Boiler overheats quickly - no hot water. Suggestions?

[diberlee]

Hi,

As per the title we're having a problem with the boiler... I live in a rented house, and will be able to get the landlord to sort this but they're closed on weekends so it unlikely to be fixed for a good 2-3 days. In the meantime we've had no hot water since Friday so I'm wondering if somebody has any suggestions to get it running in the meantime. We don't have an electric shower so it kinda sucks to be without hot water for the best part of a week.

I should say I know very little about boilers in general, so don't have much I can tell you.

I've uploaded a video to show what happens when we turn it on after a few hours of being fully switched off. If it's turned on any sooner the overheat light just remains lit.

http://youtu.be/Hpto7ncvY-Y

We had a plumber out last week when it was overheating and he got it working by turning down the control knob to "2". It was still overheating but came back on after a while. He replaced the pump a few days later. Now it is overheating again but we cannot get any hot water at all. The pump is extremely hot to touch, but the pipework beyond that is only warm for a few inches.

Anybody have anything I can try to get it running in the meantime?

Thanks in advance
Diberlee

EDIT: All the sound in the video is coming from the boiler itself - no background noise. The dripping sounds is from the pump. The engineer said it will drip for a few days but then stop

 

[bellairaphon]

Check your pump and the small tank in the loft see if you have any water in there.

Nathan

 

[diberlee]

Hi,

Not sure what I should be checking with the pump? I took the front cover off to make sure the wires were in properly and they seem fine.

Both the small and big tank in the loft have water in them.

Cheers

 

[bellairaphon]

Is the pump spinning? The small tank in the loft should be about a 1/3 full. If its higher the you have a blockage on the cold feed to the system.

 

[bellairaphon]

And does it overheat with the central heating on aswell.

 

[CBF]

for starters the pump is fitted incorrectly, air will collect in the top of it & it will burn out in weeks, pumps don't drip, who on earth was this numpty cause it looks to me that he hasn't got a clue, make sure the arrow on the pump body is facing towards that three port valve (where on earth is the head of the valve ?), make sure the two valves are open either side of the pump, get a screwdriver & loosen the silver screw in the middle of the pump & let the air out, then tighten it,

when you phone them back up tell them you aren't going to let this idiot back inside your house & to send someone else

 

[diberlee]

Is the pump spinning? The small tank in the loft should be about a 1/3 full. If its higher the you have a blockage on the cold feed to the system.

I can't feel or hear any noticeable spinning from the pump. The tank is about 1/3 full so seems ok from what you said. The central heating is on the same system - note the diverter switch just after the pump. You turn it all the way to the left for hot water only, all the way to the right for C/H and in the middle for both. Should I try it with C/H selected?

 

[diberlee]

for starters the pump is fitted incorrectly, air will collect in the top of it & it will burn out in weeks, pumps don't drip, who on earth was this numpty cause it looks to me that he hasn't got a clue, make sure the arrow on the pump body is facing towards that three port valve (where on earth is the head of the valve ?), make sure the two valves are open either side of the pump, get a screwdriver & loosen the silver screw in the middle of the pump & let the air out, then tighten it,

when you phone them back up tell them you aren't going to let this idiot back inside your house & to send someone else

He was the guy that the estate agent sent - no idea what qualifications he has... Just assumed he knew what he was doing.

I'll get a close up picture of the pump to see if you can find what you're looking for any easier. Since the pump is so hot I guess I should wait for it to cool before loosening any screws?

Will come back in a couple of minutes

Cheers

 

[bellairaphon]

If you have a multimeter check for voltage at the pump.

 

[diberlee]

Pump:

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Diverta switch:

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[diberlee]

If you have a multimeter check for voltage at the pump.

I don't have a multimeter available unfortunately

 

[CBF]

it's facing the right way

you don't need a multimeter i can hear it running & it's full of air not water,

yes you would assume so wouldn't you, but i can assure you he doesn't know what he's doing

a pump is lubricated by water & in that position it will fill up with air & it WILL burn out (which is why it's so hot), thats providing it's not already knackered

 

[diberlee]

it's facing the right way

you don't need a multimeter i can hear it running & it's full of air not water,

yes you would assume so wouldn't you, but i can assure you he doesn't know what he's doing

That's a relief, I wouldn't be comfortable doing much more than loosening some screws

So to get the air out I loosen the big screw on top? Is it like bleeding a radiator as in I wait for water to start coming out and then tighten again?

 

[diberlee]

Am I right to say that the pump feeling so hot is because the motor is overheating rather than the hot water is getting stuck there?

 

[CBF]

yes, then get them back to turn the pump body down so the screw is facing you (facing out)