Hi 
Ok - I have a two storey house with a gravity fed vented system. The boiler is a 21y/o 'Prima' unit. I drained down the system to move two radiators upstairs. I did one, refilled to check for leaks, and all was good, hot and cold. After the second, and refilling again, I've been unable to get any heat at all out of the boiler.
Some more info;
- I refilled with all rad valves closed, then bled from downstairs, working upwards (note that three of the downstairs rads never emptied, I think they are on drop down pipes from above). I also bled the pump centre screw and the little bleed nipple above the three way diverter valve. When switching on the boiler (and calling for heat via thermostat) I can hear and feel the pump operating in the cupboard, but no heat out of the boiler at all.
- I can hear a lot of bubbling from the boiler, so, I've just reverse-pressurised the system using a garden hose to the outlet on the lowest rad. With satisfaction, I saw a number of large bubbles come to the surface in the E&F tank in the attic. Sadly though, the boiler still will not fire, and I can still hear bubbling in the pipes around it.
A couple of extra points - One - The first time around, I hadn't set the 3-way valve to manual, and in trying to do so second time around, the lever was very stiff, so I removed (it's exactly this model)http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DRAYTON-2...d=100009&prg=11436&rk=2&rkt=10&sd=22158393083 the electronic unit and operated the spindle manually. Cleverly, I managed to snap it off immediately, so I guess I've got no choice but to replace that.
Regardless, i'll grab one of the three-way valves and replace at screwfix tomorrow, but still, how will I clear the boiler of air pockets?
So far the wife is being patient, but the really cold weather hasn't arrived yet!
Very grateful for anyones input - No need to tell me to get a Plumber in, I realise that I can do that but I enjoy working on the plumbing and I'm trying to learn a bit.
Cheers in advance,
Tom
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Ok - I have a two storey house with a gravity fed vented system. The boiler is a 21y/o 'Prima' unit. I drained down the system to move two radiators upstairs. I did one, refilled to check for leaks, and all was good, hot and cold. After the second, and refilling again, I've been unable to get any heat at all out of the boiler.
Some more info;
- I refilled with all rad valves closed, then bled from downstairs, working upwards (note that three of the downstairs rads never emptied, I think they are on drop down pipes from above). I also bled the pump centre screw and the little bleed nipple above the three way diverter valve. When switching on the boiler (and calling for heat via thermostat) I can hear and feel the pump operating in the cupboard, but no heat out of the boiler at all.
- I can hear a lot of bubbling from the boiler, so, I've just reverse-pressurised the system using a garden hose to the outlet on the lowest rad. With satisfaction, I saw a number of large bubbles come to the surface in the E&F tank in the attic. Sadly though, the boiler still will not fire, and I can still hear bubbling in the pipes around it.
A couple of extra points - One - The first time around, I hadn't set the 3-way valve to manual, and in trying to do so second time around, the lever was very stiff, so I removed (it's exactly this model)http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DRAYTON-2...d=100009&prg=11436&rk=2&rkt=10&sd=22158393083 the electronic unit and operated the spindle manually. Cleverly, I managed to snap it off immediately, so I guess I've got no choice but to replace that.
Regardless, i'll grab one of the three-way valves and replace at screwfix tomorrow, but still, how will I clear the boiler of air pockets?
So far the wife is being patient, but the really cold weather hasn't arrived yet!
Very grateful for anyones input - No need to tell me to get a Plumber in, I realise that I can do that but I enjoy working on the plumbing and I'm trying to learn a bit.
Cheers in advance,
Tom
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