No hot water after draining heating system - combi boiler

Hi, Im convinced I have done this before and still had hot water. I have removed a radiator so I can do some decorating, i drained the heating system and removed the rad. I have switched the bolier (Potterton combi) to hot water only but i have none.

When the hot tap is run i can hear the familiar noise (like a pump or is it just water flowing?) in the boiler but not the usual gas igniting and firing sound. When i put the rad back on the wall and fill the system the hot water comes back.

Should i be able to get hot water without the heating system filled?

Paul.

you can't have hot water with the heating system drained on a combi boiler.

why didn't you just shut the rad valves and remove rad instead of draining whole system ?

Oh, o.k. To be honest i didnt think of just shutting off the valves! Oh well. If i shut the valves now is it possible to refill the system with the rad off?

yes but double check when filling they are not leaking.

Nice one! Thanks for the quick replies.