Recent content by grandad666

no time to take pictures now, but they both look like perfectly regular garden taps, the kind with a thread to attach a hose adapter. Really, I'm looking at some test to do on the water, to check whether it is plain water or with inhibitor added.

For anyone interested, it's all fixed now. I converted it to S-plan, not Y because I only have a 2-core wire going up to the hot water tank. It was a very interesting project, all done by myself, with help via email from the extra-nice and knowledgeable guy who has this website...

Hi, I have two taps in my garden and I think one of them might be the main central heating drain (I moved in recently, so I don't know the house, and I can't find any other drain point). What is a sure way to tell whether the water from the taps is regular water or central heating water? The...

That has already been suggested by someone out of this forum, and is probably what I'm going to do. Actually, I'm thinking S-plan, because the cable to the cylinder thermostat has only 2 cores+earth and it can't be replaced easily (embedded into the wall and under floorboards). Still, if...

hi tamz, I tried tapping the pump gently but still no life signs. Is it possible to open it up partially leaving it connected to the pipes, to check the motor and clean it? I need just a little help, I don't want to untighten the wrong screw and flood the house.

Oh no, I'd pay whatever is reasonable. I think my plumber was more interested in selling me a completely new boiler though, he didn't seem keen on doing any "minor" work. If I could find someone I can trust in Cambridge, I'd happily pay to fix the damn system, but I certainly don't want to be...

[/url] thanks tamz, very interesting info. That pump sure isn't cheap! Ignorant's question: would it be possible to just substitute the 3-way HW pump with a standard 2-pipe one placed on the pipe to the tank, plus a bypass to bring water directly to the CH pump? Essentially the pipe from the...

Hi Tony, thanks for still following the thread. Apparently, not all pumps. Mine is exactly like the "SMC Controller" here (already posted) http://www.gasman.fsbusiness.co.uk/fully_pumped_systems.htm. Three pipes: one from the boiler, one to the hot water tank, and one to the heating pump...

that's the plumber talking! It's the hot water pump, the one with 3 pipes connected to it, and I haven't seen anything like that on screwfix.com (suggestions for other places where I could look are welcome).

ok, I had an electrician check the wiring, and he said it's fine: the pump receives power, it just doesn't work. the plumber said it's an ancient model and impossible to find (it's an SMC system with separate pumps for heating and hot water), any chance he could be wrong, is it still possible to...

more info on the system: it's an SMC system (see here http://www.gasman.fsbusiness.co.uk/fully_pumped_systems.htm under "SMC Controller"). The wiring seems ok, the cylinder thermostat triggers the bolier but not the pump (so the boiler switches itself off after a few seconds). I haven't actually...

just an update: raising the boiler temperature setting didn't help. But now I have a clearer idea of what is happening: the water gets hot IF the heating is also on. What I think is happening is that the cylinder thermostat is just switching the 3-way valve, but not starting the pump. If the...

ok, gone into the loft (first time since I bought the house, and god it needs some sorting out!), and the ball valve is A-OK in both tanks. Will now try to increase the boiler temperature setting and report on that. About the service: the previous owner had that done before the sale and...

Hi, I'm so new at this that I don't understand the way some shelves are fixed in the fitted wardrobes in the bedroom of my new house. There is nothing in view except two "screws" (see image) near the sides (underneath for some shelves, above for others). Except these are not screws: they can...