Keston 130 Boiler

[iriedn]

I have bought a house with a Keston 130 boiler looks like a combi located in the cellar of the house next to a beast of a boiler/immersion heater named accolade which is over 5 foot tall and 3 foot wide. Which is permanently switched off. The problem is the water pressure is at best a dribble even when the pressure registers 1.5 bars. Is there any way to boost the pressure so that I can get a shower rather than what feels like a thimble full of water. or fill a glass of water in under 20 secs from a tap. The showers/ bath are on the first floor. Would having the beast on help or just increses the ozone layer and put my electricity bill into 4 figurs per quarter. Any help would be gratefully recieved.

 

[bengasman]

Best thing to do is to get the boiler serviced and ask the guy if he can solve that problem when he is there

 

[holty]

sounds like youve got an unvented running off a system boiler.could be the filter on combination valve to the unvented could need cleaning.

 

[iriedn]

do I need to turn the boiler beast on to increase the water pressure as it is off at present.
The boiler was serviced about three months ago and they ( particular engineer) were not that informative I've found so far gave no answer said would find out never got back to me.What replacement system should i look at.

 

[holty]

the prob you have is to do with water flow/pressure. and turning a boiler on wont cure the matter. the 1.5bar is prob the heating system pressure wich is about right and totaly seperate to mains water.like i said it would prob need the inlet filter looking at, to the cylinder if it is unvented.its hard to tell what set up you have from you description. if i were you id get someone in who knows what there talking about,good luck on that one though.first call would to fully open any mains stop taps. crap can build up restricting flow.

 

[htgeng]

What replacement system should i look at.

Anything but keston. Removed a 130 a few months ago after the owners suffered no end of repairs and bodges. Even BG held their hands up in despair at it.

I think ChrisR has a skip for Keston somewhere!

 

[iriedn]

sorry it is an unvented system. My knowledge is limited on plumbing hence joining the forum to get help. As I said the boilers are in the cellar and two floors up are the 2 family bathrooms. When someone turns a tap on at ground floor level there is no water at all

 

[holty]

definetly a flow/pressure restriction, is it both hot and cold or just hot.is there one cold tap eg kitchen tap, outside tap, thats a good flow.

 

[iriedn]

both hot and cold taps are affected by pressure loss all taps upstairs affected, kitchen taps has a crap flow rate too, outside tap not bad. It spurs off kitchen tap. is there a site to find out whether it is a low mains pressure area. I know our house has it's own individual spur off the main high street water supply. Which goes under drive way up to house.

 

[holty]

as iv have stated have you tried opening the the mains stop taps fully open.and dont asume that just because you cant turn them anymore there fully open try on and off if you cant move the handle it might need a bit of persuasion.further than that you prob have a balanced cold feed of the combination valve to the unvented.this as stated before might need looking at.

 

[ChrisR]

is there a site to find out whether it is a low mains pressure area.

No, but remember pressure is not the same as flow.
Turn all taps off, let loos refill then try to stop your garden tap with your thumb. If it's really easy you have a pressure problem, care of the local water supplier. Complain.
If your garden hose has a decent flow and throw then you certainly have a restriction in your house.
You can buy a pressure gauge for about £15.

 

[iriedn]

Thanks Chris R and Holty,
Have been on crutches for the last few days but will venture out and down to the cellar to investigate. If internal problem will check water intake taps, if external I'll contact the water board.
Any recommendations for alternative systems?

 

[holty]

Any recommendations for alternative systems?

id recomend getting your water pressure/flow sorted out first.why do you think the system youve got now needs replacing. a good working unvented system will do just the job.

 

[iriedn]

looking at system it seems at least 15 years old and i seem to be spending a lot of time having cold showers and going up and down to the boilers to readjust the pressure manually. It could be a pressure leak and the next stage after the water board check the mains pressure tomorrow is to get system pressure tested. Just got a feeling that previous owner didn't really give it much TLC.