Search results

It is more likely to be a fault with the circulator pump that is causing the excessive current to be drawn. When the diverter valve is in its resting position, and the programmer calls for heat (CH and DHW), the pump receives its power, initially, from the cylinder stat alone. However, when...

billy bob, It would prove that the meter was faulty if the measured heat input were more that three times the maximum for the boiler; as suggested by the £110 gas bill instead of an expected £30 bill. If a gas meter indicated that the heat input to a boiler was 50 kW, when the boiler's...

AdamW, If the shower is supplied directly from your water main (the hot via a combi boiler, for instance), then do not use hemp. It supports microbiological growth that can contaminate the water supply. There are Water Bylaw Scheme approved substitutes for hemp available, such as Fernox's...

The Drayton RTS1 thermostat has an electronic sensor. In addition to the Live connection, it also requires a Neutral connection to function. Check the continuity of the Neutral wiring. Alternatively, a Drayton RTS7 thermostat can be used in 2 wire CH heating systems (where there is no Neutral).

You can check the meter yourself quite easily - all that you need is a watch with a second's hand. Basically, you use the gas meter and watch to measure the gas rate to an appliance, convert this rate into a heat input and compare that to the appliance's rated value. The method used depends...

As you only freeze a very small section of the pipe the expansion, which starts as water drops below 4°C, can be taken up along the axis (length) of the pipe. If, however, the entire length of the pipe were frozen then most of the expansion would occur in a radial direction, and burst the pipe.

If you do not find a suitable flat panel radiator, then consider a Kickspace Fan Convector (a small fan-assisted radiator mounted in the kick space beneath a floor standing kitchen unit) or a wall mounted fan convector. For examples, look HERE.

Your central heating system needs balancing. This involves adjusting the lock-shield valve on each radiator (to reduce the water flow rate to the radiators that heat up too quickly and increase it to those that heat up too slowly). For details of how to do this, try searching these forums or...

As Wicks and Screwfix do not make radiators, it would be best to find out the names of the manufacturers and contact them directly. Radiator manufacturers in the EU are now required to measure the output from each type of radiator at a Delta T of 50°C, but UK manufacturers use this measured...

It depends on what type of system you have. If it is open vented (has a cold feed and expansion header tank), then you need to tie up the header tank's ball valve, to prevent the system refilling as you drain it. Connect a length of garden hose between the drain cock (which should be found at...

A pump-overrun of only 5 seconds seems a little short, and could indicate a faulty temperature sensor. However, since giving the boiler a thump alleviates the problem, a loose connection to the temperature sensor or a dry joint (a badly soldered joint that has now oxidised) on the PCB, may be a...

The problem that you describe usually occurs when the water flow rate through the boiler is too low. This can be caused by a build-up of sludge in the system (due to internal corrosion), a heavily scaled heat exchanger, a faulty/inadequate pump or an incorrectly adjusted bypass valve. The...

So what's wrong with that - it can be a great motivator. The surest way to get me to do something is for somebody to tell me I can't. Until you've wired a traditional central heating system , at least once, it can seem daunting. In reality, it's quite a simple task. This may be the reason why...

Piltdown Man, I can't provide a colour schematic, but the following sketch may help. NB If your room thermostat has an anticipator/accelerator (a heating element that reduces the thermostat's hysteresis) then a neutral connection will be required to the thermostat. The wiring process...

I agree. Nevertheless, if while back filling the system water enters the header tank via the expansion pipe, then a blockage in the cold feed will be confirmed. In which case, temporarily capping the expansion pipe (with a push fit stopend) may allow the blockage to be flushed with mains water...

Unfortunately, a new heat exchanger could cost almost as much as a new boiler. Have a look HERE

Frances, There may be an air lock in the cold feed that is preventing the system from filling. One way of overcoming this is to slowly refill the system, via the drain valve, using a garden hose connected to a tap (at mains water pressure). Close the downstairs radiator air vents as water...

Using the larger diameter concentric flue pipe, Vaillant ecoMAX boilers can have a maximum flue length of between 13 and 30 metres (dependant on the boiler model). You can download their flue installation instructions from HERE. Other manufacturers may offer similar solutions.

Good point Alan. The same website also provides pdf documents about water pipe sizing: PART 1 and PART 2. There's an index of all their documents HERE.

There's a pdf document HERE that explains how to calculate pipe sizes for domestic gas pipework, but posting more details, as sterose suggested, might be a quicker solution.