How to top up pressure on boiler, instructions no help

[RayK75]

Hello, I've got a Vokera Easi Heat Plus boiler where the pressure is currently at 0.5 bar. I'm trying to top up pressure but don't know how. The user manual is using a technical diagram that I can't make heads or tails of and my landlord doesn't know either. I've tried looking at videos but can't really follow them as the taps seem different to mine. Also, mine don't appear to be labelled.

I've attached a photo and I'm hoping someone is able to advise how to do this. Meanwhile, is it safe to operate the boiler while the pressure is low? It does still heat up water and radiators.

Thanks for any help.

 

[ianmcd]

yes safe enough to use , if it gets much lower it will cut out, your boiler has an external filling loop, follow the pipe below the boiler with the black handled valve and you should come across it, usually a silver braided hose going from that pipe to another pipe

 

[RayK75]

Hi Ian, thanks for the reply. Do you mean the diamond shaped one? I can't follow the pipes as they go behind the wall . Also, I know nothing about DIY, especially plumbing!

 

[ianmcd]

will look like this

 

[RayK75]

There's this...the lower part leads to the first tap under the boiler (furthest away from the yellow tap) and the other pipe leads to the diamond shaped tap. Does that mean anything? The lower pipe has an arrow pointing to the wall if that's relevant

 

[terryplumb]

Turn the black " diamond shape" tap ,anticlockwise to open. That should top up your pressure. Once upto around 1 bar close it fully clockwise.

 

[RayK75]

Ok thanks. Tried that but nothing is happening. Can I just check -. All the videos I've watched mention opening another tap. Do I need to do that with the tap that the other pipe leads to?

 

[ianmcd]

The Diamond as you call it is the water throttle for the cold water inlet and nothing to do with the boiler pressure, the blue hose in your pic, is that a loop between those two silver valves ? if it is that is your filling loop

 

[ianmcd]

Turn the black " diamond shape" tap ,anticlockwise to open. That should top up your pressure. Once upto around 1 bar close it fully clockwise.

not like you @terryplumb

 

[HERTS P&D]

Is this a rented property?

Andy

 

[RayK75]

This is how they connect up. Sorry if I'm confusing matters with wrong names - I'm not terribly technical and also very cold! Thanks again for the help and time you're taking.

 

[FiremanT]

Ok thanks. Tried that but nothing is happening. Can I just check -. All the videos I've watched mention opening another tap. Do I need to do that with the tap that the other pipe leads to?

If your pic is of the filling loop, then ot is non standard. Leave the diamond head open , it is the cold feed. The hose has a valve on either end. The top one is actually designed for a washing machine, and may have been "repurposed" by the installer. It is probably on, but the lever is missing. The other end is a screwdriver slot, turn the slot so it is inline with the valve. if no water running, then the other valve is closed. In this case, close the bottom one again, and open the top one (turn 90 degrees). Then reopen the bottom one. The water should go to the boiler. Observe the pressure gauge and turn off at about 1 bar

EDIT: having zoomed in, the bottom valve may not be a screwdriver slot, It may be a double check valve. If there is no slot, then you will need to use the top one. Use a pair of pliers, but open carefully as you may not have as much control with it. I would ask your landlord to have a proper filling loop fitted - as per the picture earlier

 

[terryplumb]

not like you @terryplumb

thought the second pic was lower than the boiler ,and the blue filling loop was connected to the black tap.... I'LL get my coat ...

 

[RayK75]

Is this a rented property?

Andy

It is and I've asked the landlord how to do it but he doesn't know if that's why you're asking

 

[HERTS P&D]

It's the washing machine hose.

Andy