Ideal Response 80 recommisioning problem.

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Hi , I have just moved into a flat with an Ideal response 80 combi boiler.
it had zero pressure when I arrived so having read some literature I found in one of the kitchen drawers I opened up the taps on the silver braided pipe and pressurised to about 2 bar (probably too high I now know). started up the boiler and ran the hot kitchen tap, after a few seconds of cold I then had hot water flowing. turned the tap off and waited for the rads to warm up which they gradually did.
However the pressure kept rising, until at about 3 bar water started dripping down the back of the boiler and getting more and more strong.
turned it all off and looked at the paperwork again.
drained the CH outlet via the bleed valve until the pressure was zero and then refilled to 0.7 bar and tried again.
still pressure rose to about 2.7 bar when the drips started again .
turned it all off and resorted to the internet, found an installation PDF, all 73 pages.
this pointed to the expansion vessel which when I accessed the valved tube above the boiler emitted water when I pressed the schrader valve.
I guess this is not correct as the expansion vessel is not supposed to be full.
there is an 11 year old post here that suggests draining the system again and then pressurising the expansion tank to 1 bar.
how do I do that please? if I open the grey plastic valve on the CH outlet will that drain the expansion tank as well? if not how is that done? also to repressurise it do I just use a cycle pump and tyre pressure guage?
thanks in advance for your replies, I would have to move in on the coldest day of the year so far.
 
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If you have an ideal response chances are it won't last long, not seen one for years, they became obsolete very quickly.

A decent cycle pump with gauge will do the job. Just make sure heating side has a drain off open when you pump the vessel up.
 
Is this your own boiler or a rental.
Your best bet is to junk it...these were one of the worst boiler models ever designed and you'll just have continual problems. How it's still working is a miracle..most were ripped out long ago.
You can try pumping up the vessel...as you do so let water out of the system to keep the boiler pressure gauge at zero. Inflate to just under 1 Bar. Then top up water to 1 Bar.
The safety valve will probably require cleaning/replacement since you over-presurised the boiler.
It needs an urgent service...especially to check the flue off the heat exchanger hasn't corroded through or cooked....there was a "recall" on some models to add an additional overheat thermostat.
 
Thanks guys, yes I could see that these units are not the most loved piece of kit ever built from other posts.
this one is 20 years old so I didn't have great expectations when I bought the flat. However some heating and hot water would be a bonus until I can get it changed.
I will do as you say and open the CH outlet bleed valve whilst I pump up the expansion vessel and see where that leads to.
then look at the safety valve, are these still available if it need replacing?
as it's my flat and I'm responsible for any replacement unit. Is there any recommendation for what to change it for?
are Ideal boilers not rated in the trade?
 
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Having been a great company Ideal went through a phase of designing the worst boilers you could imagine...helped by dodgy schemes that kept them in business rather than going bust.
They were taken over by a French lot and came out with a new boiler range (the Logic) several years ago which is far better. The boilers have there faults but are not too bad.
Don't touch the floor standing Mexico HE...that's still a complete dog and should've been put down years ago.
 
thanks again, looking at their website and comparator the logic combi 24/24T is a like for like replacement.
 
Might as well open the prv when you recharge the vessel...it’s recently discharged anyway
 
thank you very much for your advise and help.
I drained the system and pumped up the expansion vessel to 1 bar, refilled the system to 0.7 bar and hey presto it runs without any leaks.
I did use the prv as well but that just seemed to cycle around and I wasn't sure it was doing anything.
anyway, now the system seems to work and fires to a max of 2 bar before the room stat decides the flat is warm enough and shuts it off.
all looks good but I will get it replaced sooner rather than later.
 
a further request if I may please.
after running the boiler for a couple of weeks it gradually loses pressure and requires topping up.
so we've looked at replacing the response sooner rather than later.
I've been offered an Ideal exclusive or an Ideal independent condensing boiler both 24KW.
both with fitting and mechanical clock plus wireless room thermostat
can you offer any opinions on these 2 types please?
the exclusive has a 5yr warranty and the independent has a 7 yr warranty.
there is a £400 price difference between them.
 
Get a 30kw not a 24. There shouldn’t be £400 difference between those 2 essentially the same ideal boiler.
 
thanks, looking at plumbnation site there is a £230 difference betwen them .
any reason for the 30kw rather than the 24kw one?
its a 75sqm 2 bed flat. the original was a 24kw one.
 
OK thanks, yes that makes sense, and she does like a hot bath so I guess the extra heat capacity and flowrate will work in our favour.
 

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