Fullonloon

Ok so I have boiler that gives hot water on demand, I have no tank. The central heating works fine, the hot water does not.

There are two dials on the front of the boiler, I have turned the hot water to max, and left the heating alone. There is a pressure dial on the front of the boiler with 2 needles, one red one white. The red is around 1.5 bar, the white is about.5 bar.

When I put the hot water on it takes about 2 mins to heat up and then the pressure coming from the tap starts to drop and less water comes out. If you turn the tap on more, the water temperature drops. It never gets boiling hot.

The water coming out is also very scummy, lots of white stuff which clouds over then settles.

Is there anything I can do myself to sort it out or will I need to get someone in?

I also want to put in a power shower but to do this I think I will need a tank?

Any help appreciated.
Q

Darren Thompson

Needs the heater matrix cleaning by the sound of things, get someone in, it also sounds like the heating system needs pressure in it which you can do yourself if you have the instruction book, it's basically a tap connected to the mains that adds water to the heating system, there should be 1.0 to 1.2 bar on the gauge.

What sort of boiler is it ????

I run a power combi shower off mine no problem.

Daz.

Fullonloon

Not sure which it is, will look tonight :-)

cletterridge

I have a Vokera combi boiler and had a similar thing (hot water slows then gets cool). Apparently this is a common failure and can often be remedied by changing one perished part - a small piece of rubber called a 'butterfly' something or other. Have to say I was sceptical at first, but it has fixed it. Cost me £70 to have it done.

PS, while the central heating circuit should be topped up to the right pressure to work properly it shouldn't have any effect on your (essentially mains pressure) hot water.

father_jack

Call the local gas board and get a maintenance contract for about £100 a year.
Free parts and labour.

Mine was acting up and they replaced almost every component before they found dust blocking a jet somewhere

scooby nutter

I think the part you are talking about on the boiler is called the Diagphram(SP?)a small rubber disc shape that moves a pin which in turn presses on a microswitch and starts the boiler to fire up.Sometimes the rubber is split!,Sometimes the m/switch looses its springiness and the pin wont fully push onto it ,hence no hot water.you can usually test this by pushing the m/switch manually.
this is a problem on Vokera boilers as someone already stated.

To me your water sounds bad,there are filters on the boiler which filter out all the Cra£ that comes through on the mains,maybe yours is blocked.

Also fill boiler upto 1 bar max!
this shouldnt affect your water though.

If you have good water pressure ,why bother putting a power shower in?your boiler runs mains cold and mains Hot which shouldnt really require a seperate pump to give you good shower.A normal thermostatic shower E>G.Mira should be adequate.

(i seem to be the Central heating ,Plumbing specialist on Scoobynet)!

anymore help,post again.(but please dont go delving inside your boiler!!)

RichS

Got a similar problem with mine and have been "enjoying" freezing cold showers for months. (Not everytime though - 1 in every three showers is hot.)

Believe it or not, mine is covered under a maintenance contract with Scottish Gas, but when I started it, the repair guy got it working, but advised that I replace it (it was installed in 1985) as it has about had it.

New combi boiler soon, expecting to pay about £2K.

Rich

Darren Thompson

Rich s I only paid £1600 far a full central heating install that included combi, rads and labour and pipes including the gas work.

Shop around mate.

Daz.

RichS

Darren

I will shop around - good advice thanks

I was only guessing at £2K as that's what others have told me.
I only need the boiler + installation.
All radiators and pipework already present.

If you paid £1600 for a full job, then I hope mine will be even less

Can I ask what make/model and where you got yours from?

Thanks

Rich
PS Sorry Fullonloon for hi-jacking you thread.

Darren Thompson

I got the Halstead Gold which is produced in the UK and all the parts in the boiler can be bought from any DIY store including the pump so there is no need for special parts only available from the manufacturer.

I got it trough a mate for less than a grand but if you shop around you should be able to get a good boiler fitted for £1200 or less.

scooby nutter

Darren
Never heard of that make of boiler.!!
I wouldnt touch a no-namer with a barge pole.Only install good makes...Worcester(Bosch)are best,Vaillant,Vokera.
these other makes come and go with the tide,try getting parts for that in 5 years!For such a complecated piece of kit its worth spending a little extra,so your safe in the knowledge that you can get parts in 5,10 and 15 years!
When combi's go on the blink repairing them can be a very expensive business eg.circuit board £250+labour etc etc.

Get a well known make .

Fullonloon

I have some noddy make I think, like SIGE or SILE or something like that, just can't remember as I had a few beers last night!

Darren Thompson

Halstead are a good make, they have a very large support network and they produce most of the very large combis and normal boilers you find in very large houses, hotels and pubs.

The reason I got that boiler is a mate of mine runs a bathroom/kitchen centre on one of them and that includes the heating and displays.

Daz.

Diesel

Combis suitable for a 2 bed flat come in at about £550. If you have a bigger house you'll need a higher output, but DO NOT PAY £2000 for one!

It should fit in in half a day - quicker if you use the same make maybe with flues & in/out pipes that line up nicely!

D

scooby nutter

Darren,
as long as you can get parts to fix it and someone who knows how to fix it, it will be ok

Diesel

think the 2k was for a whole new system(i hope)and not just the boiler!!This seems about right.(up north)
Near me, adverts in the local Free paper have full systems installed for £1500!!BUT i have seen the state of the work,all pipes run on the surface(no trunking)just nailed to wall ,Gas pipe running up the out side of the house,flue not even cut to length,just stuck through the wall with about 2 foot sticking out side!!

RichS

Had Scottish Gas in this morning to quote:

Full installation of a Worcester Bosch combi boiler.
Water tratment & power flush of radiators.
2 year central heating cover.
etc etc

£2,340.00 inc VAT

Too much?
Will shop around anyway...


Rich

Diesel

I would swear at them, and mention that you want a boiler installed, not ownership of the company...

scooby nutter

Rich S
they are pulling your plonka!!
is this just for a replacement combi and not a new system and radiators?
if a combi is already in then it should be a doddle to fit.
install worcestor and flush rads with special flushing stuff ,add inhibitor to system.Probably about £1200max,that includes boiler and pipe etc...Thats just a rough guess without seeing the system.

RichS

Thanks guys.

Yes - just a the boiler - no new rads/pipework.

Definately going to shop around.....


Rich