Boiler issue - suspect good cleaning required and advice needed

Can we have some pictures of the pipwork etc in the Airing cupboard please for clarification? If you do have an air seperator, (the metal can I spoke about), these are notorious for blocking. Whilst the pipework either side may well still get hot, if the flow of water past the blockage is poor, then it will lead to the circulation issues you have described.

X400 will not dissolve a solid blockage, the only solution there is to cut out the offending section and either throroughly clean it mechanically, or usual practice is to just replace it.
 
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here it is :)
 

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Looks like its already been replaced once! Try a magnet, see if it attracts. Notorious for blocking, those things, you may be better off removing it completely and making a 'H' out of the pipework.
 
Ok, not sure where i can find a magnet but will try!

I'm probably not advanced enough to make an H out of the pipework (never done any pipe soldering) although have done some pressure fit connections before (like for fitting new bath, toilets etc.)

I also saw some people putting some mains pressure to try and remove blockage. Should I try that first? If so, how is it done?
 
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Basically you'll need to configure something to allow you to get mains pressure from a hose through that area of the system, but with 4 pipes connected I think you may struggle. I think it maybe the time to either practice your soldering techniques, or if you're still not confident to remove it to inspect and repair/replace as required, bite the bullet and get someone in I'm afraid to say.
 
update: so i've let my boiler run all day but just for hot water only, not heating. When I got home, it was still working. So i've stopped hot water and put heating on and will see if it locks out.
I have a magnetic timer in my kitchen, i've put it against the air separator. Didn't seem to particularly attracts but now the timer is quite heavy so maybe should try with a lighter magnet...

And after 1 hour on heating only...boiler locks out (although rads downstairs were getting hot)
 
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Maybe a silly thought but if i have a solid block in my air separator or nearby, could I try using a drain cleaning wire from the F&E pipe down to the air separator? (although I think in the loft the pipe has a 90 degree or so angle so might not be easy...)
 
Not such a silly thought ! You could cut the vent pipe above the waterline in the F+E tank then use the wire - if you get a good one with a cranked handle you can agitate the end around in the air separator. Just replace the pipe using a compression coupling.(y)
 
Was thinking that maybe I could access it from underneath, i.e by disconnecting the pipe between the air separator and the pump (where it join at the top of the pump) and use the wire from there to try and remove the block and make it fall into a bucket or something...
 

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