Pls help! Boiler problems

[starsinthesky]

I hope someone can help me. My boiler is a Worcester Junior 28i. We have had a problem with the water pressure dropping for no apparent reason. It drops below 1 bar, the red light on the boiler starts flashing and after a while, no matter the amount of stopping and starting, we are unable to get heating or hot water. I have a British Gas Homecare Agreement and I each time it gets this far I call them out. They remedy it temporarily but it happens again. Each time they come out, I ask if there is a leak or what might be causing it but they basically just say it's not a problem. Now the water pressure has dropped to zero and the red light is flashing. I have tried using the little taps at under the boiler to increase the water pressure like the engineer showed me but there doesn't appear to be any water in the system to increase the pressure. Basically, when I turn the peg, nothing happens. Does anyone have any suggestions, or in the least any idea of what I might say to the heating engineer so I don't get fobbed off again?

Thank you in advance.

 

[davebgas]

Do you have the key inserted to the boiler?

Can you hear water entering the boiler when you charge it? I've seen plenty of these where the pressure guage gets blocked and the pressure is really at 3bar.

Any water evident at the overflow pipe?
The internal heat exchangers can leak inside..... check all radiator valves for leaks as well.

 

[starsinthesky]

Thanks for the reply. There isn't any water coming from the overflow pipe and there aren't any leaks from the radiators. I have been round them all and checked. I have no clue about the key. I have to admit that I didn't know there was one and I wouldn't know where to start with that. That's probably not a very helpful answer, is it?! I can't for the life of me work out why the filling loop it isn't bringing the pressure back up. It's like there isn't any water in the boiler at all. The pressure gage has hit bottom.

 

[starsinthesky]

Sorry, no there isn't any water entering the boiler at all which is the bit that has me worried.

 

[Corgigrouch]

I'd be looking at the possibillity of a duff expansion vessel.... Fill the boiler from cold to the required pressure... run the heating and watch the pressure gauge.. If the presure increases to 3 bar and water leaks from the pipe outside, then the expansion vessel is your culprit.. Also if you look closely at the vessel at the rear of the boiler, you will spot a schrader valve, remove the dust cap and press the valve pin, if water comes from the valve, then I would say that this is the clincher.... Having said that, I'm surprised that the BG guys would miss this...

 

[bengasman]

Does anyone have any suggestions, or in the least any idea of what I might say to the heating engineer so I don't get fobbed off again?

Just keep calling them out, somebody will sort it out in the end.

 

[starsinthesky]

I have no idea how to fill the boiler from cold and even if it's ok for me to do that but I really appreciate the answer. The last BG guy who came round was the one who showed me how to adjust the water pressure. He also said this is a common problem with this type of boiler? Thanks very much for the reply. At least I feel like I can ask the next question instead of just standing there and nodding my head like an idiot!

 

[davebgas]

get us back..... common problem my backside...... I think they are a cracking boiler

The little knob you turn to put pressure in.... look next to it and there is a circular hole.... a white plastic 'key' needs to go in there to fill it up, or you will get wet.

I think the heat ex is leaking internally, tell them to test that....

 

[bengasman]

...He also said this is a common problem with this type of boiler? ...

Nonsense. One of the best boilers of that era.

 

[starsinthesky]

You are all fab! Thanks very much for the help. I've got my heating and hot water back. It's running at 3 bar now. Is that bad? I filled it up to 1 bar and when the heating came back on, it went up to just under 3

Thanks again!

 

[bengasman]

Sounds like your expansion vessel is dead or flat. This might be worth mentioning to the next engineer.
Running on 3 bar is not good as it is likely to make the prv fail.
If you want an easy way to upgrade your working knowledge of boilers, read through (central heating) faq and wiki.

 

[davebgas]

Get us back and tell the lad to check the expansion vessel charge/condition....

Just tell em another BG said it might be that

 

[bengasman]

 

[davebgas]

Yeah I had to bite my lip when I wrote it
God, there are some biffs......

 

[Corgigrouch]

You are all fab! Thanks very much for the help. I've got my heating and hot water back. It's running at 3 bar now. Is that bad? I filled it up to 1 bar and when the heating came back on, it went up to just under 3

Thanks again!

Well we've just found where your water is going... When the boiler hits 3 bar the Pressure relief valve will dump the water. The heating will be fine until the boiler cools down over night, then the pressure will drop to below 1 again..

Sort the expansion vessel and all will be right again.... Don't let them forget to replace the inhibitor.. (If BG do that)