I'm a total novice so please bear with me. I've just had my annual boiler check from my gas supplier (inc as part of my tariff), and i'm a bit confused. I have a worcester cd24i boiler fitted, it's about 14 years old and so far has only ever needed the pump replacing. The engineer has issued me with a warning notice on the boiler as he said that there is no water discharge pipework from the boiler, and that it has been capped. He said that it would leak if the system was to be over pressurised, and although should be safe to use, it needed fixing immediately. He tried to pressurise the system, which has been on zero since it was installed (as far as i can remember), but although there was a hissing noise the guage didn't register a change. This is the third annual inspection in as many years, and the prvious two engineers tried but failed to increase the pressure, and left knowing that the boiler works. He said that if pipework were fitted correctly, and poss. replacement of pressure guage, the system would work correctly. Currently i can only get hot water if i turn the tap right down to slow, this has always been the case. Anyway, my question is, why would anyone fit a combi boiler, not pressurise it, and not include any pipework should the system need to overflow? Is the engineer wrong, and the system doesn't need pressure? Thankyou in advance for any advice.
Why why why?
- Thread starter Dmuggy
- Start date
H
holty
have you got a small black tank in your loft. basically f&E tank. could explain no pressure reading. and capped off prv. either that gauge is blocked with a crud. and the prv needs sorting. these boilers could be used open vent though. so maybe the engineer has been a bit to rash without investigating. and maybe he should look in the wb manual under section 9 open vent primary systems. readily available online.
Do you have the manual?
http://www.worcester-bosch.co.uk/cache/file/186/user-manual-for-cdi--discontinued-05-07.pdf
seems to suggest in open vented mode the pressure guage is no use so as above do you have a small black F&E tank in the loft with a hooked pipe going into the top of it?
Looks like there may be 5 pipes underneath the boiler, with the pressure relief being the far right one.
http://www.worcester-bosch.co.uk/cache/file/186/user-manual-for-cdi--discontinued-05-07.pdf
seems to suggest in open vented mode the pressure guage is no use so as above do you have a small black F&E tank in the loft with a hooked pipe going into the top of it?
Looks like there may be 5 pipes underneath the boiler, with the pressure relief being the far right one.
There are 5 pipes coming from the bottom. A thick one, two thin ones, then two two thick one's left to right. Cant get into the loft at the mo. So assuming that there is a tank in the loft, am i right in thinking that the system doesn't need pressure. When the system was fitted i remember the bloke using the word gravity, but i thought he meant from the boiler to the radiators.
H
holty
H
holty
basically when they have tried topping up. alls you will get is the f&E tank overflowing to outside hopefully(via an overflow pipe) that should be visable 
as its open vent.
as its open vent.Scottish power, annual check included in my tariff. Thanks for the speedy help rjm2k (and others), so just to confirm before i get a phone call from scottish power telling me that it was an existing fault and i'd have to pay.
A) it deff is an open vent system
B) the pressure guage is irrelavent (both previous engineers have tried to pressurise it)
C) ... and there is nothing i can do about having to slow down the flow of water to get the hottest available and i'm at the mercy of atmospheric pressure.
Really appreciate the help, i'm rubbish at this sort of thing, but i am good with computers so all is not lost. Ta.
A) it deff is an open vent system
B) the pressure guage is irrelavent (both previous engineers have tried to pressurise it)
C) ... and there is nothing i can do about having to slow down the flow of water to get the hottest available and i'm at the mercy of atmospheric pressure.
Really appreciate the help, i'm rubbish at this sort of thing, but i am good with computers so all is not lost. Ta.
Sounds like it but only you can verify this for sure, maybe if you post some photos of the top left, bottom right of the boiler and also the F&E in the loft assuming you find it.
As to the slow water, I'm no expert but I would guess that's a different issue entirely, maybe a poorly heat exchanger or something like that but those who know more will be able to advise on that one.
As to the slow water, I'm no expert but I would guess that's a different issue entirely, maybe a poorly heat exchanger or something like that but those who know more will be able to advise on that one.
Just make sure you have a small tank in the loft.
Measure the hot in Ltrs/min and check the manual for what you should be getting.
Try not to laugh too loud when the super phones up to say how dangerous the boiler is.
Measure the hot in Ltrs/min and check the manual for what you should be getting.
Try not to laugh too loud when the super phones up to say how dangerous the boiler is.
H
holty
i would present a print off to the engineer. we all make mistakes. its not a usual thing to have a combi open vent. so can catch a few out. his main concern was your safety. regards hot water that depends on incoming temp and flow rate. usually this time off year to gain a decent flow rate on a 35 degree rise via 24kw combi is near impossible. again easily checked.
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