Plumbing??

[DTCwordfan]

Any plumbers out there who can advise why on this one.

Old house, one tank that feeds into an Aga back boiler for hot water.....

Just discovered there's no hot water running at all....not even cold

Also the feed pipe was making noises from the line(stop-cock) in.....then discovered I had left the outside hose on in cleaning the cat's tray....about 2pm for that.

So I have probably lowered the water in the tank but why would this affect the Aga back boiler - not that we get an enormous amount out of it - about two baths equivalent before it goes cold and needs to heat up again......

Thanks in advance.....

[The Builder]

Outside taps should always be fed directly from the main. No connection with the hot water system, DTC.

Is the AGA connected to an immersion cylinder?

If so, is it a "Direct" system ( old-fashioned direct connection to the cylinder where the hot water runs through the AGA, through the cylinder, and then to the taps.) (One roof tank only - usually results in "brown" water occasionally)

Or... is it an "Indirect" system ( AGA heats water from its own separate roof tank then transfers the heat indirectly to the contents of the cylinder via a heat exchanger coil within the cylinder.

I bet you didn't understand a word of that, DTC. Can't blame you. Difficult to explain. A plumber would identify the system with one glance ;o)

[DTCwordfan]

Direct from what you have said.

Having closed off the outside water, the hot seems to be recovering in terms of flow and pressure - some gurgling in the immersion and the water now is v. hot....don't know how much there is in there - no brownness to it - yet....

[DTCwordfan]

thanks though for your reply, Builder.....

[DTCwordfan]

Is it as I accidentally drained the cold tank from the outside tap, I lowered the water beneath the exit to the Aga/Immersion but not the total tank....it would explain the gurgling in the system - there's quite a drop from the cold tank down, at least 15 feet if not 17.....

[The Builder]

Ok, I have a theory ;o)

I assume the outside tap water is not hot?
If not, then I would imagine the outside tap has been connected to your roof tank - the one that feeds your AGA/cylinder/taps.

Your outside tap has drained the roof tank. Hence the gurgling as air is taken in to replace the "missing" water.

The system will recover on its own. The only possibility is of an air lock. However, if you're returning to normal, then probably Ok.

I assume you are on the main? I wonder if you have water storage in the roof, supplied from a well or stream.

[DTCwordfan]

thanks Builder, it does seem to be coming back - some gurgling on the hot tap, presumably as air is pushed out but we seem to be getting back to normal.

Yes it's mains - used to be a well before that supply was condemned for nitrates off the fields infiltrating the well....and that was three decades ago that the switch was made.

Much appreciated though, DTC.......