How to Use Your Water Heater’s Tundish

Most homeowners put little thought into how to use their water heaters. These appliances are designed to be hands-off and require very little attention during their lifespans. In fact, most people only know how to check and set their thermostats, but there are many other features that you should understand. One of those is your water heater’s tundish.

What Is a Tundish?

A tundish is a safety device. It’s built into your water heater to help you detect leaks and to know when to call for repairs or replacement of your cylinder. It looks like a plastic cone, and it fits between two pieces of pipe, one that comes out from the water heater, and the other that leads to a drain.

How to Use Your Tundish

Using a tundish is very simple. In fact, there’s nothing you need to do but visually inspect it! There are no moving parts to replace and no switch to turn on or off. The plastic cone features a window that lets you see inside. The empty space within is called an air gap. What you’re looking for is water dripping between the upper pipe and the lower pipe.

Here are your step-by-step instructions to use the tundish:

1. Make sure you have a light source in case the area around your water heater is dimly lit. A handheld torch is sufficient.

2. Locate your tundish. It should be easy to spot and will be located on the bottom one-third of the water heater.

3. Make sure you can see clearly through the tundish/air gap. You may need to clear away cobwebs and dust if it’s been some time since you last checked.

4. Watch for any signs of water, such as drips or a small flow. There should be no water flowing in the tundish.

5. Inspect the tundish for any moisture. It should be completely dry.

6. If you notice any moisture, drips of water, or other signs, call for service immediately.

What’s the Point of the Tundish?

Your water heater’s tundish is a safety device, as mentioned. What it is designed to do is help you spot signs of leaks before they become catastrophic. If left unchecked, small leaks can develop into big ones. Moisture can easily damage the structure surrounding your water heater, including causing wood flooring to rot, and creating mould problems.

Whom to Call

If you have an unvented cylinder, you should only call a G3-qualified engineer. Under UK regulations, only engineers who’ve earned their G3 qualifications are allowed to service, repair, maintain, or install unvented cylinders for safety reasons.

At EasyFlow, our entire team is made of G3-qualified engineers. We have years of experience working with customers to locate, identify, and repair leaks. In the event that the leak cannot be repaired or if your unvented cylinder is nearing the end of its life and needs to be replaced, we can recommend a highly efficient replacement option from top brands in the nation. Call us today to schedule a check-up!