Vaillant Ecomax 828 Noise?????

[pixxyco]

Hi, I have a Ecomax 828/2e installed that has started making a whining noise when the HW is running. The noise sounds a bit like whining and slight fan rattle, but is coming from the top area of the combustion chamber so pretty sure not fan. If you turn the water temp down the the noise reduces.

A Fernox TF1 filter was fitted a few weeks ago and the system was cleaned with F3. There was no noise prior to this and no noise straight after cleaning etc.

Suggestions on the forum seem to suggest heat exchangers blocked or combustion ratios wrong. Any ideas as to which it sounds more like? Obviously if its ratios wrong then I'll have to get someone round with analyzer, but just getting a heads up so I can make sure they've got one.

Cheers for any help.

 

[pixxyco]

Just to add a little more, the sound the boiler makes is like a helicopter taking off.

 

[bazdaman]

All engineers should have a FGA anyway so no heads up needed, it could be any of the two things you have said dont know unless we hear it.

 

[pixxyco]

Hi Bazdaman, cheers for reply. Someone stated on another thread that if its the combustion ratio's it will sound as bad or worse outside, but it certainly sounds worse inside. I had another listen and its a loud vibrating sound that's quiet with low burn/demand but the more the tap is on and the boiler fires up the louder it gets, like a helicopter.

 

[bazdaman]

Then i would say **** in the heat ex, the noises from a heat ex groaning can be very similar to ratios out, if i was onsite i would tell straight away but unfortunately not from this distance

 

[twgas]

Then i would say s**t in the heat ex

how often does one need to do that?

 

[bazdaman]

Every annual service aswell as a pee in the header tank

 

[twgas]

I get so many great tips from this site!

 

[pixxyco]

OK, , cheers for that, will have a go at cleaning it out first, although will get someone round to check ratios as well.
Not sure if I might have been my own worst enemy. The pipes for heating originally went upstairs, across the house, down the wall back downstairs and then around downstairs. This always resulted in the water shooting around the pipes, making a gushing noise.
Recently I dug out kitchen floor and run pipes across for downstairs, cutting out about 8m flow and 8m return all at 15mm. Lovely and quiet now due to lower pump pressure I assume, which may have resulted in less forceful water pressure to keep heat exchangers clear!!!!