Hi.
I have a 9 year old Pulsacoil III (from new build) which I think hasn't been installed properly from the start. I recently had a plumber take a look and he replaced both immersions because the upper one had died due to leaking and the lower one was replaced to be on the safe side. He replaced the old Skel immersions with Backersafe.
Since then I noticed that the pump was running continuously.
Hot water and pressure has been fine, apart from the shower isn't that hot and never has been (unless I turn it almost off but then the pressure is lower) but I have read this is because its a thermostatic blend shower.
I took a closer look at the DWH flow switch and discovered that the original installer had fitted the microswitch upside down, so the flow switch was not doing anything (for 9 years !). When I manually pressed the microswitch the pump turned off, so I fitted the microswitch the correct way round. So now the flow switch appears to work.
However, after I use hot water taps the pump seems to still continuously run (even all night). The only way to get it to turn off is to switch the unit off and on again, at which point the pump stops running. But the next time I use hot water, the pump comes on and stays on. So I have to repeatedly turn the unit off then on, otherwise the pump seems to run indefinitely.
Sometimes the pump works as normal. For example, last friday I had a plumber round and the problem was not occurring. I turned the water off at the stop cock (I was having taps replaced) and asked the plumber to check the DWH sensor and re-connect it. The water was turned back on and when the Pulsacoil was switched back on the pump ran continuously. After that every time hot water was used the pump stayed on and I had to turn the unit off then on. This was until tuesday afternoon when everything started to work normally again (pump turning off after hot water was used).
I had arranged for another plumber (who specialises in Gledhill) to come look at it but after having a chat we decided it probably was better he didn't come out when the problem wasn't happening. He mentioned that the pump does come on from time to time and to keep my eye on it. He also said the pump being on all the time won't cause it any problems apart from using electricity and the stored water would cool slightly.
Now its thursday and the pump is continuously on again.
I have had the front panel off the unit when the problem is/isn't occurring and the LED is flashing once per second which means the pump speed control PCB thinks the DHW sensor is ok (?).
This is a 1998 revision unit that doesn't have a PHE return sensor.
Any help/advice with this would be much appreciated as I'm reluctant to throw money at an old unit. I'm tempted to replace the DHW sensor as its only £25 and I can replace this myself quite easily, but I don't know whether it will make any difference.
Regards,
Nick
I have a 9 year old Pulsacoil III (from new build) which I think hasn't been installed properly from the start. I recently had a plumber take a look and he replaced both immersions because the upper one had died due to leaking and the lower one was replaced to be on the safe side. He replaced the old Skel immersions with Backersafe.
Since then I noticed that the pump was running continuously.
Hot water and pressure has been fine, apart from the shower isn't that hot and never has been (unless I turn it almost off but then the pressure is lower) but I have read this is because its a thermostatic blend shower.
I took a closer look at the DWH flow switch and discovered that the original installer had fitted the microswitch upside down, so the flow switch was not doing anything (for 9 years !). When I manually pressed the microswitch the pump turned off, so I fitted the microswitch the correct way round. So now the flow switch appears to work.
However, after I use hot water taps the pump seems to still continuously run (even all night). The only way to get it to turn off is to switch the unit off and on again, at which point the pump stops running. But the next time I use hot water, the pump comes on and stays on. So I have to repeatedly turn the unit off then on, otherwise the pump seems to run indefinitely.
Sometimes the pump works as normal. For example, last friday I had a plumber round and the problem was not occurring. I turned the water off at the stop cock (I was having taps replaced) and asked the plumber to check the DWH sensor and re-connect it. The water was turned back on and when the Pulsacoil was switched back on the pump ran continuously. After that every time hot water was used the pump stayed on and I had to turn the unit off then on. This was until tuesday afternoon when everything started to work normally again (pump turning off after hot water was used).
I had arranged for another plumber (who specialises in Gledhill) to come look at it but after having a chat we decided it probably was better he didn't come out when the problem wasn't happening. He mentioned that the pump does come on from time to time and to keep my eye on it. He also said the pump being on all the time won't cause it any problems apart from using electricity and the stored water would cool slightly.
Now its thursday and the pump is continuously on again.
I have had the front panel off the unit when the problem is/isn't occurring and the LED is flashing once per second which means the pump speed control PCB thinks the DHW sensor is ok (?).
This is a 1998 revision unit that doesn't have a PHE return sensor.
Any help/advice with this would be much appreciated as I'm reluctant to throw money at an old unit. I'm tempted to replace the DHW sensor as its only £25 and I can replace this myself quite easily, but I don't know whether it will make any difference.
Regards,
Nick
