Question on "stratification" in a hot water cylinder

Sterlingtimes

I have had an Essex Flange installed half way down my hot water cylinder from which hot water is drawn by a shower pump.

Does the pump predominately draw cooler water from below the Essex Flange or warmer water from above the Essex Flange?

Does this arrangement help in any way with de-stratification?

C_Mababejive

What was the rationale for fitting the essex flange half way down the cylinder? Is the shower mixer thermostatic?

Sterlingtimes

C_Mababejive wrote: »

What was the rationale for fitting the essex flange half way down the cylinder? Is the shower mixer thermostatic?

It is a thermostatic mixer. The shower pump would not operate correctly in drawing the hot water from the top of the cylinder. Presumably it was sucking on air. The bathroom fitter after taking advice installed the flange. Now all works perfectly.

HappyMJ

It will draw water at the level of the pipe. Cold water will rise from the bottom of the cylinder to replace what you've used. If you run out of hot water for a shower you will still have some hot water from above the pipe for washing your hands with.

Does it help with de-stratification...I don't know that one.

C_Mababejive

This might be of interest as a general read on pumped water supplies for showers.
http://www.free-instruction-manuals.com/pdf/pa_1001698.pdf

My train of thought is that the ideal would be to have a non stop essex flange cut into the cylinder as close to the top as possible,,i,e juts below the dome. The 22mm copper through the flange into the body of the cylinder with a bird beak cutaway on the end of the pipe. This would ensure that the max volume of hot water was available for showering.

If the flange is some way down the cylinder then im thinking it limits the total volume of hot water available and the shower may run cooler quicker.

Of course it all depends on individual circs..

matty2767

Hope it's ok to add to this thread as the last response was a few weeks ago..

We have a santon unvented cylinder. I have the iboost. The cylinder is 150l which is probably too small for a household of 2 adults and 3 children, but is what came with the house.

We almost always run out of hot water after the kids have a shower. I appreciate they will use most of the hot water but then to heat the water back up to something reasonable seems to take the boiler a long time.

Tonight for example the water was cold and I boosted the boiler, 20 mins later and the water is still cold. It has been this way since we had the iboost. I don't know if it is triggering the stratification and fooling the boiler not to heat on its normal cycle, which I have set for about 5:30 in the evening and after a day's possible heat by solar.

Has any one had the same issue, I am tempted to price a new cylinder but concerned it might be something that I could easily fix without the outlay.

Thank you

Matt

C_Mababejive

#6 Re your cylinder recovery time, if you have had the boiler on for 20 mins and not drawn any hot water off yet still it is cold, i think there is a problem.

matty2767

Yes I do too. Have emailed our local plumber to give me a call tomorrow