Hot water doing a Lord Lucan...

[2520years]

I've just qualified as a level 2 plumber, so this might be a daft question.

I've been working on the drain-off cock below a boiler. It was leaking onto the pump and shorting out the electricity. I've replaced the cock, pump and pump valves as they were all worse for wear.

The problem is that I drained the whole system of water and don't think it's filled up again properly. When I open the vent on the pump to release air there's just a very slow drip of water. I had an airlock at first - I had to push some cold water up the hot tap in the kitchen sink.

What should I do?

If it helps:
There is water in the drain-off cock above the pump.
There is water coming out of the hot taps.
It's a primatic cylinder. When I tap it it sounds pretty empty/hollow.

I don't want to turn the pump on if it's dry, so I'm not sure what to do next.

 

[bobthebender]

You should fill pramatics slowly.
Is it just on the heating circuit that you have no water ?]

 

[2520years]

I think so, as there's water coming out of all the hot water taps. There is some water on the heating side, but shouldn't it gush out of the pump if you open the valve?

 

[2520years]

You should fill pramatics slowly.
Is it just on the heating circuit that you have no water ?]

How do you fill a cylinder slowly? Don't you just put the water on?

 

[bobthebender]

Drain the system and fill it up slowly by turning the gate valve down
As it is filling bleed the rads/pump and anything else bleedable
If there is no gate valve/old stop tap on the cold feed from header tank then fit one.

 

[2520years]

Cheers. There's a fullway gate valve so I'll try that.

Thanks bob.