Glow Worm Swiftflow 100 - No Hot Water

[Russ02]

ok boys, thanks for your input.

At the moment it's working so not able to check anything.

If it was just one thing for sure might be worth doing but can't be sure. If it turned out to be both + labour to fit the flow switch I'd be into best part of £300. Like you say, best spent on a new boiler.

What's a fair price for a replacement boiler? Needs a fair power 'cos it's a big old 3 bed semi perched on top of a hill.

What you reckon is the best boiler for reliability?

 

[bazdaman]

Is it that they don't want to or can't interpret the results?

 

[Agile]

What's a fair price for a replacement boiler? Needs a fair power 'cos it's a big old 3 bed semi perched on top of a hill.

What you reckon is the best boiler for reliability?

You don't need much power for heating, probably about 10-15 kW.

But a combi is sized for water heating. Your old one is 30 kW so don't get anything less than that.

Depending on model chosen perhaps about £1300 -£ 3300 including a few extras like TRVs and controls.

We like the Intergas, Viessmann and Vaillants. Glowworm is very similar inside to the Vaillant.

Tony

 

[Russ02]

The CH man who came went thro' the same manual in the link, in the fault finding chart it suggests it's the user pcb.
He went to get one but supplier told him no stock and he'd never sold one?

That put my CH man (retired council CH man) off that idea & he phoned to say he now thinks it could be the flow switch.

He said he'd return Friday, last?

I checked the prices on internet? By 'eck eh?

PCB
http://www.heatingsparescentre.co.u...100-user-pcb-s202121-supersedes-202121-p23975

Flow switch
https://www.heatingspares247.com/flow-switch/glowworm-flow-switch-platon-2000800136-p-5692.html

 

[Russ02]

Hi Tony,

Thanks for the ball-park prices.

I sent a message to Glow worm with the problem & the answer came back from Vailant? Maybe they are the same company now. The tech guy suggested flow meter? contradicting their own fault chart so not much help.

Probably go with a Vailant 30kw min then.

I missed a couple of points earlier, it's the SIT & water pressure is generally good.

Thanks to all you boys for your input, I'll give feedback when cured or new.

 

[bazdaman]

I can tell you now it's defo not a user pcb logic would tell you that

 

[bazdaman]

If you use an accredited installer found on manufacturers website you can get better warranties defo worth it, our firm gets 7yrars on vaillants u may pay a little extra to start with maybe not, but nowadays boilers are expensive to fix and they seem to get sold on warranties

 

[Russ02]

I can tell you now it's defo not a user pcb logic would tell you that

Hi Baz,
What would you be looking at now then?


Where is your firm based?

 

[bazdaman]

I would be looking at flow switch test that then test pcb certainly not user control, we are in preston

 

[Russ02]

ok Thanks Baz,

Preston's 60 mile from me, a tad too far.

I'm not sure how to test either component.

I'll have a word with my man. People just seem to replace parts on a trial & error basis nowadays.

 

[Agile]

They only do that when they don't have any diagnostic skills!

 

[Agile]

I am very surprised at the cost of that flow switch at about £92 inc. Most are about £35.

The flow switch is a very easy component to test though. A simple measurement of the resistance would be an indication of the switch element condition. But its a magnetically operated reed switch and may not be getting reliably activated by the magnetic shuttle. That can be monitored by attaching a small circuit to give a visual indication when its activated. That's if you know how.

Probably a case of increasing the costs of spares for older boilers to encourage people to replace them!

Vaillant bought Glowworm a few years ago and have amalgamated many functions of the two firms. They still keep the two brands separate though.

Tony

 

[Russ02]

Pcb side make sure the plastic connector sits on pcb ok and the wires are pushed in to the connector. They are tight on the wiring harness and seem to work their way off.

Well I didn't want to count me chickens too soon but it's 2 weeks now since I checked those connections as Baz's instruction. I found nothing wrong but the hot water has fired up fine since.

Thanks to all who answered my query & a big thanks to Baz for the cure which still has me confused but glad it's all working now.

That could have cost me a lot of money for nothing or/and a new boiler at a bad time.

Thanks again

Regards

Russ