plumbing and heating trouble

[thebeast]

Hi there !

I am new to the site and have found it very helpful.

A while ago my boiler which is very old (a glow-worm fuel saver) started making some very loud noises and just didn't want to start. since then i have trawled the net looking for answers. first thing i did was take all the rads off and hosed them out and it was really dirty. all back on the wall and bled them to get the air out. that did nothing really. then a guy i met through e bay who is a gas engineer said he would pop by and have a look (nice chap) had a look about and told me that the pump and valve needed replacing. (it's a three way hollywell and the pump is a grundfos) so picked both up on e bay both new. money is very tight so i wanted to learn something and maybe save some cash. (oh and for good measure a new thermostat) as that does not seem to work either but never really used it. that was a pain to get off !!! so were the rest. blood sweat and tears later it has all its new bits on and there were no leaks i rained the system and put some sentianlx400 in f+e tank. and turned the whole system back on and did all the rads afterwards. fired it up and yes you guessed it. boiler still making loud noises (banging and clunky noises) and after about 30 secs the flames went out followed by more noises. it wont fire back up for ten mins or so. i have tried looking at a few different things too. pump valve etc but all in good working order. the pump was originally up side down too. so i put it back that way and still the same. i have changed it so the flow is going up as per the manual and still the same things happening. both tanks in the loft are full. i think the f+e tank looks a bit too full. about 3 quarters of the way up. it might be blocked i guess but i have flushed it through 3 times already. i have had a good look on the forums and have tried a lot of the little things but still a no go. really don't want to call a plumber so any help would be gratefully received. i did the wiring on the pump and i don't think it's that. my dads an electrician and said it seems fine. taps are spluttering now and then still. sorry it's long winded but just trying to give you all the info.i will try and post some pics to help. ( not sure how to get the images up just yet)

 

[Dan Robinson]

My leg is falling off.

I tried everything including gaffer tape, but wasn't really sure what I was doing or what way round it went.

Don't want to go to the doctor though.....

 

[thebeast]

My leg is falling off.

I tried everything including gaffer tape, but wasn't really sure what I was doing or what way round it went.

Don't want to go to the doctor though.....

just very strapped for cash otherwise i would call the plumb doctor

 

[45yearsagasman]

Dan, your leg may well be falling off, but I'm p155ing myself laughing. Do you have a cure for that?

 

[Dan Robinson]

Stronger chemicals may well help the OP.

But I suspect:

Pump is actually the wrong way round. Or the boiler is airlocked.

Maybe a picture will help?

 

[thebeast]

Stronger chemicals may well help the OP.

But I suspect:

Pump is actually the wrong way round. Or the boiler is airlocked.

Maybe a picture will help?

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[thebeast]

Stronger chemicals may well help the OP.

But I suspect:

Pump is actually the wrong way round. Or the boiler is airlocked.

Maybe a picture will help?

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• thebeast
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[/img]

not sure what the black box does its on the right hand side of the boiler

 

[Dan Robinson]

That black box looks like a transformer for a shower pump.

Can't tell from the photo's, but make sure that the arrow on the side of the pump is pointing down.

Ignore the orientation of the text.


You also have too much water in the heating header tank.

 

[bellairaphon]

Possible blockage by sounds of it. Or perhaps a one pipe system and/ or someone's shut a valve off!

Nath

 

[thebeast]

That black box looks like a transformer for a shower pump.

Can't tell from the photo's, but make sure that the arrow on the side of the pump is pointing down.

Ignore the orientation of the text.


You also have too much water in the heating header tank.

thanks for getting back to me dan ! much appreciated.

i will swap the pump round again and take some water out of the tank. i did fire it up again 15 mins ago and it still did the same some very loud bangs and what sounds like some thing sliding back and forth,

 

[Dan Robinson]

Despite their name, boilers should never boil.

That noise is the noise of boiling water and steam escaping.

Don't change the pump around without checking the arrow on the side first.

It should be facing the silver box by the side of the tank.

 

[bellairaphon]

When you drain the the ch system does the water level in the tank go down. Have you checked for filters

 

[thebeast]

Despite their name, boilers should never boil.

That noise is the noise of boiling water and steam escaping.

Don't change the pump around without checking the arrow on the side first.

It should be facing the silver box by the side of the tank.

as you look at the pump in the pic the arrow on it is on the right hand side and it is pointing up. in the manual they do say this is right but i am nearly 100 % sure it was upside down when the old pump was on. i thought it had been put on wrong. but it has been working fine since i have lived here. and a few people on forums have said it should be that way and a few have said pointing up. i will check my wiring again to make sure that there is good contact. a few have said to unscrew the large center to release air which i have done too. no water came out though.

thank you again!

 

[thebeast]

Possible blockage by sounds of it. Or perhaps a one pipe system and/ or someone's shut a valve off!

Nath

cheers nath ! just to double check can you tell me any valves that should be on/off ? (main ones to look out for) anti clockwise is open ?

 

[thebeast]

When you drain the the ch system does the water level in the tank go down. Have you checked for filters

the large tank does drain down but the small f+e one stays the same as you can see in the pic it is quiet full so i will take some out of there. i am going to sound stupid now so here goes ..... where would the filters be ?

thank you for your help !