Do I need a new boiler, or just a service...?

[Roger465]

I have an ancient oil boiler too and have two pumped radiator circuits and a gravity hot water tank circuit. This allows the (also ancient) controller to route the flow dependant on my preference. Something similar must be possible with yours. Is the bungalow all one level or do you have an upstairs in the roof?

It's all one level mate. The plumber came round yesterday, had a look and listen to it, and assured me it really needed replaced - he said it was miraculous it was still running at all, and that the boiler (as opposed to the burner) was one of the most inefficient ever made, even when new. He's been a friend of the family for about 20 years, so I reckon we can trust him.

The next door neighbour confirmed that it hadn't been serviced in at least the 16 years since the woman's husband left, and that her own husband had managed to coax it back into life a few times since then, but it rattled and banged and frequently just packed in. It's really rusty, things hanging off it, and leaking oil.

I've qualified for the £700 subsidy from the Housing Executive for a new one so, once they've processed the paperwork, that's the way we're going...

 

[oilboffin]

Best of luck to you and hope all goes well for you.Bob

 

[Roger465]

Cheers Bob, will post here when done...

 

[Roger465]

AAARRGGHHHH more bad news.

It’s absolutely freezing here tonight, and now the boiler seems to have packed in suddenly.


There’s oil in the tank, and it’s whirring, but not roaring, if you get me. I guess maybe that suggests the burner isn’t burning or something. The rads are stone cold.


Funny thing is, the pipes on both sides of the two water pumps are too hot to touch, and the pumps themselves are vibrating, suggesting they’re running…


Any ideas please? Only need the damn thing to run for another couple of weeks

 

[oilboffin]

Air lock in pumps or if it is freezing they are frozen.Bob

 

[Roger465]

Thanks again Bob. No it's just cold, not freezing.


OK, looking closer, I found the mains switches on the wall for the two pumps. I turned them off, then on again one at a time.


The top (green) pump (I guess for the hot water) is whirring away happily when powered on – but the red one emits the kind of hum an electric motor makes when it can’t turn for some reason. I switched it on and off lots of times, and tapped all round it loads with a hammer (gently) – it rattled and banged, and is now kind of spinning, but with a hell of a rattle.


I think the rads are warming up slightly, but I'm worried it’ll go bang or something… is there anything I can do, short of accepting that the whole system’s knackered, and buying a big electric fire till the boiler gets replaced???

**EDIT** OK the pump seems to be running smoothly now FFS. The noise it WAS making, you'd have thought it was loads of metal parts in a washing machine. And the burner is burning away happily, consuming gallons of oil per second, and heating me. Guess it's a new pump with the new boiler... sigh. Unless he'd normally fit one of them anyway???

 

[dilalio]

Now it's running, I'd keep the thing on non-stop till replacement date If I were you

 

[Roger465]

Now it's running, I'd keep the thing on non-stop till replacement date If I were you

You and me both mate - trouble is, it's using about 100L of fuel a week, and will bankrupt me

 

[dilalio]

Get yourself on AirB&B and bring some paying occupants round to stay

 

[AGAS]

is your pump pumping

 

[Roger465]

is your pump pumping

It is now thanks - just a question of whether I can keep it that way till I get my new boiler

 

[AGAS]

It is now thanks

because your pump sounds like its pumping doesn't mean it is pumping or pumping properly

 

[Roger465]

because your pump sounds like its pumping doesn't mean it is pumping or pumping properly

No, I'm assuming that because the rads are now hot

 

[Roger465]

Final (!!) question... to save money till I get the new boiler, can I just turn the hot water pump off?

I have an electric shower, so don't really need hot water... but is it safe? Like, pressure wouldn't build up or something?

 

[Roger465]

So just trying to avoid dying of cold here while I wait for the boiler grant to be approved… the heating pump came back to life after switching on and off a few times, but now it’s refusing to pump again. I remembered how to unjam it manually – I think – by removing the end cap/screw thing (turned the valves off on both sides of the pump first) and then rotating it manually with a screwdriver.


I thought a little water would come out, like bleeding, but as I loosened the screw there was a constant spray, so I had to tighten it up again, without having got to the manual screw.


Have I forgotten something really basic, or are the taps on either side of the pump knackered do you think?