Advice on central heating spare - Glowworm Spacesaver 65F Ob

[spickee]

Well my mums central heating has gone on the fritz and having spent the best part of three days looking for a spare for it, Glowworm say there is no stock left in the UK at all.

This is a real long shot but is anyone on here a heating specialist or able to give me advice on what to do. It is a Glowworm Spacesaver 65-75F. The part that has gone is the fan assembly, price around £150 inc vat, but none anywhere. Does anyone know if this can be reconditioned, repaired or butchered together from a couple of other bits.

Her heating is working again at the minute as the BG engineer sprayed the fan assembly with something, probably a lubricant. If it goes she is in for a massive cost as it is a complete system as it is based on microbore. Having just lost Dad 2 years ago this is something she can well do without.

Anyone?

 

[Rog200455]

Sorry I can't help you but why do you say the fact that the system is microbore will affect the cost.

 

[spickee]

Surely if the boiler is replaced then the microbore piping must be as well. Isn't it frowned upon nowadays. The BG chap said it would need replacing is this incorrect.

 

[Prof.plumb]

The situation with the fan sounds a bit strange you should be able to get a hold of one. I suggest you go onto the Wolsely website and get the number for your local parts replacement center they will have it in a matter of days if they haven't got it on the shelf.
BG do like to look for work. However, what he said is a valid statement microbore is a load of scrap.
When heating went over to pumped systems the trade tried to get clever. They thought that if you can pump the water and not rely on gravity you can get pipework down to 8mm! Ans so you bought it on a reel it was cheap and fast to install and everyone loved it. However, they neglected to appreciate any sediment, sludge, magnetite in the system would quickly block the minute bore making it useless, rads then don't work and powerflushing can't clear them as it can't circulate.
I would get that fan in get some inhibitor in the system and run the system till it had problems. then look at re-piping.
Best of luck! My regards to your mother and i sincerely hope you get it sorted.

 

[Rog200455]

My microbore system has been in 25 years. Downstairs 10mm, upstairs 8mm. Still Ok

 

[spickee]

I have been on to Glowworm and then their parts supplier (Wolsely). They checked uk wide and not only have Glowworm obseleted the fan but there are none left in the UK.

I know BG are not the best for underquoting a job, but if the fan goes US then the CH doesn't come on. The fan is going again and the heating turning off and on, but I know it's going to give up the ghost and wondering what her realistic options are with the piping installed.

 

[Rog200455]

You need to think of unconventional solutions. Do you know anyone that works in the mechanical or electrical engineering industry? The fan can probably be repaired by an engineer, "fiddler" or enthusiast, you just need to find the right person.

 

[like to help]

should be no problem 4 options

1 gms ltd on line
£113 plus vat and del if boiler num is 41-313-38
2 www.cetltd.com for a recon £45 plus vat and carr and cost to retn old one
3 www.adlinkuk.com for a recon fan
4 ask if either 2 0r 3 will recon the old fan and ask your mum to stay with a friend for 2 days os so.

i think you should be able to get the fan BG do this all the time
good luck post back if sorted

 

[mcguire]

Hi. I am a BG engineer and have just looked on my lap top and what he has told about a NEW fan been available is correct. And about the micro bore been aparling prof.plumb got it just about right,but to save you re-piping the system you could look at converting the system in to a sealed system. You would need to have the system manually flushed first, but once you had done this a few new rad valves, then it would last you a lot longer. That's if the boilers up to it! Can't seal system with no overheat stat! can't help with the fan, but good luck anyway!