Central heating problem....
Discussion
I've called the engineer but hope the PH massive may have an answer so we don't freeze again tonight!
Our heating and water system are pressurized and whilst the hot water is definitely working the heating has packed up.
The flame in the remote thermostat in our hall indicates the boiler should be firing as the room temperature is low but nothing's happening. If the hot water tap is run the system fires up and creates more hot water in the tank as it should. I have checked the receiver in the boiler room and the green light is on indicating everything is working to that point.
Is the cause likely to be the CH pump or something else electrical?
Just as a side note, there was a fair amount of noise this morning in the system as it tried to fire up at 5.30am. Although it's never been the quietest system, it was more noticeable and woke me up!
Our heating and water system are pressurized and whilst the hot water is definitely working the heating has packed up.
The flame in the remote thermostat in our hall indicates the boiler should be firing as the room temperature is low but nothing's happening. If the hot water tap is run the system fires up and creates more hot water in the tank as it should. I have checked the receiver in the boiler room and the green light is on indicating everything is working to that point.
Is the cause likely to be the CH pump or something else electrical?
Just as a side note, there was a fair amount of noise this morning in the system as it tried to fire up at 5.30am. Although it's never been the quietest system, it was more noticeable and woke me up!
It's a combination boiler?? Or a conventional system?
If a combination boiler it's likely to be a diverter valve diaphragm, if it's a conventional system I'd suspect it's the motor in the motorised valve which can normally be opened manually with the lever on the side.
If a combination boiler it's likely to be a diverter valve diaphragm, if it's a conventional system I'd suspect it's the motor in the motorised valve which can normally be opened manually with the lever on the side.
Edited by Ferg on Sunday 7th March 16:29
Ferg said:
It's a combination boiler?? Or a conventional system?
If a combination boiler it's likely to be a diverter valve diaphragm, if it's a conventional system I'd suspect it's the motor in the motorised valve which can normally be opened manually with the lever on the side.
Thanks FergIf a combination boiler it's likely to be a diverter valve diaphragm, if it's a conventional system I'd suspect it's the motor in the motorised valve which can normally be opened manually with the lever on the side.
Edited by Ferg on Sunday 7th March 16:29
It's not a combination boiler, I have an oil boiler whihc provides hot water to a immersion tank and it also pumps hot water around the house to a radiator system.
When you suggest the motorised valve can normally be opened on the side - which motorised valve are you referring to and where would I find it?
All I can see is three pumps, a huge tank for the hot water and a boiler....
3 pumps?
It's a big system then, yes? It may use pumps instead of motorised valves. The cylinder should have heating pipes going into the side of it and back out which heat the water. It will have either a valve or pump on the pipe going in. The pump may be dead OR the valve motor may be dead. It is possible, of course, that the wiring or thermostat may be faulty.
It's a big system then, yes? It may use pumps instead of motorised valves. The cylinder should have heating pipes going into the side of it and back out which heat the water. It will have either a valve or pump on the pipe going in. The pump may be dead OR the valve motor may be dead. It is possible, of course, that the wiring or thermostat may be faulty.
Ferg said:
3 pumps?
It's a big system then, yes? It may use pumps instead of motorised valves. The cylinder should have heating pipes going into the side of it and back out which heat the water. It will have either a valve or pump on the pipe going in. The pump may be dead OR the valve motor may be dead. It is possible, of course, that the wiring or thermostat may be faulty.
It's a fair size and as far as pipes go there are loads all over the place going in every direction.It's a big system then, yes? It may use pumps instead of motorised valves. The cylinder should have heating pipes going into the side of it and back out which heat the water. It will have either a valve or pump on the pipe going in. The pump may be dead OR the valve motor may be dead. It is possible, of course, that the wiring or thermostat may be faulty.
Would a system like this heat water and central heating separately, hence why we still have hot water?
Ferg said:
I'm guessing up to a point, but I suspect it has a heating pump, a hot water pump and a bypass pump. Nowadays it would probably have motorised valves and just one pump, although we still use pumps on big systems. Put the system on hot water only and see how many pumps operate.
OK, will do.From memory, your analsysis of the pump configuration is correct.
Thanks for your help Ferg.
I'll have to look later as the pump room is outside and it's bloody freezing here! The fire is roaring in the sitting room, the kids are in bed, a cold glass of vino and some chinese bits are just coming out of the oven
I'll have a good look in the morning.
Quick question - if the thermostat says fire up and if the pump is US, will the boiler still fire up but simply not pump water around or will the boiler not fire as it knows the pump isn't working?
I'll have to look later as the pump room is outside and it's bloody freezing here! The fire is roaring in the sitting room, the kids are in bed, a cold glass of vino and some chinese bits are just coming out of the oven
I'll have a good look in the morning.
Quick question - if the thermostat says fire up and if the pump is US, will the boiler still fire up but simply not pump water around or will the boiler not fire as it knows the pump isn't working?
Hi Ferg
Well.......
The story continues.....I didn't mention that on Friday we had a power cut and on Saturday night I noticed the house was cold and that's when the the story started. I called an engineer out today who was due this afternoon, but I went home for a bite at lunchtime and noticed that the toaster was not browning the bread on its normal setting. I took a voltage reading from a plug and we are only getting 207V into the house. Both my wife and had commented on how dim our lights were over the weekend but didn't put 2 and 2 together - why should we, we're not electrical engineers! I immediately cancelled the engineer and called Eon who agreed the voltage was too low and that may be affecting the pump.........my logic now tells me that would explain why a couple of radiators are luke warm but nothing more is happening simply because the voltage is too low........
Penny for your thoughts?
Well.......
The story continues.....I didn't mention that on Friday we had a power cut and on Saturday night I noticed the house was cold and that's when the the story started. I called an engineer out today who was due this afternoon, but I went home for a bite at lunchtime and noticed that the toaster was not browning the bread on its normal setting. I took a voltage reading from a plug and we are only getting 207V into the house. Both my wife and had commented on how dim our lights were over the weekend but didn't put 2 and 2 together - why should we, we're not electrical engineers! I immediately cancelled the engineer and called Eon who agreed the voltage was too low and that may be affecting the pump.........my logic now tells me that would explain why a couple of radiators are luke warm but nothing more is happening simply because the voltage is too low........
Penny for your thoughts?
I've known low (or high) voltage affect the workings of a PCB, but never a pump. I suppose it COULD be struggling to start the pump. If you can identify the pump and find the vent screw on the end you could undo it and try giving it a helping hand with a screwdriver in the end of the shaft.
Ferg said:
I've known low (or high) voltage affect the workings of a PCB, but never a pump. I suppose it COULD be struggling to start the pump. If you can identify the pump and find the vent screw on the end you could undo it and try giving it a helping hand with a screwdriver in the end of the shaft.
I'll try that 
Had the CH on and nothing....dead..........quiet, boiler is asleep.
Green light on the remote on the wall in the boiler room is on indicating the CH should be running.
Took the end off both pumps (I have two red pumps joined together), a leak of water from both but nothing when I turn anti-clockwise. I then turn the water back on and the boiler fires immediately and starts to heat the water....
Totally confused now
Green light on the remote on the wall in the boiler room is on indicating the CH should be running.
Took the end off both pumps (I have two red pumps joined together), a leak of water from both but nothing when I turn anti-clockwise. I then turn the water back on and the boiler fires immediately and starts to heat the water....
Totally confused now
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