Ideal E Type cf 80N

[gnrl]

I am looking for advice re: my boiler. The hot water only heats up when the cetral heating is ON, if turned off the boiler does not seem to fire up. I had it fixed by British gas in december when it broke down, when summer cam obviously we had to turn off the central heating and found that the hot water was not heating up. This has not been an issue in the past. would any one know what the problem with it is?

Does any one also have any suggestion on Home emergency cover companies that are will cover this 30yr old boiler as most have a restriction of 10yrs. Previous I had cover with barclays home SOS cover who fixed once or twice in the last 4 years,but have now decided that my boiler is over 10yrs therefore will not come and repair it.

 

[tonybhoy]

Not a boiler problem, this boiler is bullet proof, you don't need a contract for one of those.

Any idiot could sort one, there's virtually nothing in them to go wrong.

The boiler will probably outlast your house

However your variant boiler does need an annual service done every year and if the boiler is inside your house a CO detector is a must.

 

[gnrl]

So what could be causing this problem with the hot water not heating up or the boiler not firing up?

The repairs carried out by british Gas in decemeber was virtually a thorough service according to the engnieer who came out to fix it!

I do have a CO detector in the room where the boiler is.

Presently, I am having to use the emersion to heat up the hot water tank..costly!

 

[tonybhoy]

Could be anything mate but given the age of the boiler I'd hazard a guess at no water in the F&E tank in the loft. Certainly not the boiler that's for sure.

BTW, BG never did a service on that boiler, there's virtually nothing to service other than replacing the thermocouple and cleaning the pilot injector and the heat exchanger but these would only be done if they needed it which would be down the engineer on the day. One quick look at the pilot would confirm, likewise with the Hex but a smoke match and or smokebomb should have been used to check the flue.

Tony

 

[gnrl]

I have no knowledge of boilers, anyway the engneeir did check flue using the smoke thing and also cleaned the jets, not sure about the heat exchanger.

the interesting thing is if I turn ON the C/H and H/W controls on the panel, the hot water tank water is heated up, but if I switch off the C/H only the boiler does not heat up the water. If i turn on both C/H and H/W but with the room temp thermostat turned down, the hot water DOES NOT heat up. but if I turn up the C/H room thermostat and C/H comes on the hot water is heated up. I am therefore assuming that water is going into the tank from the header tank?

 

[namsag]

As been said check the small tank has water in it and does not have a stuck ball valve

 

[tonybhoy]

Still sounds like you've no water in the F&E tank in the loft, what's probably happening is that the pump is coming on when you turn up the stat or a demand for heating because you've a pumped heating and gravity hot water system so when the pump's off the boiler stat is satisfied thus turning off the power to the boiler's gas valve.

You've probably got air in the primaries (flow and return to the cylinder) because there's no water in them at the cylinder level. Check the small F&E tank in the loft in the morning, the ball-valve will probably be stuck in the off postion, just wiggle the brass arm to free it.

 

[gnrl]

Yep, the F&E tank was bone dry. I have just finished cleaning it up and wriggled the ball valved and it has filled up nicely. Thank you very much, I thought I was in for a very large expense getting it fixed because 1 engneeir I called out told me its a wold day's job as he would need to strip the boiler and change the pump as well as various things.

In terms of the the possible airlock due to lack of water, do i need to do anything ??

 

[Agile]

If the system is properly laid out then the air should be cl;eared automatically if you alternate between CH and HW only a few times.

I am sorry that the engineer you called was being so stupid. There are always a few cowboys in any trade. All he should have done was to quote a diagnostic charge, ideally fixed, for coming to diagnose the fault. Obviously any parts needed would be extra. Until he sees what the problem is then he has no idea whats wrong.

Tony

 

[gnrl]

Thanx Tony, I will keep you posted!

You don't happen to know which company offer emergency cover for boilers that age?

 

[Agile]

I dont expect anyone will but its such a simple boiler that there is only a gas valve and a thermostat to go wrong and both usually last 15-25 years so not an issue.

All you need is to find a suitable local engineer who can come and service it every year and be available if there was any other problem which is unlikely.

An older ex British Gas would be ideal as they would have worked on these in their younger days and having an early BG pension would not have to charge so much.

Tony

 

[gnrl]

Thank you Tony, the system is working like a treat now. Thank you very much for your help.

 

[namsag]

I`M sorry not sour grapes but why are you thanking Agile . tony boy told you twice what this basic fault was Agile then made it sound so much more complicated a fault that any apprentice within there first few months would class as a bread and butter fault

 

[tonybhoy]

Thanks Namsag, thought I was going mental when I saw those thanks to Tony, but what can you do mate?

The man obviously has a fanbase on here

 

[gnrl]

Apologies Tonybhoy and namsag, the thank you was for everyone who helped me with my problem. I guess when I wrote thank you to Tony, I had failed to notice that Agile signs his comments with Tony and not his user name.

Any way thank you all!