Hot Water Systems
 

Advice please, do Spanish plumbing systems normally have the hot water tank directly fed from the main?

Problem we are having is the tank is venting when the water gets hot which wouldnt happen in the Uk where there would be a tank reducing the pressure from the main.

Are there any circuit diagrams online showing how these systems are normally plumbed ?

thanks

Re: Hot Water Systems
 

This any good?

http://www.google.es/search?q=hot+wa...w=1024&bih=497

Re: Hot Water Systems
 

Must be a while since you lived in the UK?:nod:

FYI: http://www.boilerguide.co.uk/article...eating-systems

Re: Hot Water Systems
 

Thank you mouse, its a start I suppose, the (electric) heater is in the basement, fed from direct water main from street, keeps boiling over and flooding basement. can't get my head round a system without a tank to calm down the pressure, but then I suppose it wouldnt have the pressure to feed the grnd and 1str floor bathrooms.

the landlord says they don't fit timers on it either, so its either on or off dependent on whether or not we go down to the basement to switch on\off

won't be able to see it for a couple ofweeks but its driving the BH nuts at the moment.

rgds

Re: Hot Water Systems
 

i am in the uk as I type, and we have a tank tween the mains and the hot water cylinder. Which is fairly standard.
I note that both the systems shown in your reference are for central heating not for hot water system but both have a tank.........

Re: Hot Water Systems
 

Our electric heated tank is feed from the mains (as most are here), when it reaches a set temperature it stops heating and will remain static until the temperature falls, or you demand water, when the cycle starts again.
No drips/leaks etc and there should not be any either (to my mind) unless the internal thermostat becomes faulty when I guess it will heat the water so much it reaches boiling point and will attempt to exit as yours is doing.

Or you simply have a leak. ;)

Re: Hot Water Systems
 

There are three systems described in my link.
â– A combi boiler heats water on demand requiring no tanks
â– High pressure systems
These systems supply mains pressure hot water
â– Conentional Gravity Fed systems often comes from a feed tank or expansion tank

In the UK (and spain) modern systems are fed from the mains. Only the older gravity fed heating systems require a storage tank.

Re: Hot Water Systems
 

Turn the thermostat down and see if it shuts down, perhaps it needs replacing.
Also you could buy a timer plugin and put between the supply and the water heater.

Re: Hot Water Systems
 

Thanks for the responses, this is the first time we have encountered a direct system - despite the protestations, there are millions of in-direct systems in the UK and they are all we have ever encountered.

Remember, I am in uk and BH is Spain where the system is, so at the moment I am trying to solve a problem I cannot see and touch.

it is a new house, new system and the landlord left the system on max temp.
It has been turned down twice and still overflows (vents).
BH asked landlord to fit a timer but he said "No, thats not what we do".

One thing I have noted is that the UK requires regular checks of these pressurised systems - is that the same in the UK or is it a thing no one worries about ?

Re: Hot Water Systems
 

The concept of 'Health and Safety' doesn't really seem to exist in Spain.

They make feeble attempts at it, but when push comes to shove, it gets ignored!

Re: Hot Water Systems
 

and yet despite that the headquarters of all EU H&S is at ......

European Agency for Safety and Health at Work
Gran Via 33
E-48009 Bilbao, Spain
Tel: + 34 944-794-360
Fax: + 34 944-794-383
Web: http://osha.europa.eu

Re: Hot Water Systems
 

A bit off the subject but in the same vein. I need to replace my outdoor gas water heater and have found a few advertised and offering different size/capacity of 5ltr / 10ltr as Iam not in Spain until the weekend anyone any idea what capacity I should be looking for. 3 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, Kitchen, Living room, Dinning room. Thanks Stuart.

Re: Hot Water Systems
 

I know your not out there - but that is my problem as well - but you need to know what size the existing heater is.
a 10l may not fit in the gap of a 5l ...
:eek:

even getting someone (?) to take the physical measurements would help you

rgds

Re: Hot Water Systems
 

Will do, but their is plenty of space around the original one.

Re: Hot Water Systems
 

In that case at least an 11ltr item as that is the max it will supply, I went for a Bosch (Junkers here in Spain) 18ltr and would have had the 21 if it was in stock at the time.

Re: Hot Water Systems
 

Don`t forget electronic ignition as it`s outside. ;);)

Re: Hot Water Systems
 

The two most common types of boiler here are gas and electric,

The gas type turn on and heat the water only when you open a tap , the most common flow rate is 11 litres per min.

Electric cylinders, heat and store water to a pre set temperature, and that is controlled by a thermostat, if the thermostat is not working and is not turning the heater element off the water will boil and vent from the safety valve on the cold water inlet.

As some one else said maybe you could fit a timer, to limit the daily heating.

Re: Hot Water Systems
 

I have just fitted a 11 ltr gas water heater outside on my kitchen balcony (on the 1st floor) and it supplies my 3 storey house perfectly. In fact the water pressure in both bathrooms on the top floor has improved.

Re: Hot Water Systems
 

I have an electric water heater which is in the bedroom. When we moved in the whole water system was fed from tank on terrace gravity and pressure was rubbish had to chase around for a shower to get wet although the mains pressure into the house is quite high. I was advised how to put a loop in by someone which allows mains pressure but also in case of failure of mains water supply then you have back up of storage tank on terrace. I was advised and did put a pressure reduction valve in the supply pipe where it enters the house set to around 3 bar and the whole system works fine. As I don't seem to be able to regulate the thermostat on water heater I have it plugged into a simple plug in timer and set it to come on early morning and late afternoon which is fine for us obviously can override timer if hot water runs out. Don't know if this saves much electric versus having water heater on all the time? All in all the system I have been using now 3 years without any complaints good pressure for shower and not that difficult to do yourself.

Re: Hot Water Systems
 

That is a very good question and I would love to know how it can be worked out. We have two electric boilers and we tend to leave them on all the time. Would it be better to turn them on an hour before we need to use them? Our electric bill is around 300 Euros a month :eek:

Re: Hot Water Systems
 

Hi Jimenato,

300 per month !!! it is worth considering pre heating the water via a solar water heater before enters the electric boilers, you will save a fortune !!!

Tony

Re: Hot Water Systems
 

at €300 sounds like very large amount of water there, not being thermally insulated.
I hate to say it but some of the old UK ideas come to mind, smaller tanks (do you need 100L + for the household (?) and thermally insulated, after all do you need it for 12m (?)

would suggest a timer schedule for all day only or 3-4hrs each morn and nite.

but you know your needs better than me or anyone else here

rgds

Re: Hot Water Systems
 

Put a timer on them set to run for 3 hours before you need the water in the morning. Also set the thermostat to a lower temperature. This could save you at least 50% of the cost compared to leaving it on all the time.

If you find that you don't have enough hot water later in the day then just set another hour on the timer for late afternoon.

Unless you have a 100% insulated tank keeping water hot when you don't need it wastes energy.

Re: Hot Water Systems
 

Yes that's how I work it must admit though our boiler does seem pretty well insulated. Probably only takes about an hour and a half to heat ours up. I'm afraid can't help re comparison as we only visit a couple of weeks at a time. Mind from basic standard charge when not there bill has never gone above 10 euros more wehn out there for 2 to 2 1/2 weeks. Plus if you set timer right you can heat water at convenient time ie not meal times etc when drawing power thus preventing tripping system.

Re: Hot Water Systems
 

My OH did exactly the same, Bob, and the results have been fine for us too. Our electric water heater is in the patio - there was originally a gas boiler there but the pilot light kept going out and we got fed up so replaced it with an electric heater which, like you, we use with a simple plug in timer. Our water bills are around 35€ for 2 months, and electricity bills between 30-35€ per month.

Re: Hot Water Systems
 

A lot of the new electric boilers do NOT have thermostats that the user can adjust - they are pre-set. They are also pre-insulated and so can be mounted outside without the need for additional insulation.


We have a 300l boiler which is on all the time, is mounted outside and is EXTREMELY efficient.

We used to have the gas (on-demand) type but we (well my wife mainly) got increasingly fed up with the gas running out half way through a shower! Also, it used to take ages for the hot water to get from the boiler to the various bathrooms. We considered installing other gas boilers nearer the bathrooms but were persuaded to go electric due to their improved efficiency.

The shower pressure is, of course, mains pressure which is akin to a power shower:thumbup:

Re: Hot Water Systems
 

I should point out that it's not only water heating. We have two very large freezers and five commercial fridges.

I might consider solar water heating but ours are rented premises.

Incidentally our rubbish collection and water bill is over 500 Euros every three months - the vast bulk of which is for rubbish - which I take myself to the punto limpio.:frown:

Re: Hot Water Systems
 

that shows the difference between the ordinary home and a business where fridges and freezers are probably running a fair bit because of continual access losing temp and having a lower setting to maintain it.

see, all these "hidden" costs that people do not take in to account when they want to come and "live the dream" playing "mine host" to all the touristico's looking for roast beef, tatties, yorkshires and gravy.

Re: Hot Water Systems
 

This is another pet peeve of mine. It seem this and lots of other little taxes and tarifs are imposed for services you have to perform yourself. I pay over €300 per year for rubbish removal - but we have to collect it (and sort it) and drive it to the punt verde.

Another, more petty example which I think illustrates the point is at the ajuntamento (here, anyway), when they need a copy of some document (e.g., your passport), they refuse to use the copy machine that's sitting over in the corner. No, you have to find a local copy shop and pay €1 to copy your passport, and return and stand in the queue again.

Seems to me that they would WANT to make the copy themselves. Otherwise you could easily forge the copy. But I suppose it saves a cent or two.

But then again... similar logic seems to be the basis for everything - the locals around here will spend a fortune digging a drainage system into their floor to drain the water from their house when it rains, while completely ignoring the hole in the roof.

Re: Hot Water Systems
 

I want to install an unvented indirect hot water cylinder, with the water being heated from a back boiler on a wood burning stove (imported from UK). These cylinders cost £500 to £1000 in UK, but I can't find on any Spanish web pages. Any ideas if they can be obtained in Spain? - including a decent translation of "unvented indirect hot water cylinder". thanks

Re: Hot Water Systems
 

As Concierge for the Spanish section of BE I would like to say hello and welcome.

BE is a very large expat website, so if you have problems finding your way around we have concierges who will try to direct you. The moderators for the Spanish forums are Mitzyboy and Fred James, moderators are there to ensure that the site runs smoothly within the rules of BE. Problems and complaints should always be addressed to a moderador who will look into the matter and deal with it efficiently and fairly. Our members who post in the Spain Forums are friendly and helpful with a wealth of knowledge of the issues of living in Spain. At the top of the page you will find a quirkily named thread called Free Beer which is full of important and useful information. Hope you enjoy your time participating in the forums.

Please let me know if you need any further help.

Rosemary

Re: Hot Water Systems
 

AFAIK they are not sold in Spain.

Re: Hot Water Systems
 

I cannot see why you cant find the cylinder you want as I have one in the basement, made by Termat configured as an electric immersion
http://tecnihogar.es/blog/2011/09/26...co-termat-50l/


http://www.solarsunlite.com/installation_drawings.php
show how to do it physically and they are in spain

That was found using the english words on google.es, search for pages in spain.

for some translations try
http://www.wordreference.com/es/tran...ranword=heater

hope this helps