Gledhill SystemMate SP thermal store - Info needed urgently!

[Nickthedentist]

Hello! My 5 year old house has a hot water system based around a Gledhill SystemMate SP, which I presume is a thermal-store cylinder.

The diverter valve (and all the lockshield valves on the rads) have gradually started to leak. I could easily replace them myself, but need info about draining/refilling/repressurising the system. Gledhill aren't interested (because I'm not a qualified heating engineer), and their website's download section doesn't cover the SystemMate SP. Local plumbers who I've approached don't want to touch it either, so I'm stuck.

If anyone knows about these beasts or can get hold of the technical manual, PLEASE get in touch, I'd be very grateful.

Cheers,
Nick.

 

[kevplumb]

open vented or sealed? the primary that is

 

[Nickthedentist]

Thanks, Kev. I presume it's sealed, because it's got a filling loop and pressure gauge like a combi boiler. Nick.

 

[kevplumb]

sorry cant help you mate need g3 i aint would advise waiting some of the lads have

 

[brumylad]

I would have thought the manufacturer ought to be able to identify a suitably experienced service engineer for your area or at least supply you with an owners manual.

By the way, one of my back teeth has a chip out of the top, my mate had a look with a torch, he reckons he could push in some epoxy resin used for leak repairs. It sets under water, what do you think ?

 

[Nickthedentist]

Thanks Kev, I'll keep looking...

Brumylad: not really advisable 'cos the epoxy resin might irritate or kill the nerve of the tooth, and I'd be suprised if it sticks for long. Also, teeth usually chip because they're decayed, and if you just plug the hole, the decay will just continue. I'd recommend you find a dentist (there are loads of NHS ones left in Brum, unlike round here) - but if not, the epoxy might be better than nothing!

 

[PEDANTICVINDICTIVEMAN]

Open wide, arghggghggggg, now where did u go on hoilday

 

[croydoncorgi]

Thermal stores don't usually qualify as 'unvented systems' cos the volume of mains-pressure water in them is too small - just a coil-full.

Dunno much about the System Mate - but if it's similar to the Boiler Mate II and other Gledhill products it can't be too hard. With the primary circuit (including the boiler, rads AND the tank part of the System Mate cylinder) all part of a sealed system, be very careful - I imagine the cylinder is probably quite fragile to internal pressure compared with boiler and rads. Check carefully where the pressure is red-lined and do NOT exceed it.

 

[brumylad]

draining down and creating a vacuum in the copper cylinder won't do it much good either I suspect. I'm not sure opening the bleed valves on the rads. would be sufficient either. Is there an expansion vessel (blue or red metal sphere) at the top of (or close to) the copper cylinder.

Thanks for the dental advice