Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Geeky stuff
Original poster

would anyone like to enlighten me as to why my central heating didn't go on this morning?

66 replies

Fruitbatlings · 21/10/2009 09:25

No idea if this should be in "Geeky stuff" but as far as I'm concerned - boilers are for geeks

So, my hot water is working fine. I think I have a combi boiler but I am completely clueless about these things.

Do you think it has anything to do with the system pressure?
It's on zero.
But why would the hot water be working if the pressure is so low?
Or is that a really stupid question which I probably won't understand the answer to?

The thermostat is 20 degrees and the heating is on a timer which should have gone on at 6am this morning.
Thank god it's not freezing.....yet!

OP posts:
piratecat · 21/10/2009 09:29

gawd, my guess is you don't have a combi boiler. if the system pressure is low, you need to top it up. I have a tap on one of the pipes that leads to the boiler, which you can turn to fill the system.

is the timer on? is it connected to both hotwater and heating. or does it have a seperate way of timing the heating.

you need to give more details.

GentleOtter · 21/10/2009 09:31

Have you checked the fuse in the plug and also the trip switch at the mains?

NorbertDentressangle · 21/10/2009 09:37

Have you checked the clock part? Is it working?

Has someone set it it to OFF rather than TIMED/AUTO?

NorbertDentressangle · 21/10/2009 09:38

Or has there been a power cut that may have messed up the timer?

Original poster
Fruitbatlings · 21/10/2009 09:44

I know there is a tap behind the washing machine which is a complete pain and rather heavy to move. I'll have to get DH to sort it out tonight when he gets in from work.

The timer is on. We always have hot water but the central heating is on a timer. It's been working fine until this morning when it didn't go on. I've even tried setting the heating to "on" so it's on all the time (instead of timer) but it won't go on at all.
I've tried turning the thermostat up to see if the flat just wasn't cold enough for it to go on but it's not that.

I'm not sure what else to tell you

OP posts:
Original poster
Fruitbatlings · 21/10/2009 09:50

No power cut
It's not set to OFF
Clock working fine
If it was the plug fuse, I'm assuming the hot water wouldn't be working?
MAINS light is ON
BURNER light goes on when I turn on the hot tap

OP posts:
snorkie · 21/10/2009 10:11

maybe the circulation pump has failed (or the capacitor in it) - we had water but no heating when this happened to ours. A new pump was about £40, but the capacitor was only a few quid (but devilishly difficult to find the right one).

Original poster
Fruitbatlings · 21/10/2009 10:16

oh man, that sounds like a plumber job

We'd better start saving then before Winte sets in.

What do plumbers charge these days?

OP posts:
MrAnchovy · 21/10/2009 10:31

If you are getting hot water but no central heating it sounds like you do have a combi boiler.

The pressure guage measures pressure in the primary circuit which, with a combi boiler, only runs through the radiators - the hot water is heated directly within the boiler.

You need to top up your primary circuit. There should be a filling loop somewhere in the system - looks like this. You need to turn the taps on at both ends of the loop until the pressure guage reads over 1 bar.

You probably have a lot of air in the system, including in the pump (which is why it has stopped working). Bleed all the radiators, and the pump. You will probably have to top up the pressure again so it stays over 1 bar. You might even have to bleed the boiler although most good-quality boilers have an automatic air bleed valve.

Come back if you need more detailed help on bleeding the system.

CarGirl · 21/10/2009 10:35

I was coming on to say what MrAnchovy has explained much better.

Yes it is the pressure, we get an intermittant leak on one of our radiators so it has happened to us a few times......

Original poster
Fruitbatlings · 21/10/2009 10:47

Gah! Bleeding radiators?

There's no way my DH would get around to doing anything like that.

Where do I start? Sounds very complicated to me.
I can't actually do it now as I'm childminding and popping back here to check comments intermittently!
Damn, I'm out this evening too.

I know for sure we have one of those tap thingies. It's just in a very stupidly awkward place.

OP posts:
Doyouthinktheysaurus · 21/10/2009 10:49

We have the same problem from time to time and Dh has to adjust the pressure.

I've no idea how he does it as boilers in the loft but it's definitely something on the boiler he fiddles with and all is then sorted.

And he bleeds the radiator in the bathroom which seems to cause the problem first.

CarGirl · 21/10/2009 10:53

To bleed the radiator you need a radiator key, the at the top of each radiator on one side only is a little square thing with a tiny hole next to it, you use the radiator key to turn it. If there is air trapped in it hisses out, if there isn't then water comes out and you turn it off again quick

It's usually the end of the line radiator that seems to get all the trapped air in it.

Once you've checked them all get the tap turned to fill the system back up.

CarGirl · 21/10/2009 10:54

radiator keys

shop.ebay.co.uk/?_from=R40&_trksid=p3907.m38.l1313&_nkw=radiator+key&_sacat=See-All-Categories

usually found either in the tool box or the bits & bobs drawer in your kitchen. Can be bought cheaply from a hardware or DIY store

Original poster
Fruitbatlings · 23/10/2009 12:39

Still haven't got around to moving the washing machine so we can get to the tap - I haven't ignored your posts!

I will get DH to move it tomorrow morning. So far we've managed without the heating, just stick a dressing gown on in the eves when it gets cols

I must look for or buy a radiator key, thank you for your link CarGirl
I might even wander up to Homebase/Wickes to get one, will be quicker than getting one sent through the post!

OP posts:
CarGirl · 23/10/2009 13:13

please sort it out asap otherwise you won't get around to it, it will get freezing, you'll bleed radiators, top up the system and then discover you've got a leak somewhere and need a central heating engineer to come fix the leak.......

Make it your priority tomorrow!

Original poster
Fruitbatlings · 23/10/2009 13:47

I will
DH works all day and is knackered by the time he gets home. I can't physically move the washing machine which is why we're waiting until tomorrow morning. Also, a door frame needs to be pulled off to get the machine out - all this for a poxy tap!

OP posts:
Original poster
Fruitbatlings · 23/10/2009 20:08

Ok, DH working late so I've had a go myself. I bought a key today and have tried to use it but it just turns round and round like it's too big. The guy in the shop said the keys are universal.
What am I doing wrong then?

OP posts:
CarGirl · 23/10/2009 20:46

top of the radiator, there is something at both sides only one is where you bleed them?

How old are your radiators (not ancient are they)?

errmmmmm photos?

Original poster
Fruitbatlings · 23/10/2009 20:49

I've no idea how old the radiators are.....they wee here when we moved three years ago.....I'll take pics of the one in the hall (they are all the same)......

OP posts:
Original poster
Fruitbatlings · 23/10/2009 20:58

Ok, I've uploaded two pics. The first is where I used the key (on the left hole in the pic)

OP posts:
Original poster
Fruitbatlings · 23/10/2009 20:59

I used one of these

OP posts:
Ripeberry · 23/10/2009 21:01

Maybe its because it was not cold enough? Our boiler and radiators don't go on if the temp in the room is 21c. Not had the heating on all day and its still 21c in the house.

CarGirl · 23/10/2009 21:03

what is at the other end of the radiator?

Original poster
Fruitbatlings · 23/10/2009 21:03

Nope, I've tried turning the thermostat all the way up. It just doesn't go on

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread