Air in system/oveflow problem

[adi]

Hello!

I have an open vented system. The boiler is new (classic condensing). The pump is new. Everytime the pump starts, air gets into the system (a lot of air). I could let the air out of the first radiator every half an hour! That happens at the lowest speed on the pump. If I put the pump to anything higher than that, water continuosly comes out of the overflow pipe.

I had the system powerflushed recently, but it didn't help.

Any thoughts?

Thank you very much.

 

[ollski]

how much higher than the tank does the vent pipr go?

 

[doitall]

where's the pump, cold feed, vent and what order

 

[adi]

how much higher than the tank does the vent pipr go?

I'm afraid I'm not that knowledgeable as I don't understand some of these terms The expansion tank is about 2m above the pump. What's the "vent pipe"?

 

[adi]

where's the pump, cold feed, vent and what order

I'm afraid you'll have to explain these things to me Pump is upstairs, expansion tank in the loft (2m above). PLease ask me more (simple) questions and apologies again for my lack of knowledge

 

[doitall]

who fitted the boiler

 

[ollski]

it's the pipe that comes up and over the tank....though my money would probably be on the pump being the wrong way round.

ooops edit sorry didn't notice the boiler was new.....get the installer back in.

 

[adi]

who fitted the boiler

Not the manufacturer, I'm afraid. A normal plumber. I used to have an old cast-iron boiler, they replaced that with the new one by connecting it to the old pipes. They haven't changed anything else (they changed something on the electrics side).

I've asked quite a few people about my problem, they told me that I have a blockage in the sytem, that why I had it powerflushed. It didn't help, I'm afraid.

 

[adi]

it's the pipe that comes up and over the tank....though my money would probably be on the pump being the wrong way round.

ooops edit sorry didn't notice the boiler was new.....get the installer back in.

Is there anyway I could check if the pump is the "right way up"? AS far as I remember it was always that in that position, and I would have thought noone would be able to put it the worn way around.

The overflow pipe is probably about a foot higher than the expansion tank (at it's highest point).

Thank you.

 

[adi]

how much higher than the tank does the vent pipr go?

The overflow pipe is about 25cm above the expansion tank (at its highest point).

 

[doitall]

adi,

The new boiler is different to the old, the cold feed and vent will be in the wrong place, and depending how the new has been connected then alterations to the pipework is inevitable.

best plan for now is to get the installer back.

 

[adi]

adi,

The new boiler is different to the old, the cold feed and vent will be in the wrong place, and depending how the new has been connected then alterations to the pipework is inevitable.

best plan for now is to get the installer back.

Thank you very much. I'll try, but I'm not sure they know better. I was considering buying that HomeCare heating system insurance from British Gas and asking them to come and fix it, as they won't send an engineer without buying the policy. Do you think they wil do it?

Thank you very much again.

 

[ollski]

they might, depends how much remedial work it needs, but I believe there is scope for some repair work to be done to allow the system to come on contract. If its a bigger job involving either moving the pump and combining you feed and vent pipes they should be able to give you a quote if you ask. It is the previous installers responsibility to come and put it right free of charge though and that would be my first call.

 

[doitall]

The expansion pipe should be as close to the boiler as possible and rise continuously to turn over the tank.

The cold feed must be connected within 150mm after it.

 

[adi]

they might, depends how much remedial work it needs, but I believe there is scope for some repair work to be done to allow the system to come on contract. If its a bigger job involving either moving the pump and combining you feed and vent pipes they should be able to give you a quote if you ask. It is the previous installers responsibility to come and put it right free of charge though and that would be my first call.

Thank you very much again. It's been suggested, as an alternative to combining the feed and vent pipes, to install an air separator. Will this help? It doesn't look very complicated to combine the feed and vent pipes, will this solve my problem? Which is better, the air separator or combining the pipes?