Filling loop connected

DocQuincy

I had an Ideal Logic 30 combi fitted over 2 years ago and decided to check how you add pressure to the boiler (I've never needed to so far; my old boiler needed doing every few months) last night.

The filling loop was connected (I never knew what one was until last night) so the plumber must've done this on installation. It has since been serviced twice by a different plumber who said nothing about it.

From what I read last night the main reason to not keep it connected is so water doesn't go back but if the pipe is one-way surely this can't happen since the pipe that feeds into the loop has a one-way arrow on it. So, what's the point of disconnecting it?

It seems many people do this so I am assuming it is safe.

What is the worst that can happen? Can it cause a flood/leak? If it can my main concern is if there was I wouldn't be covered by my insurance since they say this in the policy booklet:

We will not pay for loss, damage or any liability resulting from or consisting of…faulty workmanship, design or materials

Am I over-worrying about this?

missile

I believe you are over worrying. If it hasn't leaked in two years why would it now?
My filling loop has two isolating valves at either end.
My MiL got a new boiler and BG installation team removed the loop. She has to call BG as and when it needs topping up.

Because she never checks the pressure, she has no heating / hot water until they come. Somehow this is my wife's fault :eek::eek::eek:

societys_child

if the pipe is one-way surely this can't happen since the pipe that feeds into the loop has a one-way arrow on it. So, what's the point of disconnecting it?

None whatsoever.
Same with outdoor taps, they should all be fitted with non-return valves.

bris

There is a risk of the system water going back into the mains water if the filling loop doesn't have a one way valve fitted, this can happen if the pressure fails so there is a small risk there.


Also consumers can't be trusted to top up their own systems.


You wouldn't believe the amount of people who top up the system only to leave the filling loop open.


And last thing I can think of is if the valve fails then there is a risk of mains water feeding into the system again over pressurising it.

DocQuincy

Thanks for the fast replies. While I know very little about plumbing I am fine with this and would never leave it open.



If there's no extra chance of leakage and there is no chance of the water coming back down since the flow is one way the $64k question is: why do they bother with a filling loop in the first place? My previous old combi never had one. Is it some kind of legacy thing to cover boilers that could have contamination?


By the way, if water does come back into the system, what is the big deal? Is water that's been in pipes too long bad for you?

ic

The water in your central heating system is grim, and you don't want to drink it! It'll have all the dirt and grime from inside the radiators (from their manufacture, and bits of rust), plus hopefully your engineer added additives to help stop the radiators decaying in the first place. If you drain a radiator, the water is typically orange to black.

DocQuincy

I had in my mind the water just being in the copper pipes when I typed that but, of course, that makes sense.


However, if you if have one way flow to the filling loop why do they bother with filling loops in the first place — or are they not 100% reliable? I'm assuming that since many people have filling loops connected all the time that means water contamination is either rare and/or not generally a safety issue.

Ectophile

I wouldn't like to trust a one-way valve alone to keep corrosion inhibitor chemicals out of my drinking water. It could take just a lump of limescale to stop the valve closing properly.


When I had combi boilers, they had taps at both ends of the filling loop. I would make sure I closed both.

DocQuincy

When I had combi boilers, they had taps at both ends of the filling loop. I would make sure I closed both.

That's the thing, isn't a one-way valve and the two taps sufficient? I have double-checked they're both fully closed.

Lorian

DocQuincy wrote: »

Am I over-worrying about this?

Sounds like it.

Ruski

Tuppence worth: there is a risk no matter how small that the check valve can fail and users can leave the valve open.
The only sure way to ensure complete non-contamination risk is to physically remove the connection, and that's why water regulations decree it.
Hth
Russ