Totally OT: Water tank weirdness...

[Sylvia Else]

The problem started with the appearance of dust and grit falling into
the bath. It was not at all obvious where it was coming from. With
showers being preferred, the bath is little used, so this wasn\'t coming
from the taps. I climbed into the roof space above the bathroom, but
nothing was apparently amiss.

In the roof space there is an old tank, which I surmise was once the hot
water tank. It has long been unused, and was presumably left there
because it would be difficult to remove, and there was no compelling
reason to do so. There is also some pipework that I had originally
presumed was unused.

It\'s very dusty up there, and I have to wear a proper filter mask. As I
was returning the mask to the garage area below the living area of the
house, where I keep such things, I heard a noise coming from the hot
water tank. Turned out there was a leak from where the heating element
goes in. Given that the tank is under pressure, the leak was making a
hissing noise.

Now, some years ago, I tried to trace the origin of the water-hammer
noise, searching under the house without success.

My visit to the roof space made me wonder whether that pipe was really
unused. Indeed it appears to have been sealed off. I now think that one
part of it goes down the wall into the garage area to join the hot water
output, with the other part heading down to the laundry. And where it
goes down the wall is close to where the dust and grit is falling into
the bath.

All of which makes me think that the dust and grit in the bath and the
leak in the hot water tank are not unrelated. My theory is that this is
the pipe that makes the water-hammer noise, given that it\'s not well
attached to the framework, and that the tank leak changed the hammer
pattern enough for the pipe to disturb different dust/grit in the roof
space which is then able to enter the bathroom through a small gap in
the ceiling trim.

On one level, this seems rather far-fetched. Yet the coincidence in
timing is remarkable.

Sylvia.

 

[Noddy]

On 17/05/2022 12:37 pm, Sylvia Else wrote:

It\'s very dusty up there, and I have to wear a proper filter mask. As I
was returning the mask to the garage area below the living area of the
house, where I keep such things, I heard a noise coming from the hot
water tank. Turned out there was a leak from where the heating element
goes in. Given that the tank is under pressure, the leak was making a
hissing noise.

The tank shouldn\'t be under any pressure at all if it\'s not being used.
I presume you have a more modern hot water service somewhere else on the
property?

If you do, then the supply and feed pipes to this old lump should have
been cut and capped off....


--
--
--
Regards,
Noddy.

 

[Sylvia Else]

On 17-May-22 12:53 pm, Noddy wrote:

On 17/05/2022 12:37 pm, Sylvia Else wrote:


The tank shouldn\'t be under any pressure at all if it\'s not being used.
I presume you have a more modern hot water service somewhere else on the
property?

The tank in the garage is the current hot water storage tank/heater.

Sylvia.

 

[Daryl]

On 17/5/2022 12:37 pm, Sylvia Else wrote:

The problem started with the appearance of dust and grit falling into
the bath. It was not at all obvious where it was coming from. With
showers being preferred, the bath is little used, so this wasn\'t coming
from the taps. I climbed into the roof space above the bathroom, but
nothing was apparently amiss.

In the roof space there is an old tank, which I surmise was once the hot
water tank. It has long been unused, and was presumably left there
because it would be difficult to remove, and there was no compelling
reason to do so. There is also some pipework that I had originally
presumed was unused.

It\'s very dusty up there, and I have to wear a proper filter mask. As I
was returning the mask to the garage area below the living area of the
house, where I keep such things, I heard a noise coming from the hot
water tank. Turned out there was a leak from where the heating element
goes in. Given that the tank is under pressure, the leak was making a
hissing noise.

Now, some years ago, I tried to trace the origin of the water-hammer
noise, searching under the house without success.

My visit to the roof space made me wonder whether that pipe was really
unused. Indeed it appears to have been sealed off. I now think that one
part of it goes down the wall into the garage area to join the hot water
output, with the other part heading down to the laundry. And where it
goes down the wall is close to where the dust and grit is falling into
the bath.

All of which makes me think that the dust and grit in the bath and the
leak in the hot water tank are not unrelated. My theory is that this is
the pipe that makes the water-hammer noise, given that it\'s not well
attached to the framework, and that the tank leak changed the hammer
pattern enough for the pipe to disturb different dust/grit in the roof
space which is then able to enter the bathroom through a small gap in
the ceiling trim.

On one level, this seems rather far-fetched. Yet the coincidence in
timing is remarkable.

If you can access the other end of the pipe in question it should be
easy enough to cut and cap it.
Is it copper or gal? A plumber shouldn\'t charge too much to do a simple
job like that if you can\'t do it yourself.
Does your bathroom have a ceiling fan?
If so that the most likely place the dust will be coming from, newer
ceiling fans have a flap that closes when the fan is not in use so
fitting a new ceiling fan should solve the dust problem.
You could also use No More Gaps to seal \"a small gap in the ceiling trim\".


--
Daryl

 

[Xeno]

On 17/5/2022 12:53 pm, Noddy wrote:

On 17/05/2022 12:37 pm, Sylvia Else wrote:

It\'s very dusty up there, and I have to wear a proper filter mask. As
I was returning the mask to the garage area below the living area of
the house, where I keep such things, I heard a noise coming from the
hot water tank. Turned out there was a leak from where the heating
element goes in. Given that the tank is under pressure, the leak was
making a hissing noise.

The tank shouldn\'t be under any pressure at all if it\'s not being used.
I presume you have a more modern hot water service somewhere else on the
property?

If you do, then the supply and feed pipes to this old lump should have
been cut and capped off....

Darren, I\'m shocked! You\'ve posted a reasonable response, one I could
agree with, and not a sign of your usual hate filled vitriol and
invective. Keep it up, it might be a harbinger of a new you, and not
before time.

--
Xeno


Nothing astonishes Noddy so much as common sense and plain dealing.
(with apologies to Ralph Waldo Emerson)

 

[Noddy]

On 17/05/2022 1:39 pm, Sylvia Else wrote:

On 17-May-22 12:53 pm, Noddy wrote:
On 17/05/2022 12:37 pm, Sylvia Else wrote:


The tank shouldn\'t be under any pressure at all if it\'s not being
used. I presume you have a more modern hot water service somewhere
else on the property?


The tank in the garage is the current hot water storage tank/heater.

Get a plumber to disconnect the water supply to the old rood mounted
tank if it\'s not done already.



--
--
--
Regards,
Noddy.

 

[Rod Speed]

Sylvia Else <sylvia@email.invalid> wrote

The problem started with the appearance of dust and grit falling into
the bath. It was not at all obvious where it was coming from. With
showers being preferred, the bath is little used, so this wasn\'t coming
from the taps. I climbed into the roof space above the bathroom, but
nothing was apparently amiss.

In the roof space there is an old tank, which I surmise was once the hot
water tank. It has long been unused, and was presumably left there
because it would be difficult to remove, and there was no compelling
reason to do so. There is also some pipework that I had originally
presumed was unused.

It\'s very dusty up there, and I have to wear a proper filter mask. As I
was returning the mask to the garage area below the living area of the
house, where I keep such things, I heard a noise coming from the hot
water tank. Turned out there was a leak from where the heating element
goes in. Given that the tank is under pressure, the leak was making a
hissing noise.

Now, some years ago, I tried to trace the origin of the water-hammer
noise, searching under the house without success.

My visit to the roof space made me wonder whether that pipe was really
unused. Indeed it appears to have been sealed off. I now think that one
part of it goes down the wall into the garage area to join the hot water
output, with the other part heading down to the laundry. And where it
goes down the wall is close to where the dust and grit is falling into
the bath.

All of which makes me think that the dust and grit in the bath and the
leak in the hot water tank are not unrelated. My theory is that this is
the pipe that makes the water-hammer noise, given that it\'s not well
attached to the framework,

That\'s not the reason for water hammer.

> and that the tank leak changed the hammer pattern enough

Due to air getting in.

for the pipe to disturb different dust/grit in the roof space which is
then able to enter the bathroom through a small gap in the ceiling trim.

The fix is to fix the leak, fill the small gap in the ceiling trim.

> On one level, this seems rather far-fetched.

Nope, water hammer moves the dust and dirt off the pipe.

> Yet the coincidence in timing is remarkable.

 

[Rod Speed]

On Tue, 17 May 2022 12:53:07 +1000, Noddy <me@home.com> wrote:

On 17/05/2022 12:37 pm, Sylvia Else wrote:

It\'s very dusty up there, and I have to wear a proper filter mask. As I
was returning the mask to the garage area below the living area of the
house, where I keep such things, I heard a noise coming from the hot
water tank. Turned out there was a leak from where the heating element
goes in. Given that the tank is under pressure, the leak was making a
hissing noise.

The tank shouldn\'t be under any pressure at all if it\'s not being used.

Its the new tank in the garage that is under pressure and is leaking,
stupid.

I presume you have a more modern hot water service somewhere else on the
property?

If you do, then the supply and feed pipes to this old lump should have
been cut and capped off....

They have and she says that.

 

[Sylvia Else]

On 18-May-22 11:08 am, Rod Speed wrote:

Sylvia Else <sylvia@email.invalid> wrote

The problem started with the appearance of dust and grit falling into
the bath. It was not at all obvious where it was coming from. With
showers being preferred, the bath is little used, so this wasn\'t
coming from the taps. I climbed into the roof space above the
bathroom, but nothing was apparently amiss.

In the roof space there is an old tank, which I surmise was once the
hot water tank. It has long been unused, and was presumably left there
because it would be difficult to remove, and there was no compelling
reason to do so. There is also some pipework that I had originally
presumed was unused.

It\'s very dusty up there, and I have to wear a proper filter mask. As
I was returning the mask to the garage area below the living area of
the house, where I keep such things, I heard a noise coming from the
hot water tank. Turned out there was a leak from where the heating
element goes in. Given that the tank is under pressure, the leak was
making a hissing noise.

Now, some years ago, I tried to trace the origin of the water-hammer
noise, searching under the house without success.

My visit to the roof space made me wonder whether that pipe was really
unused. Indeed it appears to have been sealed off. I now think that
one part of it goes down the wall into the garage area to join the hot
water output, with the other part heading down to the laundry. And
where it goes down the wall is close to where the dust and grit is
falling into the bath.

All of which makes me think that the dust and grit in the bath and the
leak in the hot water tank are not unrelated. My theory is that this
is the pipe that makes the water-hammer noise, given that it\'s not
well attached to the framework,

That\'s not the reason for water hammer.

and that the tank leak changed the hammer  pattern enough

Due to air getting in.

Given that the tank is under pressure, I can\'t see how air could get in.
Any hole results in water coming out, not air going in.

Sylvia.

 

[Peter Jason]

On Wed, 18 May 2022 12:46:14 +1000, Sylvia Else <sylvia@email.invalid>
wrote:

On 18-May-22 11:08 am, Rod Speed wrote:
Sylvia Else <sylvia@email.invalid> wrote

The problem started with the appearance of dust and grit falling into
the bath. It was not at all obvious where it was coming from. With
showers being preferred, the bath is little used, so this wasn\'t
coming from the taps. I climbed into the roof space above the
bathroom, but nothing was apparently amiss.

In the roof space there is an old tank, which I surmise was once the
hot water tank. It has long been unused, and was presumably left there
because it would be difficult to remove, and there was no compelling
reason to do so. There is also some pipework that I had originally
presumed was unused.

It\'s very dusty up there, and I have to wear a proper filter mask. As
I was returning the mask to the garage area below the living area of
the house, where I keep such things, I heard a noise coming from the
hot water tank. Turned out there was a leak from where the heating
element goes in. Given that the tank is under pressure, the leak was
making a hissing noise.

Now, some years ago, I tried to trace the origin of the water-hammer
noise, searching under the house without success.

My visit to the roof space made me wonder whether that pipe was really
unused. Indeed it appears to have been sealed off. I now think that
one part of it goes down the wall into the garage area to join the hot
water output, with the other part heading down to the laundry. And
where it goes down the wall is close to where the dust and grit is
falling into the bath.

All of which makes me think that the dust and grit in the bath and the
leak in the hot water tank are not unrelated. My theory is that this
is the pipe that makes the water-hammer noise, given that it\'s not
well attached to the framework,

That\'s not the reason for water hammer.

and that the tank leak changed the hammer  pattern enough

Due to air getting in.


Given that the tank is under pressure, I can\'t see how air could get in.
Any hole results in water coming out, not air going in.

Sylvia.

If it\'s that \"machine-gun\" hammer when the tap is turned on, take it
apart and wrap Teflon tape around the washer spindle to reduce the
clearance.
Of course a new tap would be better.

 

[Rod Speed]

Sylvia Else <sylvia@email.invalid> wrote

Rod Speed wrote
Sylvia Else <sylvia@email.invalid> wrote

The problem started with the appearance of dust and grit falling into
the bath. It was not at all obvious where it was coming from. With
showers being preferred, the bath is little used, so this wasn\'t
coming from the taps. I climbed into the roof space above the
bathroom, but nothing was apparently amiss.

In the roof space there is an old tank, which I surmise was once the
hot water tank. It has long been unused, and was presumably left there
because it would be difficult to remove, and there was no compelling
reason to do so. There is also some pipework that I had originally
presumed was unused.

It\'s very dusty up there, and I have to wear a proper filter mask. As
I was returning the mask to the garage area below the living area of
the house, where I keep such things, I heard a noise coming from the
hot water tank. Turned out there was a leak from where the heating
element goes in. Given that the tank is under pressure, the leak was
making a hissing noise.

Now, some years ago, I tried to trace the origin of the water-hammer
noise, searching under the house without success.

My visit to the roof space made me wonder whether that pipe was really
unused. Indeed it appears to have been sealed off. I now think that
one part of it goes down the wall into the garage area to join the hot
water output, with the other part heading down to the laundry. And
where it goes down the wall is close to where the dust and grit is
falling into the bath.

All of which makes me think that the dust and grit in the bath and the
leak in the hot water tank are not unrelated. My theory is that this
is the pipe that makes the water-hammer noise, given that it\'s not
well attached to the framework,
That\'s not the reason for water hammer.

and that the tank leak changed the hammer pattern enough

Due to air getting in.

Given that the tank is under pressure, I can\'t see how air could get in.

Any hole results in water coming out, not air going in.

Its more complicated than that, there is air at the top of the hot water
cylinder.