Vokera Excell 80SP boiler.

[cyrus]

Hi there,

I am a student and I recently moved into a house with a Vokera Excell 80SP boiler. Well, I am bit embarrassed to say that I don’t know how a gas boiler works as we didn’t have any back home.

As I couldn’t find any instructions user manual (the previous tenants only knew how to turn the heating on and off), I was wondering if there is any place or website I could get an instructions user manual for that boiler.

The boiler was serviced 3 days ago and I wasn’t around to ask the technicians how it works. I am worried mainly about two things.

1. The heating was working fine before, but after the technicians came over it doesn’t. I changed the position of the switch on the left from the middle to the right and the heating works, but I don’t know if I was supposed to do that or the position should be in the middle all the time.
2. After I did that I left the boiler on for quite a while and the PH2O pressure was going up and after two minutes or so it reached 3, where there is a red indicator. I was afraid that if it went beyond that it would explode or something, so I turned the heating off.

Any pointers to any help would be greatly appreciated.

P.S. I know I could ask the technicians to come back at a time when I would be at home and show me, but I am sure they are not going to be very happy!

 

[Agile]

As a tennant you have to arrange most boiler repairs with the landlord.

The system pressure should only increase by about 20% from cold to hot. If its increasing much more then it indicates that the expansion vessel needs to be represurised. That should have been checked on a service.

Its quite probable that the Landlord did NOT get the boiler serviced and only had a gas safety check done.

I suggest you contact your landlord to get him to contact the engineer if there is a problem.

Thre landlord or letting agent should have explained to new tenants how the boiler is used.

Tony Glazier

 

[slippyr4]

Had one of those boilers at my last place. IIRC, the left hand dial is to select Off-HW only-CH&HW.

So, the switch should be on the right if you want the heating on, or in the middle if you only want DHW service.

 

[DP]

That is OK IF YOU WANT manual control. Nothing worst than getting out of a warm bed, trek to the boiler with knees knocking.

The whole point of central heating is to mainatain a comfortable temperature while the house is occupied. Timers and programmers/ thermostats are fitted for this reason.

 

[cyrus]

Thank you all for your fast answers to my question!

At least I now know the right position for heating switch!

As Agile proposed I called the agency and asked them to show me how the boiler works. They refused at the beginning, but after insisting that they have to, they are coming over on Friday to demonstrate how it works (in this country you have to know your rights and demand them!).

I also tested the heating and looks like the pressure goes from around 1.3 when it is cold to 2.6 after 20 mins. of operation. I will let the agency people know that this is not normal and demand for a technician to adjust the pressure.

Thank you all for your feedback! You've been really helpful.

 

[Agile]

No, please read my posting earlier!

The technician has to repressurise the expansion vessel.

To do that he has to know how to do it !!!

Best of luck with your studies! I hope its not humanities!

Tony Glazier

 

[slippyr4]

The whole point of central heating is to mainatain a comfortable temperature while the house is occupied

No it's not. Central heating is just a heating system where there is a central source of heat which is distributed around the house. Controls are an extra. Many rented flats with a combi installation have no controls other than the manual valve. Not saying that's ideal, it's just the way it is.

 

[Agile]

Slippery4,

are you aware of the Building Regulations which affect heating controls in domestic properties?

Tony Glazier

 

[slippyr4]

Tony,

Very much aware. But this isn't a new install - the excell 80 sp is an old(ish) boiler. And I was only arguing the definition of Central Heating. And I'd put a wager of a pint on there being no controls in that install.

Slip

 

[DP]

And I was talking of sensible controls as opposed to simple on/ off. Age of the boiler has zero to do with it. There are boilers 30 years of age and more with full set of controls.

Anyhow, the Excel (often) came with a timer.

 

[cyrus]

No, please read my posting earlier!

The technician has to repressurise the expansion vessel.

To do that he has to know how to do it !!!

Well... my reply was that:

I will let the agency people know that this is not normal and demand for a technician to adjust the pressure.

I just tested the heating pressure just to confirm that it does not work correctly.

I just have to hope the technician they send over knows what he has to do!

Best of luck with your studies! I hope its not humanities!

Thank you very much! No,no... it's not humanities!!

Just for the record the boiler has a timer and there is a switch in the living room to adjust the preferred temperature and these were the only parts of the boiler the previous tenants knew how to use and passed the information on to me. I guess no one bothered with the rest of the switches and the pressure as long as the whole thing "worked".

 

[Agile]

Cyrus, it is vital that you tell the technician EXACTLY what I told you to tell him and NOT what you have repeated which is not the same.

He will not be very clever and he must be told that otherwise he will not know what to do.

The "switch" on the wall is the room thermostat which the others above are mentioning.

Tony

 

[slippyr4]

He will not be very clever and he must be told that otherwise he will not know what to do.

Brilliant! It's just a shame it's true though.

 

[Agile]

Oh yes, and you owe me a pint !

Where do I come to collect it ???

Tony

 

[slippyr4]

I'll post it to you!