so its as to the wall as possible.

If when main water is off C stops but A continues to run then B must be shut. If I where you I'd be a bit concerned that the Valve B is ever opened then it would force water into your cold and flood out your house, presuming that is what is actually going on.

Moss5

My guess - C was inlet to water softener. A was outlet from softener.
B would be closed when the softener was in use.
With A and C closed, the softener could be removed, but B would be open to allow hard water to by-pass the softener.

Mankysteve

Moss5 wrote: »

My guess - C was inlet to water softener. A was outlet from softener.
B would be closed when the softener was in use.
With A and C closed, the softener could be removed, but B would be open to allow hard water to by-pass the softener.

That would prefect sense. My guess is that A is in fact not running the tank down but is infact emptying the pipework above.

olbas_oil

And now you've explained it, it seems so obviously true. I have now replaced A,B and C with direct pipework, and all other parts of the system are working as before. Many thanks for the explanation.