uponor ufh manifold leak at flow meter

R

richardindorset

Joined
29 Jan 2012
Messages
52
Reaction score
2
Location
Dorset
Country
United Kingdom
We had a small weep on the flow meter side of an Uponor underfloor heating manifold.

When I tried adjusting the flow, the weep turned into a flood!

I shut down the pump and isolated the CH from the UFH and tried to remove the flow meter.

It is the older black plastic meter with the yellow float.

The outer nut just turns and the inner part will screw up and down but there is nothing actually attaching the whole assembly to the manifiold. I tried to completely remove it and it slides up about 6mm and stops.

The Uponor tech support say it just unscrews, which it clearly doesn't want to.

Anyone ever got one of these out? I tried a little bit of gentle persuasion in case it was just an o-ring holding it, but it defo doesn't want to come out.

It's about 10 years old.

For now I have wound the flow fully down and it stopped leaking, but there is no flow of course.

It's a very odd arrangement as there is no nut or thread. It seems to just be a press fit, which despite now being loose, does not want to release the valve.

Any ideas???? uponor.jpg
 
Yes, I've recently replaced all of mine as the windows were black so you couldn't see the flow :( The new flow valves are red incidentally.

The valve is two piece, the outer plastic that you turn with the flow marking on pulls off the valve, lift off the lock ring and you'll see the flats on the plastic to unscrew from the manifold. New valves are cheap enough: http://www.ufhn.co.uk/shop/product/uppnor-1013004-spi-topmeter-for-uponor-fm-manifold

You can just about make out what I'm on about in the link but if you're still struggling I'll dig an old one out and take some pictures for you.
 
ironsidebod said:
Yes, I've recently replaced all of mine as the windows were black so you couldn't see the flow :( The new flow valves are red incidentally.

The valve is two piece, the outer plastic that you turn with the flow marking on pulls off the valve, lift off the lock ring and you'll see the flats on the plastic to unscrew from the manifold. New valves are cheap enough: http://www.ufhn.co.uk/shop/product/uppnor-1013004-spi-topmeter-for-uponor-fm-manifold

You can just about make out what I'm on about in the link but if you're still struggling I'll dig an old one out and take some pictures for you.
Click to expand...

I took off the black top part (the cover for the flow indicator), then undid the lower plastic hex nut, but the valve won't come out. It's lose, moves up and down about 6mm but won't come out, even levering it up... I can't see anything holding it in. Maybe it's just gunk???
 
Just keep going, there's quite a lot of thread on them. They sit on the plastic shim, the only thing that could hold it is the plunger catching on something. Mine came out pretty easily though.
 
ironsidebod said:
Just keep going, there's quite a lot of thread on them. They sit on the plastic shim, the only thing that could hold it is the plunger catching on something. Mine came out pretty easily though.
Click to expand...

It's just spinning, no sign of anythnig unscrewing...
 
Did you ever get this sorted out, and if so, how did you remove the flow control in the end? I have the identical issue, same age of system, same type of valve. It seems to turn endlessly as if the thread has worn away and won’t come out. I’m tempted to force it as it’s going to have to be replaced anyway, but wanted to know what your experience was first.

Thanks.
 
1FFA43DF-91B8-40EB-84E8-1E73A76DCA7B.jpeg 440C748D-1581-46E1-B85E-D09054751EA4.jpeg A8544ECE-F354-4483-A597-987395894166.jpeg For anyone interested in the above, here’s the answer. The plastic of the flow meter, or “topmeter” has split just above the thread. When I tightened it to try to stop the leak, the thread sheared off entirely and the water gushed out. When trying to unscrew the unit it just spun round because the thread had sheared. I therefore slowly levered and pulled the main body of the unit upwards until it came free from the thread, leaving just the thread still in the manifold. This was then very easy to undo by hand.
 
Glad you got it sorted. My original comment about how easy they are to get out should hopefully make sense!

Don't over tighten the new ones :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top