Alpha boiler issues....

[simongooner1]

Hi there

Having a few problem with my Alpha 240 boiler. I have a hot water diaphram on order and an engineer booked to come and rectify the problem. The hot water had stopped working.

I can use hot water by manually pressing the switch to fire up the boiler. However, can anyone answer the following questions?

1)The hot water takes ages (10 mins) to warm up to a temp that is ok to bath in. As it's a combi it usually warms up instantaniously. Can the above problem affect its efficiency too or is it another, deeper prob?

2) Even when I switch off the heating and manually work the boiler the heating comes on. Ok in cold weather but not when it's really warm!! Any ideas as to how I can turn this off???

Apologies for the long-winded post!!
Cheers
Simon

 

[gas4you]

If the rads are getting warm when you just press the switch for hot water, although I'm not sure what switch you mean, unless its the micro switch on the front of the dv, then you have the classic diverter valve sticking in the ch mode fault.

I always replace with new dv, but others on here will advocate refurbishing the old one. This is cheaper but a lot more time comsuming for you if you diy.

Sounds like you need a diaphragm as well as the dv.

 

[simongooner1]

cheers Dave, Yes it is the microswitch on the front of the DV. Would the engineer be able to have a look at this when he comes or do you think I need to forewarn him?

Thanks again

 

[Agile]

It sounds as if the diaphragm is failed. That means the boiler will not switch on in DHW mode.

If the diaphragm is replaced it will probably fix the problem.

There is another problem that can affect the boiler. But you will not know if that is a fault until testing after the diaphragm is changed. The rads should NOT heat up on DHW if its working correctly.

I am very surprised that the person you have called does not carry all the common diaphragms with him if he is a professional boiler engineer.

Tony

 

[simongooner1]

cheers Tony.

Yeah, not sure why he doesn't carry the common diaphrams about. He is trustworthy though so that's something.

 

[Agile]

He is trustworthy though so that's something.

Famous last words!

Someone said that about me today! It was only a trick to get me to come quickly though!

But it worked !!!

Tony

 

[Heloblue1965]

He is trustworthy though so that's something.

Famous last words!

Someone said that about me today! It was only a trick to get me to come quickly though!

But it worked !!!

Tony[/quote. Hi all,I also hav a problem with my alpha cb28 combi,the rad warm up when running the hot water tap,the boiler is switched to dhw only! Logic is telling me it's the diaphragm in the dv, any advice would be great,cheers

 

[gas_man_gaz]

Wen posting its better if you create a new thread rather than hijacking a old 1 as the 2 alpha boilers are completely different.
The diaphragm is used to detect hot water demand, so if the boiler is firing up wen you use the hot water it won't be that.
It is more likely to be the diverter valve passing[/list]

 

[ollski]

If the diaphragm has a hole in it wont move the spindle hence the boiler wont fire up and the diverter will stay in central heating position, if you unclip the microswitch it will fool the boiler into thinking that the hot water is running but it cant physically move the valve internals to hot water position so it will just go to your heating with maybe a small amount getting through to the hot water.

 

[Heloblue1965]

If the diaphragm has a hole in it wont move the spindle hence the boiler wont fire up and the diverter will stay in central heating position, if you unclip the microswitch it will fool the boiler into thinking that the hot water is running but it cant physically move the valve internals to hot water position so it will just go to your heating with maybe a small amount getting through to the hot water.

thanks ill ski,boiler is firing when the tap is opened and is also delivering hot water to the tap,the problem is it is heating the rads and the boiler is set to dhw only! Gas man recones it's the divert valve

 

[ollski]

Then yes replace the whole diverter.