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No. To prevent stagnant water and debris build up the accumulator vessel must be installed vertically.

An AccuBoost accumulator must be installed in a dry location, protected from temperatures below 4°C and greater than 35°C, such as a kitchen cupboard, garage, loft space or outbuilding.

Pumped AccuBoost models should ideally be connected as close to the point of entry for the mains water into the property, usually the same location as the stop-tap. The pump can be installed remotely from the vessel, but the pump must be the first thing in the system and be located within 5 meters of measured 22mm pipework (this can include a maximum of 2m of 15mm pipe) of the stopcock.

The vessel within the accumulator vessel is rated up to a maximum of 8.6 bar, therefore, to ensure safety and minimise damage a pressure limiting device must be installed, this is included with AccuBoost accumulators.

Yes, the pump can be installed remotely from the vessel.

It must be installed within 5 meters of measured 22mm pipework (this can include a maximum of 2m of 15mm pipe) of the point of entry for the mains water into the property, usually the same location as the stop-tap, and must be the first thing in the system.

For the best performance we advise that the tank is installed as close as possible to the pump, which must be installed within 5m of the point of entry for the mains water,  however there is no maximum distance between the tank and pump.

The pump on an AccuBoost accumulator is designed to boost the mains water flow up to 12L/min and to pressurise the system including the vessel within the vessel.

When a tap or shower is opened water is drained from the accumulator and the system, the pump will then turn on to fill and pressurise both the vessel and the system, including any pipework. The pump will continue to run after the outlet has been turned off. How long it continues to run for depends on several factors including how much water has been used and the size of the system.

A pressure reducing valve (PRV) protects the pump and vessel from excessive mains pressure which could cause damage and eventual failure.

A PRV is included with AccuBoost accumlators.

The first pressure reducing valve protects the pump and vessel.

The second pressure reducing valve is to protect the unvented cylinder from seeing excessive pressure when the mains water pressure peaks.

No, bending the hoses restricts the water supply to the pump causing damage to the pump which could lead to the pump becoming noisy, and eventually the pump may seize. The hose that connects the pump to the AccuBoost water vessel, is designed to have a slow radius bend, without impacting the flow of water.

An accumulator stores water at pressure. In a pumped accumulator installation this pressure is built up by the pump whereas in an unpumped accumulator installation the water in the system is stored at the peak mains pressure.

A non-return valve (NRV) ensures that the built-up pressure in a pumped install and the peak mains pressure in an unpumped install is locked into the system. Without an NRV the system pressure would fluctuate with the mains pressure.

The NRV also prevents water in the system from flowing back into the mains supply.

An AccuBoost accumulator stores both air and water within the vessel. The accumulator’s capacity is shared 50% air and 50% water, therefore a 450L accumulator will store approximately 226.5 litres of water.

The volume of water stored in the accumulator will vary depending on the pre-charge pressure held in the bladder of the vessel.

An unpumped accumulator vessel can be installed in a system with an incoming mains pipe in any material.

A pumped accumulator vessel cannot be installed in a system with a restrictive incoming main, therefore cannot be installed to a lead main. If the system has a high pressure (over 2.0 bar) but has a restricted main, then an unpumped accumulator may still offer a solution – contact us for more information.

A sign of a restricted mains supply pipe would be a high standing pressure and low flow rate.

Yes, more than one accumulator can be installed into a system. Installing multiple accumulator tanks creates a greater stored water capacity and a higher flow rate (L/min).

Pumped accumulator systems cannot exceed 450 litres of stored water. For example, x2 450 litre vessels.

Unpumped systems have no maximum stored water capacity, however, please ensure adequate water turnover to prevent water stagnation.

In systems with a natural mains flow rate below 12L/min the water vessel will take a long time to fill, installing a pump will ensure that the vessel will be filled more quickly.

The pre-charge pressure is the air pressure stored within the bladder of the vessel. The air in the vessel is compressed by the water pressure, which pushes the extra volume of water out of the vessel. AccuBoost accumulators require that the pre-charge pressure is 1.5 bar less than the pressure of the incoming mains.

In pumped accumulator installations, the pump boosts pressure of the incoming mains to 3.0 bar and the pre-charge pressure of the vessel is set to 1.5 bar when it leaves our factory, creating a difference of 1.5 bar.

In unpumped accumulator installations, the minimum pressure of the mains must be 2.0 bar so that the vessel can be set to 1.5 bar below (0.5 bar). If the vessel is set to 0 bar then the positive impact of the accumulator is negated.

An accumulator vessel is a pressurised vessel. To allow the incoming mains water to be able to force water into the vessel, the pressure within the vessel must be lower than the pressure of the incoming mains.

For AccuBoost accumulators, the pressure within the vessel should be 1.5 bar below the pressure of the incoming mains. This size of pressure difference ensures that the incoming mains can fill the vessel and that there is enough pressure to force the water out of the vessel and to the outlet.

In pumped accumulator installations, the pump will ensure that the pressure within the vessel is at 3.0 bar and the pre-charge pressure of the vessel is set to 1.5 bar, creating a difference of 1.5 bar.

In unpumped accumulator installations, the minimum pressure of the mains must be 2.0 bar so that the vessel can be set to 1.5 bar below (0.5 bar). If the vessel is set to 0 bar then the positive impact of the accumulator is negated.

If you’re following on from our FAQ ‘Why is the pump on the accumulator running on/won’t turn off?’, you need to open the isolation valves on the outlet hoses and the tank connector hose before carrying out these steps.

To check the pre-charge pressure, first drain the tank by turning off the electricity to the pump (if pumped), then close the inlet of the pump.

Next open all outlets in the property until no more water is comes out or it trickles out. Remove the black cap on the top of the tank, revealing the Schrader valve. Place a pump with a pressure gauge, such as a bicycle pump, on the Schrader valve and check the pressure. If the pressure is less than 1.5 bar, increase it to 1.5 bar using the pump. If it is already 1.5 bar, contact Salamander Pumps.

An accumulator tank stores water under pressure to provide an excellent solution for properties requiring additional boost to mains water flow and pressure

The pump on an AccuBoost accumulator turns on when it recognises the system pressure has dropped below its activation threshold. The minimum pressure to activate the pump on an AccuBoost accumulator is 1.4 bar.

When an outlet, such as a shower or tap, is turned on the system pressure decreases. So if only a small amount of water is used, the pressure may not decrease by enough to reach the minimum pressure required to activate the pump.

If the pump on the accumulator is running on/won’t turn off it could mean that the vessel has not reached full water capacity and the pump is still running to fill. It could also indicate a leak in system. Allow sufficient time for vessel to reach full capacity (this can vary between 5-40 mins depending on vessel size) and check all outlets are closed and there are no leaks on the pipework.