Ocean Alpha Boiler 240E - slow hot water flow rate

[Barncliff]

Hi,

My mum has had an Alpha Combi boiler in her 2 bed flat for over 6 years now.

However over time the rate of hot water flow has reduced, to a point that it's now unacceptably slow. The central heating apperas fine.

The mains pressure in the flat looks fine, giving a litre in under 10 seconds.

The boiler is only delivering about 3 l/min hot water, but the instructions indicate this should be nearer 9.5 l/min?

The water isn't particularly hard, and the cold flow to taps in the bathroom is fine. However she has previously had some black deposits through the pipework.

What is our best course of action?
e.g.
Could I try to adjust the cold water inlet valve (D in our instructions)?
Is the cold inlet filter likely to be blocked, and would I be able to clean it or would I need to buy a new one?

Our would we be better getting an Ocean qualified engineer to look at it?

She has had the boiler serviced previously, but I've not been around to ask the engineers about the problem.
I think the last visit by the Gas board, was just a safety check.

 

[Agile]

Some parts of Derbyshire are VERY hard like Matlock for example!

If the flow rate has seriously reduced then it sounds like a blockage and the filter is the first place to look.

Tony

 

[Barncliff]

She's actually in Rotherham, rather than Derbyshire.

Is the filter easily accessible and cleanable, or would I need to get a specialist Ocean plumber in to do the job?

I've just got the number for Ocean (0870 3001964) but all they would do was give me the number of a local plumber. The local plumber wouldn't give me any advice other than their call-out charges.

If it could be just a blocked filter, I'd like to try cleaning that first if I can, before paying for a plumber!

 

[Paul Barker]

Pipes under boiler, second from right 15mm, isolate cold water supply to it, undo nut on the brass elbow that joins this pipe to boiler, remove metal strainer, clean it.

 

[ChrisR]

Isn't there a flow restrictor as well? O ring can swell up and block it.

 

[Barncliff]

Thanks for the advice.

I'll try cleaning it myself next time I'm over visiting.

There is a flow restrictor, so will look at that if the filter looks okay.

 

[Barncliff]

Just thought I'd post the results of my boiler problems.

Firstly, it turned out that my mum had boiler insurance cover, so there was no further expense or need for me to get my tools out.

The filter was fine, the problem was the heat exchanger.
Some small black grit had come through the water pipes some months ago, which passed through the filter but blocked up the heat exchanger.

This required a new part, but now it's fitted the boiler works great!