Damsel in distress

[myward]

3 weeks ago i had a new central heating system fitted with an Ariston Micro Genus 23 combi boiler.

The bar pressure appears to be at 0.5 when the heating is off and runs at 2.0 when the heating or hot water is running.

The fitter who has disappeared of the face of the earth (different story) informed me that there was no need to put the inhibitor / cleaser into the system strait away as the sludge needs to build for a few weeks then you do it so its more efficiencent.

2 weeks ago i was rudely awoken and every morning since when the heating comes on. It sounds as if the radiators have something bobbing and gushing inside them and theres a lot of banging noise. You can also hear the water in the pipes under the floorboards.

After and hour or so of the heating being on the noises stop.

What can i do myself first before calling in the experts?

 

[IanDB]

Your system should have been flushed out straightaway to get rid of any bits and pieces left over from the installation (stuff like flux and the like). However it's not critical provided it's done in the not too distant future. At the same time you must get it re-filled with inhibitor to prevent corrosion and the subsequent problems that can bring.

The banging may well be due to air in the system and bleeding the radiators should sort that out. You can do that yourself quite easily.

The pressure seems to be varying a bit too much (too low to start off with and a bit high when running) which would indicate that the expansion vessel needs to be checked. It should run at about 1 bar.

You should get someone else in to give it the once over if you can't get the original cowboy (sorry) back.

 

[weargas]

What can i do myself first before calling in the experts?

you only get a true pressure reading when the boiler is cold. If you get a reading of 1 bar cold and you still get the noises i'm afraid there's nothing you can realistically do. as ian said get someone in to give it a once over. at least you'lll know where you stand then.

 

[myward]

Thanks for your advice,
I'll do the basics, call in an expert from Corgi HQ and send the cowboy the bill!