DAMSEL IN DISTRESS, PLEASE HELP!!!!

[charlieandlaura2002]

I have 10 year old MYSON BF Wall Mounted combination gas boiler (sealed system). It has two seperate pumps, one for DHW and one for CH.

It has been leaking steadily, albeit a mere drip, from the top of the automatic air vent which is mounted on the air seperator.

Every couple of months the pressure would drop to less than half a bar and I would top the system up and bleed the radiators. This has kept the central heating and hot water working well.

Yesterday, the boiler just stopped working again. I topped it up as usual thinking it would just be a low pressure problem. However, for some reason when I fire it up now (HW on, CH off) and turn on a hot water tap, the water does not get hot at all. I cant even hear the boiler working and the pilot light justs stays low and doesn't fire up at all. When I turn off the HW and the CH on, the pilot comes on high and the pressure just starts to build up immediately. It goes from 1.5bar to 3bar within 15seconds and just cuts out.

Any ideas??? I'd really appreciate any pointers you can give me. I have no idea what is wrong. Could it be that the pumps have packed in?? Could it be an expansion vessel problem?

THANKS!!!

Laura

 

[ChrisR]

Sounds like a Midas. Could be a few things. You need someone who knows the thing and can fault find properly. (Same old story really!) Not a boiler I'd think has much future now.

 

[charlieandlaura2002]

Thanks for the response! A number of things you say. It seems that the water is heating up but it's not going anywhere and the pressure is just building up inside the boiler.

Why isn't the water being distribued through the system? All isolation valves are open on the flow and return so it's not that. Can't be that both pumps have packed in at the same time so I'm guessing it's not the pumps. I am out of ideas as to the other things it can be.

Can you gimme some other suggestions please??

Oh, and yeah, it's a Midas BF. How much do you think for a replacement (incl. fitting)? I've been quoted anywhere from £800-£1000.

 

[ChrisR]

Could be ONE pump.
£800 isn't enough unless the replacement boiler's the cheapest and it's thrown at the wall with no care for cleaning the system etc. You must be in a "good value" area?

 

[charlieandlaura2002]

If it was only 'one' pump them the other would be working? I am not getting a DHW or CH supply. It's as though the water is not circulating at all.

I don't know how to tell if the pumps are working. They make a whining noise when switched on and a low clicking but the water doesn't get circulated through the system.

Apart from the pumps, is there any other cause of this? A blockage perhaps? Where would I begin to look for a blockage??

Thanks for responding by the way. Don't know about being in a good value area but the £800 quoted was a local plumber in the Dumbarton area. Maybe he has a cheap source for boilers or something but £800.00 is still a little more than I can afford and I'm absolutely freeziing here!!

 

[DP]

I am in Bearsden. Mostly carry out boiler repairs and servicing; boiler replacement very rare. If you want the boiler repaired (hopefully) send me an email at [email protected]. DO remove 999 to use address.

 

[charlieandlaura2002]

Yes Please!!