Draining a Fortic tank?

[Steve Harris]

Every few years, my immersion heater element fails and I have to replace it. It's a bugger because "draining" my hot water system doesn't completely drain the tank. The element is still immersed and I gently undo the element until the thread leaks and shove a bucket underneath. It then takes hours to drain to below the element. There is no drain c*ck for the cylinder.

1. Does anyone know a "Trick of the trade" to do a easier job of draining the cylinder?

1. I've seen "long life" immersion heater elements. Are they worth bothering with?

Thanks!

Steve

[Rob Morley]

I'd have thought that applying air pressure to the vent would force water back up the cold feed and into the header tank, where there is presumably some sort of overflow pipe, but it's not something I've ever tried.

[John]

If you look carefully at your Fortic Cylinder you should find a drain point whcih may have a 1/2" BSP plug in it. Next time you drain off take this out and replace it with a 1/2" screw-in drain c*ck. End of problem

[mrcheerful]

there is usually a drain hole, out of site round the back, probably.

Aggressive immersion element will last longer, but not indefinitely. Soft water is the answer, mine has lasted 15 years so far (Normal tank,soft water, only heat source, so on all the time, nearly) A neighbour has had at least four elements in the same period (hard water) He has a double tank fortic thing too, and only turns it on when wanted.

mrcheerful

[Steve Harris]

This one probably dates from 1959 and I can't find one :-(

Steve

[Andy Dingley]

How does that work then? Does one of you have a borehole?

[Rob Morley]

Or a water softener, perhaps?

[Steve Harris]

I think I've worked out a method involving inserting a siphon tube in the top and through the tube that links the two chambers. The stuff used by amateur winemakers would be just the job. Unfortunately, my two local winemaking shops are not answering the phone - possible shut until the new year.

Can anyone suggest an alternative retail outlet that might seel tubing. I reckon I want 1/4 inch polythene or other flexible tube. Ideally, I'd like about 18' so I can drain into the bath rather than a succession of buckets.

TIA!

Steve

[Owain]

"Steve Harris" wrote | I think I've worked out a method involving inserting a siphon | tube in the top and through the tube that links the two | chambers. The stuff used by amateur winemakers would be just the | job. Unfortunately, my two local winemaking shops are not | answering the phone - possible shut until the new year. | Can anyone suggest an alternative retail outlet that might | seel tubing. I reckon I want 1/4 inch polythene or other flexible | tube.

B&Q sell a variety of tubing by the metre in the rope/chain/tube department.

Owain

[Dave Liquorice]

B&Q do, and probably the other sheds, Halfords as well. Will take a while to siphon through 1/4" tube how about 3/8" that should fit down the cold fill tube I would have thought might need a bit more persuasion around the top bend though.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

My local B&Q sells two sizes of polythene tube by the metre.

[Steve Harris]

Thanks. Can you remember what department it comes under? I've looked on their site but can find it. Trouble is, I don't know which "department" to look. Sure, I'm using is for a plumbing job but I don't know the "proper" use.

Steve

[Rob Morley]

I think you'll find it's normally PVC.

car parts, tropical fish supplies, medical/laboratory equipment, hydraulic/pneumatic supplies?

[Dave Plowman (News)]

In mine it was in hardware next to reels of rope and chain.

[Dave Liquorice]

The B&Q site only carries a fraction of the stock that the stores have. The small useful things like tubing are the sort of things that you won't find on the website.

Use the search feature much quicker and direct rather than trying to work out if a bath tap will be in Plumbing or Bathrooms...

[Lurch]

On Wed, 29 Dec 2004 12:06:31 +0000 (GMT), "Dave Liquorice" strung together this:

The search feature isn't much cop either. Better off going down to the store.

[Dave Liquorice]

I tried for "tube" and "tubing" but failed I guess having stuff that requires cutting to length is "difficult" to have on website.

Larger stock range for sure.

[Steve Harris]

Thanks all, I ended up with some B&Q tubing intended as part of an irrigation system 10m was under 5 quid.

For posterity and Google:

*How to drain a Fortic Tank that doesn't have a drain*

Copyright Steve Harris 2004 but placed in the Public Domain - No warranties. All possible disclaimers apply.

Allow 10 hours - but you won't be working for 10. You will need a siphon tube of at least 4m - longer if a bath/sink/drain is further away. I used B&Q "Water Supply Pipe for use with B&Q easy watering system! 10m long, 7mm diameter.

1. Start with the tank full
2. Stop cold water coming in. Careful application of elastic cord on the ball c*ck can avoid the need to turn off the rest of the system
3. Fill the siphon tube with water. Block one end with a lump of blue tack and the other end with a finger. (Filling tip: Put tube in a bath, stuff one end up the cold tap, turn on and wait for a steady stream at the far end)
4. Plunge your finger, tube and hand into the water in the top tank. Take your finger off the tube end but ensure the tube end is kept below the water.
5. Feed the tube into the pipe joining the two tanks. On my tank, it's angled favourably. Keep feeding, you will probably be able to tell when it hits the exit and enters the bottom tank.
6. Feed in another 6" of tube for luck
7. Unblock the far end of the tube and check for a steady flow. Have a cup of tea and come back to make sure it's still flowing.
8. Turn on hot taps etc to assist draining
9. Do something else for about 9 hours - that's how long mine took to drain.
10. Suggest you leave the tube in place (bunged!) until you are sure you won't need it again.

Steve

[Dave Liquorice]

Surprised it took that long but is that 7mm ID or OD? How much height difference did you have between the bottom of the tank and tube outlet? The bigger the height difference the faster the flow.

I'd also measure the length of the cold feed pipe and mark that onto the tube so you know you haven't pushed in an extra 18" of tube that is now curled upwards in the hot tank...