Identifying pipe/valve use?

AlvoSlim · 12 Nov 2017

Ay up all.

There are 4 valves in my airing cupboard.

Two 3/4" on pipes (cold) from/to the loft water tank. Neither turn more than 1/8 of a turn. Presume stuck? I presume these are mains into and out of the header tank?

Then one off the base of the H/W cylinder (again, won't turn more than 1/8 turn) and one the other side of the heating pump in a nest of pipework (on the right here) - this will turn 5-6 rotations.

All fully open as far as they go...(ANTI-clockwise to open...right? gulp?).

Boiler is working. Central Heating is working.

No hot water to cylinder though, so no showers and grumpy missus.

Ideas? Cheers all.

just pumps · 12 Nov 2017

Any valve with a Red wheel should rotate several times so yep stuck! One day you will need them to work so suggest you try moving them clockwise a little then anti-clockwise a little several times to free them up. Can`t help with the lack of hot water though unless a motorised valve is also stuck which is a Silver box with wires and a tiny lever on one side not shown in the photo.

AlvoSlim · 12 Nov 2017

Thanks pal. Wiggled the left hand of the two valves shown, and it freed up after 7 or 8 goes.

There's now warmth in flowing(?) conducting(?) along the two lower pipes to the cylinder...maybe some kind of blockage/air lock release?

I guess one of them has hot water from the boiler to heat the tank so...fingers closed for some hot water soon.

just pumps · 12 Nov 2017

AlvoSlim said:
Thanks pal. Wiggled the left hand of the two valves shown, and it freed up after 7 or 8 goes.

There's now warmth in flowing(?) conducting(?) along the two lower pipes to the cylinder...maybe some kind of blockage/air lock release?

I guess one of them has hot water from the boiler to heat the tank so...fingers closed for some hot water soon.

This begs the question has any work been carried out recently?

AlvoSlim · 12 Nov 2017

I did shut the one valve off that did move (right hand side on my picture) with the heating and hot water both off.

I've got a dead radiator and I was trying to work out if I could get it going.

No open system work though...I guess my fiddling about must have been enough?

just pumps · 12 Nov 2017

Problem with wheeled valve`s you think they are open / closed but they aren't, the stems can shear so the wheel goes round but nothing happens. Probably best if you don`t tell the missus you caused the hot water problem eh!

just pumps · 12 Nov 2017

You tried bleeding air out of the dead rad?

AlvoSlim · 12 Nov 2017

just pumps said:
Problem with wheeled valve`s you think they are open / closed but they aren't, the stems can shear so the wheel goes round but nothing happens. Probably best if you don`t tell the missus you caused the hot water problem eh!

Not a word will pass my lips.

AlvoSlim · 12 Nov 2017

just pumps said:
You tried bleeding air out of the dead rad?

Yeah, first job when I turn the heating on for winter.
I've also tried balancing the radiators by turning them all off and then sequentially on again.

Not worked. I reckon our pump and boiler are man enough too. Mystery to me.

just pumps · 12 Nov 2017

Does it come on if you turn the lockshields on the other rads off? (just something I saw somewhere on a forum) Sure somebody with better knowledge will along soon.

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Identifying pipe/valve use?

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