hot water takes ages to heat on potterton puma 80 :( help!

[mantrid]

hi all,

just found this forum and some of you guys seem amazing at fixing these blasted devices & i need your help/advice please.

problem:

when i turn on the hot water tap, the boiler will make a (to me) normal firing up sound, but if i look through the window, there will be nothing lit other than the pilot light. during this time water trickles out of the hot water tap at a snails pace and is cold. after about 60 seconds (on average) i'll hear a clicking sound and all of a sudden the boiler will fire up and i can see a nice big blue row of flames through the window and the water will slowly (10 seconds) start to get hot.

i have bled all my radiators, i live in a flat so there is no 'highest'.

the pressure gauge reads about 1.5 and tends to be pretty stable, i have tried it slightly above and below to see if it makes a difference and it does not.

other notables:

also, both the ch-flow and ch-return are set to the down position, is this the correct setting?

there are also two rotary (6bar?) dials in the airing cupboard that are both set to the 'open' position, is this the correct setting?

thanks in advance for the help guys,

regards,

terry.

 

[Agile]

If it reliably takes so long to start up then it might be a problem with the fan or APS but this is not a common problem on your model.

There are all sorts of other potential problems which a competent boiler engineer would find pretty easily on site by inspecting and testing.

Its not the kind of problem you are likely to be able to find yourself.

Tony

 

[mantrid]

If it reliably takes so long to start up then it might be a problem with the fan or APS but this is not a common problem on your model.

There are all sorts of other potential problems which a competent boiler engineer would find pretty easily on site by inspecting and testing.

Its not the kind of problem you are likely to be able to find yourself.

Tony

Hi Tony, thanks for the reply. what about my other 2 queries?


1. both the ch-flow and ch-return are set to the down position, is this the correct setting?

2. there are also two rotary (6bar?) dials in the airing cupboard that are both set to the 'open' position, is this the correct setting?

are these set correctly mate?

 

[kevplumb]

both the ch-flow and ch-return are set to the down position, is this the correct setting?

yes

2. there are also two rotary (6bar?) dials in the airing cupboard that are both set to the 'open' position, is this the correct setting?

try that one in english

 

[ChrisR]

Airing cupboard? Combi? Unvented cyl relief valves?? Uh?

Take the front off the boiler (two screws under)
Then look for the HW flow switch red light, which should go on and off smartly with the HW tap.

The water flow is held low until the water is hot, by design.

 

[Baxmax]

Call Heateam...

 

[mantrid]

both the ch-flow and ch-return are set to the down position, is this the correct setting?

yes

2. there are also two rotary (6bar?) dials in the airing cupboard that are both set to the 'open' position, is this the correct setting?

try that one in english

ok, with regards to point 2, i mean: there are 2 rotary valves like the ones seen in this picture (http://www.valves.co.il/images/x4.jpg) in the airing cupboard, both are set to the open position. is that correct?

cheers,

terry.

 

[Softus]

ok, with regards to point 2, i mean: there are 2 rotary valves like the ones seen in this picture (http://www.valves.co.il/images/x4.jpg) in the airing cupboard, both are set to the open position. is that correct?

Probably, but who knows what the valves do?

Have you read ChrisR's post?

 

[Agile]

http://www.valves.co.il/images/x4.jpg

Just looked and they are gate valves ( big ones too ).

Its difficult for us to guess what they are used for in your system.

Now if we had a picture of YOUR system...

Tony

 

[Softus]

I think these are motorised valves.

 

[mantrid]

ok, here's a pic of the actual little buggers in the airing cupboard

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cheers.

 

[Softus]

OK, yes, well, these are indeed 22mm (or 3/4") gate valves, but there's nothing to indicate what they shut off.

 

[sooey]

They look like 15mm or 1/2" to me.

 

[Softus]

Er, um, yes - quite so. I stand corrected.

 

[sooey]

Graciously done softus, but that's twice in a week now, you're slipping.