humming noise in airing cupboard?

[smully]

Can anybody help?
I'm a complete novice at this plumbing lark but can anyony shine any light on my problem.

The tank seems to be vibrating at just the rightand resonance to make the whole house vibrate.
Is it something simple,or am I in for a big bill?

 

[kevplumb]

where is the pump

 

[smully]

Sorry to sound completely dim, unless it's got "PUMP" in huge letters printed on it, where should I look?

 

[JPC]

does it always vibrate ?..or just when boiler is on ?
whenu say tank do you mean the hot water cylinder (wrapped in insulation) or the cold water tank that feeds it or the boiler ?

the pump is a lump of iron the size of a small football and bolted onto copper pipes ?

try and look for us cos we cant see into ur cupboard !

 

[smully]

Sorry guys, vibration is only when boiler is on.

It's the hot water cylinder.

 

[kevplumb]

pump

 

[smully]

Right, deffinately the pump.

After closer inspection, the boiler doesnt necessarily have to be fired, it vibrates when the timer switch turns it on.

It has three settings and is currently on 3, when on 2 it's quieter and on 1 is almost silent.

does it need bleeding, a new pump, or will it be O.K. just to turn the speed down a bit?

 

[kevplumb]

will it be O.K. just to turn the speed down a bit?

try it and see

as long as the rads get hot enough

 

[penpusher]

I may be on the wrong track here (I'm sure someone will tell me) but your problem sounds like one of the thermostatic valves on the radiators is "chattering" This causes the valve inside the TRV to vibrate and the noise will transfer through the pipe work to a suitable amplifier (ie. radiators and hot water cylinders)

There are a few main causes for this happening;

Thermostat is old and worn
Thermostat is on wrong side of radiator or
pump has been replaced and is running in wrong direction

When you hear the noise again, try going round all the rads and turning the TRV's (thermostats) down until the humming stops. This should identify the offending thermostat which will need altering.

Hope this helps

 

[smully]

Thanks guys.

It's definitely the pump making the noise.

I'll turn it down and see if that works.

Worst case scenario, New pump?

I've checked on the web and there about £60.00, so not so bad.