Floë Portable Water Drainage System for Statics & Lodges

The whole aim of Floë is to build up air pressure and follow the natural flow of the water from the outside of the property working inwards.  This means that the water is being pushed from the stop valve outside, up into the property and out of each tap and outlet.  This ensures that the user can see that all water has been removed.

Following the natural flow of the water also means that the water is effectively chased through the system components in the direction that is naturally intended.  The boiler and the shower both have one way valves inside them, which basically means that, cold water can enter the boiler, made hot and travel on to the hot taps, however, the hot cannot travel back into the cold system again.  By using Floë, water is chased through the boiler at low pressure and on to the hot taps.  For every hot tap you drain, you have drained the boiler.  So four hot taps, four boiler drains.  On a Floë draindown, you do not need to touch the boiler.

In the case of the shower, again, the water can travel out of the shower valve and then the shower head, but cannot travel in reverse.  This is in case the shower head is left in a kneeling bath.  If someone were to turn a tap on in the kitchen to fill the kettle say, there is the rare phenomenon of “Back Siphoning”, where the water in the bath could be sucked back up into the system.  This is very rare though.  Nevertheless, bylaws dictate that one way valves are fitted.

Whatever the situation, it is important to drain a property following the natural flow of water.  Should a person try to drain in reverse, by attaching an airline to a tap, or using the drain valves outside, then the water in the boiler would have to be removed manually, which is a pain and not for the casual DIY’er.  In the case of a shower, the shower valve is usually removed in these drain downs, which is punishment that the attaching threads were never meant to endure.  Also, unless  reconnected, the water system is rendered useless, with two ugly holes in the wall of the shower

If you don’t have an outside tap, then you can always fit a Compression Washing Machine Tee or a Self Cutting Tap (both available from us in the static/lodge section).  You would fit any one of these on the main water line leading into the property.  These will allow you to get a clear airway and can be fitted anywhere on the property side of the stopcock.

By fitting here, you can be assured that you are facing the correct direction and following the natural direction of the water, that all taps and outlets can be drained and the biggest advantage is that you don’t need to manually drain boilers or dismantle the system in any way.  This means that the draindown is incredibly quick and that, without reconnections, you are free to enjoy your property through the winter months, draining when and as often as you like.

Sometimes when you try to push air into an outside tap, you will find that the compressor shoots up to 30PSI in about 1 second.  This means that there is a blockage.  A good way to check if you have a blockage is to open a tap inside and try the compressor outside again.  If air is getting in to the system, there should be gurgling in the tap, If not, there is a blockage and you will hear nothing.

There are a couple of reasons and solutions for this

1. Some outside taps have one way valves fitted to them, which allow water to come out, but not allow air to travel back.  You will know this if you take off the hose connector and look up inside the mouth of the tap and you see a little white valve insert. This is a one way valve.  There will also be another in the back of the tap.  The solution is to either replace the tap, or remove and modify it.  To remove, first turn the mains water off, unscrew the tap from its backing plate.  In the front and back there will be a little circular clip holding the little white cartridges in place.  Remove these by using the pointed end of a knife, to slip under it.  Then remove both white cartridges.  When replacing the taps, wrap plumbers PTFE tape about six times around the threads in a clockwise direction and screw the tap back in.
2. If there is no white insert, but the tap still won’t let air travel through, there could be a chance that the brass stem is broken inside.  This tap cannot be repaired and should be replaced with a typical outside tap without one way valves.  You can tell it is broken, by turning off the water supply, remove the tap and turn the tap on while it is in your hand.  If you shake the tap and it rattles, it is broken inside.  For a quick draindown, you can use this tap temporarily though.  Wrap plumbers PTFE tape about six times around the threads in a clockwise direction and screw the tap back in, but leave it upside down.  Open the tap fully while the water is off and tap gently with a hammer of similar weighted tool.  This should make the broken piece fall back down into the tap and open the airway.  Screw Floë back on, open a tap inside and try to enter air.  If air is getting in to the system, there should be gurgling in the tap, If not, the tap is still blocked and should be replaced, if there is gurgling, close the tap and continue with the draindown.  The tap should still be replaced though.

You can of course abandon this tap and fit a Compression Washing Machine Tee or a Self Cutting Tap (available from us) on the main water line leading into the property.  These will allow you to get a clear airway and can be fitted anywhere on the property side of the stopcock.

1. If only after a couple of seconds the compresssor stops, then there is a problem.  First of all, make sure you are not connecting to a non return tap (see below) or there is not a non return valve after the point of your connection.  When connecting the tool to a tap or fitting, you should ensure that the tap has been opened and run dry before positioning the tool.  Also, make sure that the tap is open and that the tool is seated well, to allow the compressed air to pass through.  In addition, sometimes older taps stick inside, so twist the head left and right to loosen the inside of the tap. (These problems are discussed further in the Essential Winterising Techniques Series of How-to DVD’s)
2. With static caravans, sometimes a compressor will stop at 30PSI(2BAR) or reach that pressure and continue very quickly.  Check your mains feedpipe and see if it lies on the ground before rising up to the tap.  If this happens, then when you turn the tap on not much will come out and the remaining water in the line will be topped up to the tap itself.  Try opening a tap inside first, then compressing again.  As the compressor pressurises water should be pushed out of the tap inside.  If not go to the next step.
3. Another issue we have found is that some older taps have a little closing lid inside the tap for the purposes of shutting off the water when the tap in turned off.  This lid disconnects from the tap handle inside and falls down into the tap (ie it is broken).  Ordinarily this would not be noticed, as when the tap is turned on the water pressure pushes the lid out of the way and water flows from the tap.  However this is a problem for winterising as when we apply pressure in the opposite direction, the lid falls down again and acts like the tap has been turned off.  You will know this is happening if the compressed air pressure starts to reach a high level very quickly.  This is a faulty tap and should be replaced with a normal outside tap and not a non return type.  Remember to use PTFE tape (plumber’s white tape) on the tap threads.

There are two types of water systems in leisure and permanent properties, those with direct mains water straight to all of the cold and hot taps (Closed Systems) and those properties that use a cold water storage tanks in the attic (Open Systems)

For this question, we shall be concentrating on Closed Systems as, there are a number of places you need to winterise on Open Systems. Also, its must be iterated at this point that, you should consult a qualified plumber for using Floë on an Open System.

In a Closed Direct Mains System, cold water comes in to the property from the outside. It will travel through a shut-off valve to be able to isolate the system. It then splits into two branches. The first goes as fresh water to all of the cold water taps, kitchen, bathroom, toilet, washing machine, dishwasher etc and of course the outside tap. The other branches off to the boiler, then to the hot taps in the property.

Floë should be connected to the main water line on the property side of the stopcock. This can be done a number of ways. The most popular is to connect it to the 3/4″ thread of an outside tap, as long as it is also been connected on the property side of the stop valve. If you dont have an outside tap, then you can fit either a washing machine tee or a self cuting tap on the main water line, again on the property side. These are available on the website and can also be used as an outside tap as they have the same 3/4″ thread. Further information can be found on the DVD that comes with Floë.