No water in boiler loop - how to fill?

[theflyingpig]

Hi all. I've got an old vented system. The tank is heated by an oil boiler - or was at least! It started cutting out shortly after firing, then stopped all together. I could hear alot of noise in the pipes so suspected air in the boiler to cylinder loop. Cracked top but to cylinder and nothing! As in it appears empty! But, how to fill?
Photo attached!
Thanks for any input

 

[terryplumb]

Is there a small tank ( f&e cistern) in the loft that feeds the system with water , if so ,is it half full of water ?
Does boiler run for central heating ok ?

 

[theflyingpig]

Thanks for reply. Unfortunately I can't check if boiler runs heating as the system is central heating is currently not complete... Got multiple radiators off and incomplete pipe work....
Yes, f&e tank is half full.....

 

[jurassic sparkk]

. Got multiple radiators off and incomplete pipe work....

What do you mean by that?

 

[theflyingpig]

I can't figure out how the water feeds into loop from cistern... There's two 15 mm pipes coming down, one goes to central heating system and the other to rayburn back boiler loop....

We havnt had central heating for a year or do, but boiler has heated hot water fine....

 

[theflyingpig]

What do you mean by that?

We're doing large scale renovation, so central heating system not usable

 

[theflyingpig]

So boiler loop is dry, but there doesn't appear to be a way of filling, unless radiator system needs to be full for boiler loop to be full, but then how has it worked fine for a year.... Baffling.

 

[theflyingpig]

Manned up and stopped every open pipe, filled ch system, bled boiler coil, reset boiler and off she went.

Why do I find plumbing so bloody stressful!?