System not working

[reddi171]

ok guys long story but here goes

my pilot light comes on for about 10 secs then off for about 2 mins then on for 10secs and so on and so on. also noticed my heaters upstairs are not getting very hot and downstairs not at all. its an old boiler so i was advised
--
If you go into your loft and see a small water tank, open the lid and see if there is any water inside the tank, if there is no water find the valve feeding the small tank and open it. if the tank fill up, you will have to go and bleed your radiators, because that little tank feeds your central heating and the plonker might not have known what he was doing.
----
now, found the small tank, it was half full, by pressing down the ball(like in my toilet)it started to fill, i let it fill till it was just below what i think was an over flow pipe. after doing this i seen on web - "The water level in the tank should be very low so that when it heats up it expands and fills the tank " so do i need to take some out now as i filled right up?

the valve on the side with a red handle is completly turned to open. i also noticed further down the same pipe there is like a tap ,

so now ive told you that if you have any answers great feel free to help and if no new ansers then can you anser this for me

-- Do i do anything with thistap i seen? or do i now just go and bleed my radiotrs then try putting heating on?

-- Do i need to take some water out now/have i filled to much as i filled right up?

please help

 

[breezer]

read this

 

[reddi171]

ok sorry

- no idea of boiler make or model as no info, it about 15-20 yr old
- what is happening is above
- recently had toilet fixed and person doing it may have turned wrong valves/taps when trying yo turn water off
- noticed it yesterday
- when trying to use heating as said above

 

[reddi171]

Anybody got an advice???

 

[croydoncorgi]

Sounds like there's nothing much wrong with your boiler - it's turning on, heating up to its setpoint then switching off again - entirely normal.

Question is where is the heat going? Apparently nowhere. So you need to check on your controls, pump and motorised valve(s), as a start. If you don't know what /where these are, you've got a steep learning curve, first.

Don't worry about the water level in the F&E tank at this point, so long as there's water in it.

 

[reddi171]

but its only coming on for about 10secs so surely cant be heating up to correct heat in that time?

so its ok that ive filled the tank right up? it wont come spilling out if i turn the heating on?

well dont have a clue where these things are so any ideas where i strt looking?

 

[kevplumb]

but its only coming on for about 10secs so surely cant be heating up to correct heat in that time?

check the pump aint stuck

 

[reddi171]

sorry mate total novice where would this be?

 

[reddi171]

anyone able to help?

do you know if its safe to put water and heating on just now?