Low system pressure - Puma 80e

[VickyW]

Hello

I don't know if anyone can help but i'm useless when it comes to this sort of thing and after a long time of getting ripped off by a well known Gas co and local suppliers, I need to know if I need to get someone in for this or whether it's one of those things that happen with old boilers.....

I've got a Potterton combi - Puma 80e - I've been in my place for 4 plus years and it precedes me but I'm not sure how old exactly it is. Anyway ever since I've lived there in the winter it loses pressure - sometimes before I notice it and am able to top it up, so the low system pressure light goes on and I have no heating etc for 2 days before it corrects itself.

Anyway, we worked out that it was due to leaking radiators but I got them fixed in the spring and all has been well since. Until Tuesday evening when the light came on when the the pressure gauge was in the green. It hasn't yet turned off and so I still have not heating etc.

Is there any reason why it should be doing this when the dial is not in the red zone?! Also my reset button does not move in or out, is that normal?

Apologies if I sound like the useless DIYer that I am. I don't even want to fix it myself. Just want to know if it's worth me a) calling someone out b) getting a new boiler or c) anything else.

Thanks in advance for any help. Vicky

 

[corgiman]

well it isnt the pressure this time

does it work for hot water?

 

[VickyW]

No, no hot water and no heating - the red 'low system pressure' light is on and nothing works when I turn the boiler on. Just like normal when it loses pressure - it's just that this time the gauge hasn't registered a loss of pressure. Confused? Me too!

 

[Soggy_weetabix]

Low Pressure Swith will be blocked with sludge. Drain boiler, remove and clean out. (or get a person that can). The hole the switch screws into may be blocked aswell.

Dont bypass it though!

David

 

[kevplumb]

disconnect the flaming thing the cheaper model didn't have one

 

[VickyW]

I wouldn't even know how to begin doing that! I think I need to find someone who can. Anyone know someone good in the SW4 London area? Or shall I go with a Potterton engineer?

Definitely not going British Gas - too many wasted days sitting in for no one to arrive/ having the wrong parts etc etc.

 

[Soggy_weetabix]

be jeesus!

damned if I do and damned if I dont.

Well, if kev is happy to bypass the low pressure switch pull off one tag and stick it in no.3

Heat restored.

Dave