Water Tank and Expansion Vessel Overflow?

Bendy_House

laurencewhymark said:

Don't mind having a plumber come in and take it out of my hair!

To clarify, the overflow pipe coming out of the expansion vessel, it needs to come out of the fascia, then divert / direct back into the external face of the property, so as to not cause harm to others?

Yes, as shown in Grumb's earlier post with pics.

Look up a modern (combi or system) boiler's installation instructions, and read what it says about the safety discharge pipe.

I think your earlier work with copper amply demonstrates your PRACTICAL skills and competence in this field, so 'all' you need to add is that you follow the actual installation guidelines.

grumbler

laurencewhymark said:

To clarify, the overflow pipe coming out of the expansion vessel, it needs to come out of the fascia, then divert / direct back into the external face of the property, so as to not cause harm to others?

To anybody, including you.

It would be nicer if it comes out down, through the soffit, and then bends back towards the wall, but this seems to be more difficult job. Very easy if you don't have soffits.

paperclap

Thanks Bendy_House  I have a bit of a curse of not wanting things to defeat me! Having the roof reroofed now as we speak, and even a job like that I wanted to do.

grumbler, that's a good shout on coming through the soffit, then back to the wall. It would massively reduce the eyesore!

Which makes me think. Is it ever good (or even best) practice to run the cold water tank overflow pipe through the soffit too? Reason I ask is. We're in the process of having our fascias and soffits redone. Fascias are naturally the single 4m (or whatever) sheets running along. Not so easily replaceable. The soffits however, have been fitted against the property, so if we were to ever remove the cold water tank in the loft, along with the overflow pipe, it would be a case of changing out that small soffit panel, without the need for capping!

Section62

laurencewhymark said:

Which makes me think. Is it ever good (or even best) practice to run the cold water tank overflow pipe through the soffit too?

No.  The overflow pipe should terminate approximately horizontal rather than vertical, and pointing away from the building.  This is so any water overflowing is discharged away from the building.  If the termination is vertical (because it comes through the soffit) then the discharge will drip/flow onto the building and cause damage.

You also need to minimise the number of changes in direction of the overflow pipe - both to reduce the restriction in flow, and to minimise the risk of blockages.  To get the pipe to exit via the soffit would require at least one additional elbow.  This would also make it impossible to inspect/clean the inside of the overflow pipe without dismantling it.  Keeping the pipe run as straight as possible should mean it is possible to clear a blockage with nothing more than a long stick.

Section62

laurencewhymark said:

Don't mind having a plumber come in and take it out of my hair!

Stick with this plan, or you may have serious regrets later.