Problem with Potterton boiler system

[Blueboy0333]

Hi

I got a potterton suprima 40 system (about 10 years old).

Haven't had the heating on for a while but when I tried to put it on it's not working..

Green light is flashing on the boiler (indicating a call for heat I'm assuming)
The pilot light ignites the boiler which runs for approx 30 secs - 1 minutes and then switches itself off again...

Bizarrely the water seems fine..

Any help / advice would be greatly appreciated

Thanks

Blueboy033

 

[baxpoti]

Bizarrely the water seems fine..

Presumably you mean the boiler is heating the hot water tank?

If yes your problem is not the boiler. More likely to be the pump or motorised valve(s).

 

[Blueboy0333]

Thanks for the quick reply

yep...I've got no problems in terms of hot water so I'm assuming the boiler is heating that ok..

I had the motorised valve replaced about 3 months ago so I'm assuming it's not that...

Is there anyway to test the pump or what should I be looking out for ?

The pump is softly vibrating away so something is happening. The pump is "super hot" to touch and not sure if this is normal and whether this is an indication it might be stuck

 

[Blueboy0333]

Should have added that the pump is a Myson CP53

 

[Blueboy0333]

Another update !!!

The Green light is still flashing on the boiler but
2/3 of the upstairs radiators are "half warm"...

None of the downstairs rads are getting any heat...

It seems like the boilers is constantly "firing up" in response to the call for heat but then is shutting down quickly. Perhaps the upstairs rad are getting a bit of heat as I'm assuming they're first in the chain..

Again any help would be appreciated

 

[mickyg]

sounds like a dodgy pump

 

[Agile]

What you have said implies that there is no water or limited water in the system!

What have you dont to check that?

Tony

 

[Blueboy0333]

I haven't checked it. How could I check it ?

 

[Agile]

Try looking for help in the FAQ section of this site.

Tony

 

[kevplumb]

check the header tank

 

[Blueboy0333]

check the header tank

Just been up in the loft and the header tank feels about 3/4 full so I'm assuming that's ok !!

 

[Blueboy0333]

The boiler just fired up (for it's usual minute or so before switching itself off) but this time there was an unusual noise from the boiler...

It wasn't really loud but it was noticeable. Best way to describe it was a bit like when you've got a noisy fan on your PC !!!!

 

[Blueboy0333]

Just a last bump of this thread before I pay British Gas the £180 repair callout charge to sort it out...

To Recap

1) Water is heating without a problem
2) The boiler doesn't seem to be firing the heating (Red Light Solidly on and Green Light flashing but boiler not firing in response to the call for heat)
3) A couple of the upstairs radiators are getting some heat but none of the downstairs are warming up
4) Header tank is full of water
5) Boiler is occasionally making some noise (a bit like a noisy fan)
6) Motorised valve was replaced a few months ago so I'm assuming that's ok

Other advice I've received include bleeding the radiators, checking the pressure in the central heating (where is the pressure indicate on a suprima ?)

I appreciate all advice so far but any further contributions would be welcome

 

[numpty1]

undo the black nut on the pump and check the pump is spinning.

 

[mickyg]

Either blocked cold feed or duff pump. The cold feed is the pipe that fills the system from the small header tank in the loft.