osso Posted September 27, 2008 Share Posted September 27, 2008 I think I may have a problem with my boiler, its a simple old thing, just heats the water stored in the hot water cylinder and does the central heating... I've noticed that the circulation pump has been getting very hot to the touch lately, and the empty water tank above the boiler doesnt help either!!! I've sorted the water tank, and checked out the circualation pump which appeared to have stuck, but managed to free it by using the inspection hole... However the pump is still getting every hot, appears to be working tho, as i can feel it circulating, and i've noticed that the hot water is pretty damn hot too... I was wondering if there's anything in the boiler that should shut down the heating system when it goes above operating threshold? I want to rule out other possiblities before replacing the pump, incase there's an airlock or faulty component in the boiler itself... cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian W Posted September 27, 2008 Share Posted September 27, 2008 There should indeed be a cut off if it's over heating. If the pump is running then it doesn't sound to me like there's a problem with it. Is the fan going as well or just the pump? ps what kind of boiler is it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyT Posted September 27, 2008 Share Posted September 27, 2008 Is the water in the tank very hot? ie before the pump. If so., it's a boiler problem. If it's only hot at the taps, it's the pump. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
osso Posted September 27, 2008 Author Share Posted September 27, 2008 dunno, its white and lives in the cupboard its definitely not a combi boiler, i'll see if i can find the make and model number... must be something on the net that tells me whats inside this boiler! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trig Posted September 27, 2008 Share Posted September 27, 2008 depending on the boiler, it may have an overheat cut off, if the pump has been running and the system has been dry it may possibly shorten the life of the pump but if its working i wouldnt worry too much Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
osso Posted September 27, 2008 Author Share Posted September 27, 2008 Andy, the pump sits above the boiler. I am pretty sure this pump circulates water into the boiler and yes is also as hot as the pump! i've had this problem before years ago when the pump just seized up, but I managed to free the movement and problem went away.. unfortunately this time it doesnt seem to have worked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
osso Posted September 27, 2008 Author Share Posted September 27, 2008 the boiler is a Potterton netaheat! I am not overly concerned at the moment, its working. But need to check on it at the moment everytime i put switch it on, just to be sure its working.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyT Posted September 27, 2008 Share Posted September 27, 2008 Nice system, tank, circ pump , boiler back to tank. Better than a combi. Boiler should have a cut off at about 70 degrees. Well above "very hand hot" If the water's coming out that hot, the boiler is not cutting out. Thermal cut out is goosed or the boilers parameters have been wiped. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
osso Posted September 27, 2008 Author Share Posted September 27, 2008 Its a very nice system, easy to trouble shoot as well, i've fixed it many times before... usually problems occur away from the boiler, usualy stepper motors that drive the water valves around the hot water cylinder. perhaps its ok, i'll keep an eye on it for the next few days. i've turned down the heat setting on the boiler as it was on max! if there's a difference in temp then i think thats a good test to verify its ok... I just didnt think the circulator pump should be that hot... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyT Posted September 27, 2008 Share Posted September 27, 2008 Circ pump will be as hot as the water pumped bud. Very much hotter if it's seizing up. Potterton is a blast from the past. Good kit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Havard Posted September 27, 2008 Share Posted September 27, 2008 Sounds to me like you need the system flushing. There is magnetite gathering in the internals of the pump and this makes it run very hot. You will need to get the pump replaced eventually. Make sure you get a Wilo pump...... H. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SUPRALOOPY Posted September 27, 2008 Share Posted September 27, 2008 Sounds to me like you need the system flushing. There is magnetite gathering in the internals of the pump and this makes it run very hot. You will need to get the pump replaced eventually. Make sure you get a Wilo pump...... H. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Havard Posted September 27, 2008 Share Posted September 27, 2008 ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fargo Posted September 27, 2008 Share Posted September 27, 2008 do you have the neataheat profile, or plain old neataheat with the brown slide off bottom (not biege) if the latter they are killers, many many CO deaths due to these. If you need yoru systme flushed give me a shout as ive got a flushing machine and can also lay my hands on brand new magnacleans (inline magnetic filters) pretty cheap for cash ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
osso Posted September 27, 2008 Author Share Posted September 27, 2008 Oh great! got me concerned now.. I've no idea what model it is, I cant find a model number anywhere. Its been here ever since i moved in 10 years ago. its white with a bown panel at the bottom, which has a brown transparent slider for accessing the temp control. Think its probably time I've got this thing serviced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fargo Posted September 27, 2008 Share Posted September 27, 2008 yep thats the killer kiddy, these boilers are whats called positive pressure jobbies where the waste products (CO) are pushed into the boiler case before going out through the flue. So what happens is where the pipes run behind the boiler and connect to the heat exchanger through the back plate, its there that they can corrode and then the fumes are forced out through this. Certainly this year there have been 2 or 3 fatalities due to this and these boilers (im an engineer at british gas FYI) When you get it serviced, make sure the engineer removes the case to check the above, also what we do at BG is do a test for background CO in the room with the boiler off and then again with it on, and then also with the probe 100mm above the boiler. aswell as the usual other tests. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
osso Posted September 27, 2008 Author Share Posted September 27, 2008 thanks for the heads up! Just been checking british gas website, do you know if they are able to do a one off service and check on the boiler? I dont particularly want to sign up to one of their monthly homecare schemes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fargo Posted September 28, 2008 Share Posted September 28, 2008 yes they do, £49.99 the last time i checked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
osso Posted September 28, 2008 Author Share Posted September 28, 2008 Cheers bud, bought myself a digital mains powered carbon monoxide reader from b&q earlier to be on the safe side! will be arranging someone to check the boiler out and have it serviced asap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fargo Posted September 28, 2008 Share Posted September 28, 2008 well done on the co alarm, just food for thought though. BG sell battery co alarms with a 6 year life and they are designed such that you cant replace the battery, reason being is that the CO sensor only has a limited life, so if your gona replace the batteries all the time your sensors life will gradually get worse. wondering if this would apply to mains powered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
osso Posted September 28, 2008 Author Share Posted September 28, 2008 Probably so, this is a kidde CO alarm with a limited life until 2015, which will then need to be replaced. It wasnt cheap, but liked the fact it had a digital read out, and that it could be plugged directly into the mains, or the plug can be removed so that it can be fitted onto the wall. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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