Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Hi there,
There is an issue with role permissions that is being worked on at the moment.
If you are having trouble with access or permissions on regional forums please post here to get access: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058365403/you-do-not-have-permission-for-that#latest

What is the valve at the foot of my how water tank for?

  • 14-02-2017 8:26am
    #1
    armabelle
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,017 ✭✭✭


    I live in a detached house with 3 bedrooms and upstairs a green hot water cyclinder resides in a cupboard. At the foot of this cylinder there is a valve that can be wound clockwise or anti-clockwise. Can anyone please help me understand what this valve is for? Does opening it let the water in?

    thank you


Comments

  • #2
    K.Flyer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,565 ✭✭✭K.Flyer


    That is part of your central heating system and is used for "balancing" the heating system and ordinarily once set should not be touched.
    It is not meant to be fully open or closed, but only partially open.
    Close the valve clockwise and turn it appox one full rotation anti clockwise.
    This is an approximate position as all systems differ so you will need to monitor if your radiators / hot water heat up times have changed much.


  • #3
    armabelle
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,017 ✭✭✭armabelle


    K.Flyer wrote: »
    That is part of your central heating system and is used for "balancing" the heating system and ordinarily once set should not be touched.
    It is not meant to be fully open or closed, but only partially open.
    Close the valve clockwise and turn it appox one full rotation anti clockwise.
    This is an approximate position as all systems differ so you will need to monitor if your radiators / hot water heat up times have changed much.

    ok thanks.

    Just to be sure, when this valve is closed, does this mean that no water will go to my radiators?


  • #4
    K.Flyer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,565 ✭✭✭K.Flyer


    armabelle wrote: »
    ok thanks.

    Just to be sure, when this valve is closed, does this mean that no water will go to my radiators?

    Radiators would be working, closing it would stop your heating system from heating the water in the cylinder.
    Opening it too far would give you hot water quicker, but some of the radiators would be much slower to heat.


  • #5
    armabelle
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,017 ✭✭✭armabelle


    K.Flyer wrote: »
    Radiators would be working, closing it would stop your heating system from heating the water in the cylinder.
    Opening it too far would give you hot water quicker, but some of the radiators would be much slower to heat.

    oooh!! that explains everything, thank you


  • #6
    dodzy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,153 ✭✭✭✭dodzy


    Unusual enough to have a gate valve in this location but it is possible that if it's at the absolute lowest point of the cylinder, then it could be the cold tank feed from the attic storage tank (turning it off would in turn stop the flow of hot water to your taps). That said, if k.flyers take on this ties in what you are seeing re: cool rads or no hot water in tank when central heating is on, then chances are he is of course correct:)


  • Advertisement
  • #7
    K.Flyer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,565 ✭✭✭K.Flyer


    dodzy wrote: »
    Unusual enough to have a gate valve in this location
    Not really its the most common location if it's a balancing valve on a heating system.
    Only time I have seen it elsewhere is in some apartment buildings where it is up on the wall.


  • #8
    dodzy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,153 ✭✭✭✭dodzy


    K.Flyer wrote: »
    Not really its the most common location if it's a balancing valve on a heating system.
    Only time I have seen it elsewhere is in some apartment buildings where it is up on the wall.
    sorry Kf, yes I know the balancing valve you are referring to but they're seldom at the foot of a tank. On the lower arm of the internal tank coil, yes, but not at the foot. Don't mean to sound pedantic by the way:)

    Armabelle, you can sort this out. If you turn this valve clockwise fully until it is closed (count the turns in order to get it back to same point), does the hot water in the wash hand basin stop, or not?


Advertisement