Glow worm swift flow - No heating or hot water

[jackpot]

As of yesterday we were not getting any hot water. Upon closer inspection of the boiler when i pressed the switch to 'on'. The boiler was making a low continuous buzzing sound. Everything else was working (Power, pilot light etc etc). I re lit the pilot a couple of time and by chance i heard water gushing into the pipes.

I had turned the electricity off to change a light fitting earlier if thats any use.
Anyway after the water gushing sound it worked and when i press the heating on you get a sort of 'vroom' sound as it kicks in. (Sorry best i can describe).

Now its gone again and i just get the low continuous sound with no heating or hot water.
Also in the background of the house every few minutes or so i can hear a faint buzzing for a few seconds and then stops. This has been continuous since noticing it last night. Now ive discovered that we have no heating or hot water im guessing theres some sort of connection.

Can anyone help as they say it comes in threes. The dryer broke and the baby has just got the plug stuck in the sink meaning unscrewing the pipework to poke it back up again...aaaarrrghh!!!!

Thanks in advance

 

[Agile]

Is the boiler correctly pressurised?

Tony

 

[jackpot]

Yes its on 0.9 bars. It reccomends 0.7 on the instructions

 

[bengasman]

Could be a duff pump, comes on, but not enough power to actually push the water round the boiler. Boiler either cycles, or overheats when that happens.

 

[fitz1]

fan sticking is the most common fault on swift flow.

 

[mickyg]

fan sticking is the most common fault on swift flow.

I'm with this one. duff pump would still give hw.

 

[jackpot]

Thanks guys. I have read elsewhere it could be the fan. Ive opened the boiler up, but not sure what im looking for. Found the fan (A circular casing near the top of boiler with some sort of motor atached to the right of it) and its making some sort of low sound. Nothing unusual just as though its indicating power coming from it. Its not turning or anything else. Should it be? Like i said not sure really what im looking for to identify if its stuck or not working.. Thanks

 

[jackpot]

Ok eventually removed fan and cleaned it a bit. I found that a bit had come out of place and when turned the fan did catch the outer casing which stopped it from freely going round. Sorted this and replaced. Fan now definately working but still does not fire up when i press the on switch.

Now im truly puzzled. Do i need to reset the boiler somehow or refill the system in any way?

edit; when i say fire up, the pilot is lit but when turn heating on i dont get a 'vroom' sort of noise

 

[jackpot]

Could it be the P.C.B?

 

[mrgas]

It could be!
Does that help?

 

[jackpot]

If the PCB could directly affect the hot water and heating then yes its of help.
Ive already opened it up and upon pulling the PCB casing out for closer inspection i instantly heard a change in the noise. Hey presto its working. Upon putting it back a few times to but boiler back together it went off again.
So it looks like lose connection in the PCB. Its working now for the time being, and when i have more time i can take a proper look to see if any lose wiring or whether it needs replacing.

 

[Agile]

Usually the fans get very dirty if not cleaned at annual services.

I carefully clean them with water.

Once cleaned the boiler usually works.

Touching the fan should usually be done by a gas registered engineer.

Tony

 

[BingoBongo]

could be anything now

aps tubes/venturi iwould go down that route as youve had the fan out and may have botched it