Hot water, no heating

[fingle]

Hi,
First time on here and absolute novice when it comes to fixing anything so please bear with me!

Over the past few days, our heating and water have come on as normal but yesterday, despite being on timed and thermostat turned up, we had lukewarm radiators and no hot water.

I managed to get a plumber to come and have a look who said the valve is on its way out but he did something to it and said it should last for the short term. (We are moving in 3 weeks and don't really want to spend a fortune!)

This resulted in hot water but no heating

This morning when timer came on, water heated up as normal but there was a loud clicking coming from the airing cupboard which I assume is the valve getting stuck or something? The boiler was firing as normal but after about 10 seconds would click off again. I've turned heating off now and left water on.

Any help would be really gratefully accepted. Not that I want to pull on your heartstrings but I have an 18 month old, am pregnant, a husband who's working away, a feezing house and a plumber that can't come back till next week!

Thanks in advance

 

[bengasman]

Sounds like you need to spend a bit more and call an emergency plumber.
Have you told the people you sold the house to that the heating can die any moment, or is that their xmas present?

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

Assuming it is a motorised valve thats goosed, they are not ridiculously expensive. Cost depends on type (2 or 3 way) plus fitting. If you can give the make and model of valve then there is a manual control to 'wedge' it open temporarily to give you water and heating, but this will render the thermostats ineffective.

 

[fingle]

Thanks Hugh. Its a honeywell and I've tried pushing the control to manual but it just bounces back. I think its a 3 way valve. Any isea where I can get one and roughly how much it would cost to fit? Or could a relative novice fit one?

I have had an emergency plumber out to have a look but he can't do anything till next week. Unfortunately I do not have a bottomless pit of money to spend on emergency plumbers and am trying my best to fix the problem.

And its Christmas

 

[kevplumb]

if you look at the lever there is usually a lug to latch the valve mid pos

 

[bengasman]

I have had an emergency plumber out to have a look but he can't do anything till next week.

That isn't much of an emergency plumber, sounds more like a cheap one.

Unfortunately I do not have a bottomless pit of money to spend on emergency plumbers and am trying my best to fix the problem.

Wow, if a ton for fixing the heating is a problem, you will have huge issues when you have the second rugrat.

And its Christmas

Not for another 7 weeks dear.

 

[fingle]

I've just tried that again but it just springs back to automatic.

 

[fingle]

I have had an emergency plumber out to have a look but he can't do anything till next week.

That isn't much of an emergency plumber, sounds more like a cheap one.

Unfortunately I do not have a bottomless pit of money to spend on emergency plumbers and am trying my best to fix the problem.

Wow, if a ton for fixing the heating is a problem, you will have huge issues when you have the second rugrat.

And its Christmas

Not for another 7 weeks dear.

Do you not have anything better to do? I have come on here to ask for help not to be insulted. I don't know how much these things cost and don't actually know where to start. Obviously the plumber I had out was a bit of a cowboy hence the fact that I can't keep paying out for unreliable advice rather than someone who will actually fix the problem.

 

[kevplumb]

I've just tried that again but it just springs back to automatic.

if its springing back your missing the latch

its like a hook you need to keep the lever pushed down till it springs back and catches

 

[bengasman]

Do you not have anything better to do? I have come on here to ask for help not to be insulted.

Don't know why you think what I said was insulting, it most certainly is all true

Obviously the plumber I had out was a bit of a cowboy hence the fact that I can't keep paying out for unreliable advice rather than someone who will actually fix the problem.

If you had your system properly maintained by a good RGI, it is unlikely that you would have had this problem, and even if it had happened, your regular installer would have solved it the same day for you.You would not have been ripped off by a cowboy, and would not have needed to pay twice.

Your silence about informing the buyer that the heating is malfunctioning leads me to believe that you are quite happy to keep that a secret, rather than tell him the truth. Rather nasty thing to do, especially at the time of year.

 

[fingle]

I've just tried that again but it just springs back to automatic.

if its springing back your missing the latch

its like a hook you need to keep the lever pushed down till it springs back and catches

The hook catches on for a little while then springs back. Short of taping it there I don't know what to do.
I'm thinking that I will just buy a new replacement valve and get someone to fit it. But won't get one til next week now as its Saturday and, helpfully, all the specialist plumbing shops are closed til Monday.

 

[SteveLondon]

I'm thinking that I will just buy a new replacement valve and get someone to fit it. But won't get one til next week now as its Saturday and, helpfully, all the specialist plumbing shops are closed til Monday.

That would be the best thing to do. 3port valves can be a pain in the arse to change and not something you could do yourself regardless of how much u think you could save.

And tbh I agree with ben not nice to leave a problem to the next guy in order to save ya self a few quid. Considering they have properly just handed over thier life savings buying your house. - sorry to pull on your heartstrings.