Too worried to go bed....

[StraightMile]

Hi all, right, first post so bear with me....

I've got an old Ravenheat boiler which I've been told recently is basically nothing but junk metal. It wasn't heating water properly and the engineer that came said the biggest problem was the pump, amongst other things - tonight whilst I was at work, it's gone completely.

The missus said the boiler started banging really loudly when she had the central heating on so she turned it off on the control panel. She was that worried by what she'd heard though she turned it off at the mains.

Since I came home, I've noticed it's emitting a quiet hissing sound (which hasn't stopped), as if it's letting off gas (I can't smell any by the way) or steam or even water, and I'm sitting here terrified the house is going to go up in the middle of the night.

I've been looking for the manual to tell you what type of boiler it is but can't find it. Any help, advice, or even words of consolation would be enormously appreciated.

Many thanks, a worried home-owner.

 

[mfarrow]

Does the noise stop if you turn the gas off?

If it started banging it may be that the pump has failed. Is the pump external to the boiler?

 

[planenut]

Can you vent the water supply? sounds like air to me.

 

[xr4x4]

I'd go for the pump, give it bash with a hammer.

 

[oilhead]

Isolate the flow and return at the manifold. De pressurise the boiler and remove the screw in the top of the pump head. Turn the impeller with a small screwdriver, if it turns, momentarily start the boiler and see if it runs on its own. If not, it's most likely it is failed. It is not clear from your original post whether the engineer you had has actually diagnosed a faulty pump or whether he is just suggesting it.

 

[WabbitPoo]

Isolate the flow and return at the manifold. De pressurise the boiler and remove the screw in the top of the pump head. Turn the impeller with a small screwdriver, if it turns, momentarily start the boiler and see if it runs on its own. If not, it's most likely it is failed. It is not clear from your original post whether the engineer you had has actually diagnosed a faulty pump or whether he is just suggesting it.

Do you really think the OP (or anyone who isnt a plumber) would know how too do what you suggest?

 

[gigz]

If the pump has failed and you put the heating on the water won't be dispersed around the system and will just boil inside the boiler, you will get a lot of banging/clunking/hissing noises. It won't blow up but unless you can free it it will keep happening.

 

[oilhead]

Maybe, maybe not, but I did say MOMENTARILY.
It would appear that a faulty has been diagnosed, but I did ask for clarification.
Yes this is a DIY site primarily, but if every answer was that the OP shouldn't mess, there isn't much point in answering.[/u][/b]

 

[Andy4444]

Not being funny but if the OP can't sleep at night then that warrants paying a pro to come out and do whatever is required to fix the problem.

Ridiculous

 

[Agile]

He has already had an engineer out but he does not seem to have advanced the repair very far!

Tony

 

[Andy4444]

He has already had an engineer out but he does not seem to have advanced the repair very far!

Tony

Then get another in who can reassure the OP....

 

[chantelle]

Many thanks, a worried home-owner

Calm down, if you are that concerned phone another professional,even if you get the advice you require here, it certainly seems that you will be unable to do anything about it yourself. I`m sure he has given you a price and you don`t want to pay,what do you expect here? a magic wand??