Anybody know how to stop my boiler banging, clanking, Kettling, etc ? I have added de-scaler about a dozen times and it doesn't sort it :(

Makes the noise both when hot and when starting up in the morning. Is this usually caused by the central heating side of things or could it be the hot water system as well, because I've tried bleeding the radiators and it doesn't get any better ?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated, as it's driving me nuts !!

Darren

Sounds like the water boiling when the boilers on, check the input and output flow, or reduced the boiler temp. I'm no plumber but had the same problem with my system, turned out to be a build up of sludge in swirl pot close to the pump.

BW Mark

Banging in the boiler is in older boilers caused by a layer of scale on the heat exchanger, the water which is trapped inbetween boils very quickly and then implodes making the noises. Newer boilers are very sensitive to flow and return temperatures and moving the heated water out of the boiler as fast as possible is paramount. Also if the boiler is quite new it is possible that the heat exchanger is a bad casting which will behave like a scaled up boiler, the list is almost endless without you being specific on the type of boiler, make, age, system type, pump, motorised valves, etc etc...?

Thanks for the replies. The boiler is a Potterton Kingfisher floor standing (60BTU ?) and is probably at least 20 years old :O

Any ideas on cleaning the heat exchanger as I have been told it could be this before. I have been told that having the system cleaned via a machine can be quite costly ?

Darren

I changed the heat exchanger on mine and problem solved.

Is that a difficult job ??

A heat exchanger for a 20 year old kingfisher won't be available any more, the best bet would be to have the system "jetflushed" which will cost around £350+vat.If this works then great but if it doesn't you won't have wasted your money as when you fit a new boiler then the system should be flushed anyway.

Mog

Daz,
start saving and put up with the noise.
spending £XXX on a 20 year old boiler is stupid,put that money towards a new one.

Even if you could get a new heat exchanger/water section it would be difficult to get anyone to fit it.You can bet money that if you did put a new exchanger in ,1month later the gasvalve would go or something else would go wrong.its always the way:(

Save your pennies.20 years out of a boiler thats on everyday of its life aint bad is it.

Duncan
Corgi installer

if i get 20 years from my boiler i will be well happy , they say average life is 10 years before major parts need replacing , but then its time for a nice new shiny one :)

Dont waste money on 20yr old unit , you wouldnt put a heat exchanger in a 10 yr old boiler. Save a while and bang a new boiler in mate.

THanks for the info folks. It appears that the heat exchanger is a fairly expensive part anyway (did a search).

Will a direct replacement (Potterton - new) have the same fittings on the rear to make this a fairly easy, straight swap ??

Darren

The new Potterton Kingfisher is a completely different boiler now as it uses the Profile heat exchanger and the flue is 100mm and fan assisted, pipe connections are 28mm copper tails with 'O' rings. Try the Potterton website for details.

Mog

Thanks MOG.

I think as long as the configuration is the same, even though the connections could be a different diameter, I think I should be able to do a straight swap (?).

If the flue is a different diameter is there an adjuster (reducer) to compensate for this ?

I assume that the electrical side of things are the same ?

My current boiler has no seperate heating and water controls, you either have the water & heating on or off, could this be a problem ?

Sorry for all the questions, but as usual the "Scoobynet" is the best place for free advice :D:D:D:D

Darren

[Edited by DAZ 4 - 1/14/2003 8:58:11 AM]

Is your kingfisher balanced flue or conventional...

Mog

The hot water tank could be gravity fed (I think that's the right term) rather than pumped on such an old boiler.

Just a thought based on my DIY experience of having swapped a boiler in my last house. Mog can probably explain this better than I can if it is an issue.

P.S. I did the fitting but yes I did get a Corgi plumber to commission it for me.

Had an engineer around last night (British Gas) and he said that the boiler needed replacing but as it was an open flue (plaster type flue coming from the top of the floorstanding boiler) there was no longer a direct replacement for this Potterton Kingfisher boiler, is this right ???

Darren

The new Kingfisher is still available as an floor standing open flued boiler and is reasonably easy to plumb in to the existing arrangement, also can be used on gravity hot water if required.

Mog

Thanks MOG, I'll look to see a suitable replacement for the summer :)

Hired a powerflush machine at the weekend from HSS. After a bit of head scratching I disconnected the pump and connected up the machine to the two pipes, managed to clear a lot of black stuff !!

Recommend this to anyone with a basic DIY knowledge !

But if you replace the boiler to work on gravity again it wont conform to the latest building Regs!!

as of April 2002 all new systems/replacement boilers installed must be fully pumped.they must have either a roomstat or thermostatic rad valves,hot water control eg cylinder stat.so you need zone control or divertor valve.

this is to save fuel and the enviroment(!!)thats why there are no boilers made with standing pilot lights anymore.
makes a 2 day boilerswap into neally a weeks worth of work now!

SN

So do you get a government grant then ???

no governemt grant!!

hence why our company have lost a few jobs lately:(
we have to do things by the book because if we install it and it goes wrong(boiler fault) and the manufacturor comes to it they will not touch it(repair it) because it wont comply to current regs.
so a £1000 boiler swap can now be £2000!!!if we update the system to the current regs.

But ,theres always "BOB" round the corner that will install a new boiler for £1000 and he wont give a sh**e about regs,just slap a new one in!But he wont come back to it when/if it goes wrong.
Hence why we have lost a few jobs.

Duncan

Thanks Bob, I mean Duncan ;) :D:D:D