no hot water, CH ok

[xxamcmahon]

Hi, firstly, my plumbing knowledge is next to zero (but hey, ask me about computers!) and i want to figure out if i'm being given good advice. oh, and i'm keen to learn.

i have what i've been told is a gravity fed system. i have an ageing Ideal boiler (i dont know the model [at work at the moment].

And I have no hot water (well, it gets upto almost luke warm occasionally). The central heating is fine, all radiators nice and hot, no cold spots etc. For the last ten years its all been fine (i have the boiler serviced every year)

i've been told by a plumber that there is probably a blockage somewhere and he's returning on friday with something that might 'blow the blockage out' (his words)

i've read on here about using a magnet to find the blockage and i thought i might have a go in the mean time - but where should i be looking - there seems to be so many pipes should i look between the boiler and the hot water tank or the hot water tank and the cold water tank? or both?

 

[kevplumb]

check there is water in the header tank first

if you have a block fav place is where the cold feed joins the heating pipes

magnet should stick to the pipe

 

[xxamcmahon]

what is the ferrous material that csuses the magnet thing to work?

 

[jackthom]

Oxidised radiator.

 

[xxamcmahon]

ah i see.

ok, just so i'm sure i'm looking at the right thing, if i use this diagram as an example http://www.diydoctor.org.uk/project_images/powershower1/diag.gif
which area would i be looking at?

 

[bellairaphon]

whats the cylinder stat set to? 2 2port valves? or a 3 port valve? is the pipe going into the cylinder hot?

Nath

 

[bengasman]

The areas near the pump, and the motorised valve are a good starting point to try your magnet