How to top up glendhill boiler mate tank

[MrsStuz]

Hi,

A plumber showed me how to top up the water in the top up cistern/water tank a few years ago but I can't remember how to do it and the water level is low.

I know it's something to do with a pipe that goes inside the water?!

Please help x

 

[Gorners]

The Boilermate should top itself up as it fills via a ball valve in the top of the F&E tank. If yours isn't then it's probably siezed up. All you need to do is push down on the ball valve carefully and it should start filling. A bit of WD40 should help free it up so it operates properly.

Be sure you know where the isolation valve is or stop tap if there isn't one in case the ball valve really is shot and it won't shut back up!

 

[MrsStuz]

Thank you.
When you say push down on the valve, where exactly do I push?

 

[Gorners]

When you look inside the header tank you should see a metal 'arm' connected to a ball. Under normal operation that ball drops when water level drops and lifts when water pushes it up. Squirt a bit of WD40 on the other end where the hinge is then push down directly above the ball. Let us know how you get on

 

[MrsStuz]

Hi, using the wd40 I managed to push it down but nothing happened....

Do you think there might be a block?

 

[Burnerman]

Try pressing the plastic ball down as far as you can easily do.....there's a chance that the rubber washer in the fill valve has stuck shut.
Its not a bad job to replace the washer or the complete valve, if access is reasonable.
John

 

[MrsStuz]

This I what I'm looking at....

 

[Gorners]

So when you said you'd pushed down on the ball valve, how exactly did you do that when there isn't a ball valve?

That set-up isn't anything to do with the Boilermate by the looks of it. I'll defer to someone with more knowledge than me but that looks more like a filling loop glong into some kind of extra header tank above the thermal store? Anyhow I think you need to open up all those black valves (I think I see 3?) which will release the water...

 

[MrsStuz]

I thought the black lever inside the water must have been the ball valve

I didn't realise there was meant to be an actual ball lol!
#plumbingforblondes

 

[Gorners]

So have you tried opening the one that's on the horizontal pipe before the flexible hose drops into the header?

 

[MrsStuz]

Yes I've tried opening all of them and still nothing happens. I'm sure when the guy came out he just twisted the one in the tank but I've now tried all of them and nothing happens.

 

[Gorners]

The only other thing I can think of if there isn't a fault with the valves is the service valve on the horizontal pipe may have also been closed, you could try quarter turning that with a screw driver.

 

[Gorners]

Also just to be sure you haven't only opened them one at a time then closed them? You'd need the one in the tank open plus one or more of the others...

 

[Madrab]

Turn the black valve in the tank so it is line with the pipe, take the cap off the valve, then open the valve at the other end, water should flow in. Once filled, turn the valves so they are at right angles to the pipe and put the cap back on.