CHAPTER 14

HOT WATER SUPPLY IN BUILDING

Two types hot water supply

1. The Up-Feed and Gravity Return System.
2. The Overhead Feed and Gravity Return System.
The Up-Feed and Gravity Return System
The Up-Feed Gravity Return System is commonly used in small residential houses and
other industrial installations with the following service features:
1. It provides constant circulation of hot water.
2. Hot water is quickly drawn from the fixture at any time desired.
3. Provide economical circulating returned of unused hot water.
4. Eliminate waste water.
Construction of the Up-Feed Gravity Return System
1. The heating unit and the storage tank are placed below the distribution pipeline.
2. The heating unit should be near and accessible to serve the pipeline system conveniently and
efficiently.
3. The distribution main pipe is connected to the tapping on top of the storage tank closer to the
flow from the heater.
4. The distribution main pipe is suspended from the ceiling of the basement. It is inclined upward
from the storage unit. The risers are connected to the distribution main.
5. The distribution main pipe and the flow risers are equipped with valve that is, of the Gate
Type only.
6. The flow riser is provided with a drip at its base for draining.
The efficient and equal supply of hot water to different fixtures of varied heights and
distances depends on how the riser is tapped to the main distribution.
The Overhead Feed and Gravity Return System
The Overhead Feed and Gravity Return System is an efficient type of hot water
distribution generally used in building of extreme heights. The operating principles are as
follows:
1. That, water distribution is dependent on the expansion of hot water and gravity. In a closed
pipeline system, water rises up to the highest point of installation when heated. The natural force
of gravity, return the water into the storage tank.
2. That, water will circulate, even if there maybe be defect in the mechanical construction.

Construction of the Overhead Feed and Gravity Return System

1. The storage heating unit is placed at the lowest point of the distribution pipe.
2. The overhead feed is connected to a tapping fitting located on top of the storage tank.
3. As much as possible, the riser should be extended direct and free from offsets. No fixture shall
be connected directly to the riser.
4. The distribution pipe is connected to the top of the riser. It is sloped away from the riser to
allow free flow of water to the last drop.
5. The horizontal runs of the riser should be short, direct and equal in length as possible.
6. The horizontal riser branch is connected to the main distribution pipe by a 45th fitting sloped to
the vertical riser proper.
7. The horizontal riser branch is equipped with a valve installed closer to the main.
8. The riser is extended downward through the different storey of the building where the
lavatories, shower bath, and the like are connected.
9. A gate valve and a drip are connected at the base.

Hot water tank

The purpose of hot water tank is to serve the domestic hot water system. The tank should
be strong enough to resist the high pressure of boiling water stored in it.

Hot water tank is classified into two types:

1. The small hot water tank called Range Boiler
2. The large hot water tank called Storage Boiler
The Range Boiler is generally made of copper or stainless steel sheet.it is built into
cylindrical shape with concave ends, welded or riveted to assure strength and durability. Range
Boiler varies in sizes from 30 to 60 centimeters diameter and a length not more than 180
centimeters long, installed in either vertical or horizontal position.
The Storage tank is made of heavy-duty stainless-steel sheet of diameter varying from
60 to 130 centimeters and not more than 5 meters long. It is installed in either vertical or
horizontal position. When standard metal gauge is used, the working pressure is limited not to
exceed 85 psi. pressure greater than 85 psi will require an extra heavy-duty tank.
Size of Hot Water Tank
The size of hot water tank depends on the following considerations:
1. The kind of building served
2. The expected number of occupants or users.
3. The heating capacity of the supply device.
The water heater must be of sufficient capacity to replace the discharged water in a
reasonable time interval. If a tank installed is designed to serve 50 gallons of water in any one
hour of the day, the heater must be able to replace the same in one hour. The rating or capacity of
the water heater is indicated by the manufacturer in the label of their products.
Protection of the Hot Water Tank
Pressure and temperature if not controlled may cause serious damage to the hot water
storage unit. Excessive pressure or temperature inside the tank may cause rupture or explosion of
the tank. Protect your tank with Temperature-Pressure Relief Valve.
 Install a Temperature-Pressure Relief Valve on the hot water tank, or hot water supply
line to protect the system. The pressure relief valve must be closer to the tank, provided with a
drip pipe from the relief valve extending downward to the basement floor near the floor drain.
The purpose of Steam Relief Valve is to protect the hot water space heating system, while
the Temperature-Pressure Relief valve protects the hot water system.

There are Two Types of Water Heating System

1. The Hot Water Space Heating System where water is confined within a system at a low
temperature.
2. The Hot Water Supply System not in a closed system which operate on much higher
temperature.