Central heating help

[ricky81]

You first need to determine which component is faulty. There are plenty of videos online you can watch. And method statements to read.

Thanks for this. I phoned my usual plumber but he’s on holiday. So...I’ve watched a lot of videos and gave the black circulating pump a good tap and I could hear water flowing again! I’m guessing it was jammed up because it’s not used everyday.
My question now is should I replace the circulating pump? Or should it be ok now it is freed up?

 

[ricky81]

1. If the pump is hotter than the pipes going into or out of it, it means the pump is not spinning, as JohnD states above.
2. This is usually down to:
2a. The pump is jammed with sediment. OR
2b. The capacitor which gets the motor to start has failed.
3. For a jammed pump, you need to try spinning the rotor by hand. I can't remember if its the same on the pump you have, but on most:
3a. Put a tray under the pump to catch the water which will come out.
3b. Remove the black hexagon (plastic?) nut from the centre of the pump. Undo it partially, to make sure you can deal with the volume of water coming out. If there is too much, re-tighten nut and abandon attempt.
3c. With a screwdriver poked in the centre, try turning the rotor. You can't see it, you should be able to feel it.
3d. If it starts to turn, spin it a couple of times, black nut back on and hope it works properly.
3e. If it won't turn, replace the pump.
4. For a failed capacitor:
4a. If you have a multimeter with a capacitance range, test it - after isolating mains power to the extent of switching off the main consumer unit switch and cutting all power to the property.
4b. Generally in the 4 to 8 micro farad range. If outside range, replace with a 5 or 7 micro farad MOTOR rated capacitor.
5. If you have to abandon checks, you will need to call in a heating engineer, unless you feel competent to drain down the system and replace the pump yourself.

Thabknyou for this detailed reply.
Just gave it a good tap and it has worked! My question now is it a sign that it is on its way out? Or should it be fine now it is freed up?
Thank you,
Richard

 

[Mottie]

It will probably be okay now you’ve freed it off. It also looks like your hot water is turned off at the controller. Have you been heating your water with the immersion since you moved in? Turn the immersion off and use the boiler to heat your water - it’ll be a lot cheaper and the pump will get used regularly!

 

[ricky81]

We just turn the hot water Using the thermostat on every couple of days. We don’t use the immersion.

 

[DiyNutJob]

Fixed my pump only last night following this video:

I had the heating switched off for the summer and the pump seized. When I tried to turn the heating on, the boiler banged away like it was going to explode. This was to do with the boiler overheating because of the non-flowing water.

 

[Mottie]

We just turn the hot water Using the thermostat on every couple of days. We don’t use the immersion.

Eh? Surely it you’re not using your boiler you must be using the immersion to heat water? Why not just set the hot water to come on once a day - it’ll be more cost effective and will keep your pump from seizing up.