Boiler noises!

[Milkchew]

Hello hello, I am hoping anyone can help me. I woke up this morning to what sounded like someone trying to saw through the cooper pipes in my house, the noise only lasted 5seconds if that, but happened every 10mins ish while the boiler was supposed to be heating the water. I couldn't quite locate where the noise was coming from, but since has stopped after I turned of all the heating. The pilot light is ok, I am getting both gas and electricity to the boiler no problem, and 30mins after I pressed a switch near the boiler on the wall I heard a boiling noise.

Please please please can you give me some advise on what could be wrong i.e. if it is the boiler itself or just the pump

 

[croydoncorgi]

Pump could be jammed.

To unjam (if it's Grundfos or similar) use large screwdriver to remove chrome screw in centre of pump body. then use smaller screwdriver to turn the pump rotor in the direction shown by the arrow. If it won't turn easily - it's a dead pump!

A small amount of water will come out when you undo the screw.

If the rotor is free, are you sure there's water in the system.

Your description of the noise does not resemble a dry pump - but bear in mind that the pump is WATER LUBRICATED and will destroy itself very quickly if run dry.

 

[DP]

Perhaps I should add, water will be at boiling point. If you are not careful, it will scald you. On some pumps, the water shoots out when the center screw is removed. Try previous suggestion only if you are comfortable

 

[croydoncorgi]

Comment re. very hot water well added!!
Thanks

 

[oilman]

It's not too much of a problem to start with as steam usually hisses out when you crack the screw, leave it 'til it's finished hissing. You can tell if this is likely to happen as the pump will be incredibly hot to touch. Have a container to collect the drips, I find it gets uncomfortable using a cloth, as it gets too hot to hold quite quickly.