PottertonPuma 80 PRESSURE VESSEL full of water can I fix it?

[Biffa001]

After reading the FAQ due to my Puma's pressure rising from 1 bar to over 3 when the CH comes on, then dropping again when it's off, I've discovered my PV is full of water. When it reached 3.5 on the dial in the red no water came from the boilers escape pipe outside though?

I pushed the central pin on the PV and water came out and it continued to dribble for a while which worried me, but it seems to have stopped now.

But a question - at first the FAQ says this means I need a new PV (which will be beyond me to replace) but later on it describes how to remove the water from the PV..is this something I can try myself to do?

(From a previous dropping of pressure problem with my Puma 80 I have discovered it's best not to use the drain pipe from within the boiler as the small tap can block and leak - which it used to do!)

I have a drain tap on a radiator by my front door that I can attach a pipe to so I can drain water away and I can leave it open whilst I pump air into the PV - is this worth a try?

Is there anything else I should look for / be careful off etc?

Thanks for the help

 

[kevplumb]

you can fit a remote vessel and leave the boiler alone

 

[Biffa001]

I think the fitting of anything is beyond me really - am I able to drain the water from it and refill it with air?

 

[tonybhoy]

No, you need a new vessel or a remote one as Kev said but the old one needs to be capped to stop it from corroding and cause a leak on the heating system.

 

[Biffa001]

Fair enough - any idea how much they cost to buy and for someone to fit, either to replace this knackered one or a remote one? Just a rough idea so we know what we are getting into

 

[powell30]

Dependent on flue if you replace you will need to remove the boiler off wall. I would suggest you fit a remote one....cheaper and easier.......70-100 quid all in

 

[Biffa001]

ok, can you point me in the right direction as for instructions on how to do this?

Thanks for all your help guys, at least I know what the problem is now and can either enlist the Father in law to help me or a plumber to fix it!

 

[powell30]

Drain boiler/heating system. Cut into heating return pipe (right hand 22mm pipe as you look at the boiler) and run a new pipe line from the T. Fit new expansion vessel to wall and connect to pipe line. Refill and check for leaks. If this is beyond you, no sarcasm intended a plumber could do this in an hr......

 

[Biffa001]

thanks for the reply with the info, that may be beyond me so I've emailed a few local companies to see what they can do. The british gas one off fix costof £168 to supply and fit the needed part sounds a good deal to me.

 

[kevplumb]

 

[gassafeman]

Dependent on flue if you replace you will need to remove the boiler off wall. I would suggest you fit a remote one....cheaper and easier.......70-100 quid all in

That is a ridiculous price! Last one I did (remote) was £180. That was easily relocated!

What labour are you charging on that price? The vessel would be 30 notes surely, or are you getting them for nowt!

And where are you locating it? In a flat that can be hard. £70-£100!

Paul

 

[Biffa001]

Not sure why you are laughing at that, care to fill me in??

 

[kevplumb]

na i'll just wait to hear you scream after they do it

and then start adding on all the exxxes that need to be done

 

[Biffa001]

ahh I see, well hopefully the local plumbers I have contacted get back to me with a quote.

 

[Agile]

We would charge about £70-£80 to fit a remote PV.

However, that would be after we had charged £84 to come and diagnose the fault. On that visit we would have turned a rad into a temporary pressure vessel.

Tony