Got a problem with hot water on my boilermate 2 system, when using hot water, firstly it comes out okay for about 10sec, the it splutters and then water trickles out, takes about an hour to run the bath, and the water is scortching hot. Sounds like it needs a descale to me?? theres also a mixer valve on the side of the boilermate2 (not sure of the correct name for this valve?) this is all corroded up and leaking and could be contributing to the problem. Despite me trying to get a heating engineer no one actually seems interested!!. So is it something I can do my self? Im an electrician by trade with some plumbing knowledge. I think you can rent out descalers is that correct?? Any help would be welcomed. Cheers
Gledhill boilermate 2 descale
- Thread starter garfy1981
- Start date
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get the blending valve sorted first 
Ok, no problems just thought that why i was draining and playing with pipes it would be just as easy to descale it. But if it is not then i leave it. Truthfully i dont even know where the decaler would be connected, and if its in the boiler well thats a no go area for me!!
Hi mate, I have the same problem with my boilermate 2, I have replaced the blender valve even though the piston was cracked it made no apparent change to the hot water pressure. The blender valve was less than 6 mnths old so I returned it to oventrop who sent out a replacement before I even managed to send back the faulty one! They were very helpfull as were the technical support bloke at gledhill. Its a shame to say but your heat ex in the tank definatly needs descaling but as you have found plumbers don't wanna touch it unless they are ripping the system out and charging you the earth, I am considering converting to a convensional system with a tank in the loft, can't see it being a big job really as all the pipes are ready!
Its definatly not a problem with your boiler. Think of your mains pressure hot water system as an extension of your cold water pipe, purly and simply thats all it is..its just it runs through the tank!
Its definatly not a problem with your boiler. Think of your mains pressure hot water system as an extension of your cold water pipe, purly and simply thats all it is..its just it runs through the tank!
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Alright mate, cheers for your assistance. All the houses around here seem to have a problem with these damm systems, and your right about the plumbers. Anyhow got a friend of a friend with a nice corgi card coming to have a look on wednesday, so hopefully will spread some light on the subject then. Next door neighbour had to have her boilermate2 cylinder replaced for some reason, and the never offered a conversion to a conventional system, i.e tank in loft etc. If you do think of something let us know!! Other than that i shall spread some light on the subject hopefully by next weekend. Cheers
Are you by any chance living near Caterham, Surrey?
Weird my neighbour has just paid british gas.....wait for it.........................£4500 to change to a combi boiler!!! £4500 I could pay for the course and buy the parts and do it myself for that money!!
Just out of intrest where are you in the country?! I'm in North Somerset, seems strange that everyone is having there's replaced.
When we moved into the house and the system was working properly ish it was brilliant having mains pressure hot water, thats why I want to try and save the system we have. I have had quotes of up to 2k to fit the same system again
Just out of intrest where are you in the country?! I'm in North Somerset, seems strange that everyone is having there's replaced.
When we moved into the house and the system was working properly ish it was brilliant having mains pressure hot water, thats why I want to try and save the system we have. I have had quotes of up to 2k to fit the same system again
nice price !!....im in the south east in kent the house was built by wimpy homes in 2000, so seems as if these systems are only lasting 5 yrs!! there was a round up and complaint put forward to wimpy but there reply was that the system is only guaranteed for 2 years. My bro moved into a house with no heating system and had a complete system fitted for 2K. Might see if i can get it near to running decentely and get british gas insurance on it or something. Im sure i be needing to use it in the future.
There are a couple of almost-unavoidable problems with heatstores, both related to temperature.
First - they ain't gonna work too well with condensing (high efficiency) boilers. Because the heatstore is held at a relatively high temperature and needs to be 'topped up' as soon as the temp drops only a small amount, the boiler will hardly ever condense. If someone knows of a heatstore that IS compatible with a steamer, let me know!
Second - there's always a bit of DHW sitting in the coil of the heatstore while all the taps are shut. This water will obviously be at the same temperature as the heatstore. now if that's above 80 it's also above the 'critical temperature' at which dissolved calcium bicarbonate in hard water changes to carbonate and precipitates-out as limescale. So the coil gets furred up. So if you've got hard water going into a heatstore, limescale will be inevitable. Some systems (but NOT AFAIK, Gledhill) fit a 'Siliphos' inhibitor on the cold supply as standard.
First - they ain't gonna work too well with condensing (high efficiency) boilers. Because the heatstore is held at a relatively high temperature and needs to be 'topped up' as soon as the temp drops only a small amount, the boiler will hardly ever condense. If someone knows of a heatstore that IS compatible with a steamer, let me know!
Second - there's always a bit of DHW sitting in the coil of the heatstore while all the taps are shut. This water will obviously be at the same temperature as the heatstore. now if that's above 80 it's also above the 'critical temperature' at which dissolved calcium bicarbonate in hard water changes to carbonate and precipitates-out as limescale. So the coil gets furred up. So if you've got hard water going into a heatstore, limescale will be inevitable. Some systems (but NOT AFAIK, Gledhill) fit a 'Siliphos' inhibitor on the cold supply as standard.
I look after a system with an Aqua-Dial siliphos conditioner fitted. Trouble is, when no one changes the cartridge, the heat exchanger starts scaling up. Even though I've fitted fine strainers on the blending valve, AND replaced the Aqua-Dial, the valve is still dying in about 8 months. Just as well the people are well off.
The thermal store sounds good in theory, but they are even more expensive than unvented to live with.
The thermal store sounds good in theory, but they are even more expensive than unvented to live with.
Dying of what?
Gonna replace blending valve first and see what happens. Also gonna find out how much it would cost to replace the boilermate thermal storage unit, which will probably be shocking. These crap systems must be the reason why people keep moving around here!!. Because the house is only 5yrs old, it wouldnt make sence going from a energy efficient storage unit back to a not so energy efficient gravity system. Although the cost on saving would prob be spent on maintenence. So still not sure which angle to go if it requires replacement.
alright, the blending valve is still to be replaced, as is on order (and not cheap!!). If found if you visit www.kamco.co.uk theres a section that actually describes how to descale the boilermate. I might invest in a descaler pump and do it myself seeing as ive had 2 quotes now of 250 GBP. Hopefully I can get the existing system going for atleast another 2 years, which will give me enough time to save up the 2K for a new boilermate. Hopefully should all be up and running this time next week, fingers crossed! I keep you informed of progress
I also live in a Wimpey house built in 2000 in Ashford, Kent and have the same problems described.
I joined a British gas plan thinking they would sort everything, they have sorted a new PCB for the Suprima boiler worth nearly £300, fitted a new pump at the side of the tank thinking that would raise the water pressure, didn't work and lastly fitted a new blending valve which actually decreased the pressure!! So I've had my moneys' worth from my £15 a month, most definitely.
All 3 different engineers state the tank needs a descale.
British Gas won't cover limescale.
I fitted a mains good quality salt water softener which has slowed the scaling down, but am looking for an engineer local to descale.
If anyone finds one please email [email protected].
I joined a British gas plan thinking they would sort everything, they have sorted a new PCB for the Suprima boiler worth nearly £300, fitted a new pump at the side of the tank thinking that would raise the water pressure, didn't work and lastly fitted a new blending valve which actually decreased the pressure!! So I've had my moneys' worth from my £15 a month, most definitely.
All 3 different engineers state the tank needs a descale.
British Gas won't cover limescale.
I fitted a mains good quality salt water softener which has slowed the scaling down, but am looking for an engineer local to descale.
If anyone finds one please email [email protected].
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