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Irish House Oddities

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  • 22-10-2015 1:20pm
    #1
    jester77
    Registered Users Posts: 11,262 ✭✭✭✭


    I was talking to someone recently and got talking about the state of Irish houses and how badly built they were over the last 20 or so years. For example, you can clearly hear the neighbour doing his business next door in a lot of modern houses. We got talking about some weird things that Irish houses have, like the immersion. It was hard to explain what this magical switch does and the financial danger it poses.

    Another oddity is having a tank in the attic and pumping water into it to feed the taps around the house. I wasn't able to explain this one as it made no sense. It had been suggested that the pressure could be the reason but this was quickly ruled out. You only have to stand under an Irish electric shower (another oddity) to realise that pressure is definitely not the reason, you are better off just standing out in the rain. So what is the purpose of this tank?

    And what other oddities do Irish houses possess that you wouldn't find in other countries?


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    #2
    fizzypish
    Registered Users Posts: 1,000 ✭✭✭fizzypish


    Nevermind.....


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    #3
    Lu Tze
    Registered Users Posts: 3,495 ✭✭✭Lu Tze


    jester77 wrote: »

    Another oddity is having a tank in the attic and pumping water into it to feed the taps around the house. I wasn't able to explain this one as it made no sense. It had been suggested that the pressure could be the reason but this was quickly ruled out. You only have to stand under an Irish electric shower (another oddity) to realise that pressure is definitely not the reason, you are better off just standing out in the rain. So what is the purpose of this tank?

    And what other oddities do Irish houses possess that you wouldn't find in other countries?

    You will be damn glad of that tank during any interruptions to the mains supply!


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    #4
    SEPT 23 1989
    Registered Users Posts: 43,025 ✭✭✭✭SEPT 23 1989


    gravity


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    #5
    Scipio_Hib
    Registered Users Posts: 28 ✭Scipio_Hib


    To stop your central heating blowing up.

    The great oddity of Irish houses......THE IMMERSION, and the obsession with it!


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    #6
    Matt_Trakker
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,052 ✭✭✭Matt_Trakker


    Two taps! One for hot one for cold.
    Why?
    Why?
    One is enough.


    Tap

    Oh also, using a washbasin in a sink to wash dishes.
    The sink is a basin!
    WTF is wrong with people?


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    #7
    whisky_galore
    Registered Users Posts: 15,808 ✭✭✭✭whisky_galore


    The sacred heart lamp and accompanying spooky holy picture.


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    #8
    Medusa22
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,400 ✭✭✭Medusa22


    There is no hot water in the taps unless you turn on the heating/immersion, and also what others have said - immersion/ electric showers. These devices have caused great confusion for my German OH's friends and relatives who have come to stay.

    An abundance of fireplaces compared to continental properties, and a lack of double glazing in older properties. I also wondered why the Germans were always asking me to put on the fire, it seems that it's unusual to have a fireplace in Germany too. Well, it could also be because of the shyte insulation here as they are always cold when they stay here too!


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    #9
    Duckworth_Luas
    Registered Users Posts: 5,733 ✭✭✭Duckworth_Luas


    Matt_Trakker wrote: »
    Two taps! One for hot one for cold.
    Why?
    Why?
    One is enough.


    Tap
    One for cold, one for molten lava you mean!


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    #10
    Medusa22
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,400 ✭✭✭Medusa22


    Matt_Trakker wrote: »
    Two taps! One for hot one for cold.
    Why?
    Why?
    One is enough.


    Tap

    Oh also, using a washbasin in a sink to wash dishes.
    The sink is a basin!
    WTF is wrong with people?

    My OH is German and she absolutely despises the washbasin and she often takes it out of the sink but I refuse to be parted with it, I just can't fathom not having one!


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    #11
    Stranger Danger
    Closed Accounts Posts: 241 ✭✭Stranger Danger


    jester77 wrote: »

    Another oddity is having a tank in the attic and pumping water into it to feed the taps around the house. I wasn't able to explain this one as it made no sense.

    Jesus Christ.


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    #12
    Matt_Trakker
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,052 ✭✭✭Matt_Trakker


    Medusa22 wrote: »
    My OH is German and she absolutely despises the washbasin and she often takes it out of the sink but I refuse to be parted with it, I just can't fathom not having one!

    Hahaha :)
    But why not? They're totally useless.


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    #13
    The Backwards Man
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,299 ✭✭✭✭The Backwards Man


    No need for immersion with a back boiler.


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    #14
    Medusa22
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,400 ✭✭✭Medusa22


    Matt_Trakker wrote: »
    Hahaha :)
    But why not? They're totally useless.

    I don't know, I can't quite articulate my fondness for the basin. Its like the sink is.....naked without it, a bit like having a bin without a binbag or having your dinner on the table without a plate.


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    #15
    Scipio_Hib
    Registered Users Posts: 28 ✭Scipio_Hib


    Had visitor once remark on the lack of bidets in Irish houses - implication being that we all must have mucky arses!


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    #16
    jester77
    Registered Users Posts: 11,262 ✭✭✭✭jester77


    The Backwards Man wrote: »
    No need for immersion with a back boiler.

    What is a back boiler? And how is it different to a front boiler?


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    #17
    Matt_Trakker
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,052 ✭✭✭Matt_Trakker


    Medusa22 wrote: »
    I don't know, I can't quite articulate my fondness for the basin. Its like the sink is.....naked without it, a bit like having a bin without a binbag or having your dinner on the table without a plate.

    hahaha, Medusa, I'm crackin up here :D:D:D


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    #18
    Ri_Nollaig
    Registered Users Posts: 2,297 ✭✭✭Ri_Nollaig


    I doubt the water tank in the attic is a uniquely Irish thing. It as a buffer before needing to use the external supply, otherwise you would be drawing on the mains/well every time you turn the tap/flush the toilet.


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    #19
    deseil
    Closed Accounts Posts: 333 ✭✭deseil


    Matt_Trakker wrote: »
    Hahaha :)
    But why not? They're totally useless.
    I have a Belfast sink so if i didnt use a basin Id be replacing glasses and delph everyday!!


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    #20
    spurious
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Education Moderators Posts: 27,130 CMod ✭✭✭✭spurious


    Medusa22 wrote:
    I don't know, I can't quite articulate my fondness for the basin. Its like the sink is.....naked without it, a bit like having a bin without a binbag or having your dinner on the table without a plate.


    Scrapey plates on stainless steel sounds - perhaps the basin is to protect our lovely delph.


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    #21
    Conall Cernach
    Registered Users Posts: 1,928 ✭✭✭Conall Cernach


    The Backwards Man wrote: »
    No need for immersion with a back boiler.

    Ahh but then you have to light a fire if you want hot water. What if it's Summer and the Sun is splitting the stones and you fancy a shower?


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    #22
    TheNobleKipper
    Closed Accounts Posts: 158 ✭✭TheNobleKipper


    No sockets in bathrooms but an electric shower inside the wettest part of the room!


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    #23
    jester77
    Registered Users Posts: 11,262 ✭✭✭✭jester77


    Ri_Nollaig wrote: »
    I doubt the water tank in the attic is a uniquely Irish thing. It as a buffer before needing to use the external supply, otherwise you would be drawing on the mains/well every time you turn the tap/flush the toilet.

    What is wrong with this? That's how it works in my house, water is fed into the house through pipes in the basement and it goes direct to all the taps, showers and toilets over 3 floors. There is no pump and there is no problem with pressure.


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    #24
    gutenberg
    Registered Users Posts: 983 ✭✭✭gutenberg


    Have been living in the UK for 5 years, and no English house I've been in has had a hot press. I miss it...


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    #25
    Ri_Nollaig
    Registered Users Posts: 2,297 ✭✭✭Ri_Nollaig


    Matt_Trakker wrote: »
    Hahaha :)
    But why not? They're totally useless.
    If you had a ceramic sink, it could be damaged without one.
    This might be an example where the original reasoning is long forgotten but the habit has remained :)


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    #26
    Fr_Dougal
    Registered Users Posts: 9,167 ✭✭✭Fr_Dougal


    Matt_Trakker wrote: »
    Hahaha :)
    But why not? They're totally useless.

    Sink full of dishes and someone comes along with a cup to be washed that's half full of cold tea. What do you do?


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    #27
    Badly Drunk Boy
    Registered Users Posts: 6,465 ✭✭✭Badly Drunk Boy


    Medusa22 wrote: »
    I don't know, I can't quite articulate my fondness for the basin. Its like the sink is.....naked without it, a bit like having a bin without a binbag or having your dinner on the table without a plate.

    You want to control your sink. Without the washbasin, the sink is free.

    FREE YOUR SINK!!


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    #28
    Badly Drunk Boy
    Registered Users Posts: 6,465 ✭✭✭Badly Drunk Boy


    Fr_Dougal wrote: »
    Sink full of dishes and someone comes along with a cup to be washed that's half full of cold tea. What do you do?
    The dishes!!!


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    #29
    Ri_Nollaig
    Registered Users Posts: 2,297 ✭✭✭Ri_Nollaig


    jester77 wrote: »
    What is wrong with this? That's how it works in my house, water is fed into the house through pipes in the basement and it goes direct to all the taps, showers and toilets over 3 floors. There is no pump and there is no problem with pressure.

    Are you asking a question...? :o

    Its in the attic so its can be gravity feed later. Obviously if you want a power shower its needs to be pumped but for normal taps/toilets its fine.


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    #30
    whisky_galore
    Registered Users Posts: 15,808 ✭✭✭✭whisky_galore


    TheNobleKipper wrote: »
    No sockets in bathrooms but an electric shower inside the wettest part of the room!

    Usually a shower unit that requires a degree in thermodynamics to operate without being scalded/frozen to death.

    It wouldn't be a proper Irish home without a permanent damp patch, with stuff growing on it.


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    #31
    KERSPLAT!
    Closed Accounts Posts: 31,152 ✭✭✭✭KERSPLAT!


    TheNobleKipper wrote: »
    No sockets in bathrooms but an electric shower inside the wettest part of the room!

    :eek:
    I hope this is a joke, for your sake.


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