Valve Position on Filling Loop

[McLarenLad]

Had a bit of an issue recently with a low pressured boiler. As I live in a rental, I spoke to the estate agent, who referred me to their plumbing engineer. He explained that I needed to top up the pressure on the boiler, as that's what was causing the lockout error message (Ideal boiler). He mentioned just turning the valve marked in red, to top up to around 1.0 bar, which I did and closed the valve, as seen circled.

I noticed a day or so later, that the hot water pressure was rubbish. Now, I'll be honest, I couldn't remember if I touched the valve in blue. Given my doubts, coupled with the water pressure issue, I spoke to the engineer again who then came out. He said I'd done everything fine and that the pressure was likely the cold weather or a leak somewhere. He left after about 2 minutes, to which I'm sure my request was an inconvenience.

Anyhow, I was running a bath and heard a 'spitting' from the valve circled in blue and the pressure was creeping to around 2.5 bar, which I thought quite odd. Part of me remembered from previous houses, that both valves need to be 'open', in order to pressurise the boiler. So seemed odd that I only needed to turn the valve in red to re-pressurise. I was convinced the valve should be closed, as seen in the second photo (no coloured circles) and the hot water pressure is perfect again, as well as the boiler pressure to a more comfortable level, around 1.5, sometimes 1.75.

My questions are;

1 - What lasting damage could have been done by leaving the valve in blue 'open'? Not only to the boiler, but could boiler water have got in to the drinking supply?
2 - Is the valve now in the correct position? (Picture without coloured circles)

Needless to say, I've sent these pictures to the heating engineer and not heard a thing. This has been going on for about five days!!

 

[Johntheo5]

If there is another valve on the left hand side like the black one highlighted on the right and as long as both are aligned like the right hand one then both blue valves are on the filling loop, shutting one only should stop the filling but better if both are shut.

 

[denso13]

1 - What lasting damage could have been done by leaving the valve in blue 'open'? Not only to the boiler, but could boiler water have got in to the drinking supply?
2 - Is the valve now in the correct position? (Picture without coloured circles)

No harm done.

Looks ok now, but sometimes the plastic heads don't always work the valve correctly and can give a false impression of on/off.

 

[McLarenLad]

If there is another valve on the left hand side like the black one highlighted on the right and as long as both are aligned like the right hand one then both blue valves are on the filling loop, shutting one only should stop the filling but better if both are shut.

Thanks @Johntheo5 - No black valve on the left hand side, just one blue one.

 

[McLarenLad]

No harm done.

Looks ok now, but sometimes the plastic heads don't always work the valve correctly and can give a false impression of on/off.

Thanks @denso13, it's put my mind at ease then.

For future reference, the questionable/problematic valve on the left then, presumably this is the cold water feed? Is that right?

 

[denso13]

For future reference, the questionable/problematic valve on the left then, presumably this is the cold water feed? Is that right?

Yes, up and down it allows water to the boiler, across the way if feeds the filling loop to top up the boiler.

 

[McLarenLad]

Yes, up and down it allows water to the boiler, across the way if feeds the filling loop to top up the boiler.

Ahhh interesting. So presumably then, when it was sitting horizontally/across-the-way, it was trying to feed the fill-loop, but sending no water to the boiler, hence having to work harder and increase the pressure? Is that right? Or am I running before I can walk here

 

[denso13]

hence having to work harder and increase the pressure?

Not really working any harder, but you might hear it more as it fills the system.