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heating and humming noise

4 replies

CHST · 19/12/2012 09:43

I pmed Piglet John the other day, who suggested I put on here. In the evening upstairs in one room, we get a loud noise like a vibrating noise. It is only from one area but I cannot pin point the sound. The strange thing is the noise will go away if you turn the thermostat either up or down. I thought I'd also post his reply if anyone has the same problem. We only had the pump replaced less than a year ago too

it might be the pump. Examine it carefully and on the square block where the wire goes in is a speed controller, with settings 1-2-3

Turn it to the lowest setting and see if the noise changes.

If you have a combi boiler you are not supposed to change the speed yourself.

The bearing wear after 20 years or so. If you have a lot of sediment particles in the water (especially if it is, or was, an open-vented system with a feed and expansion tank in the loft, the particles will wear out the pump bearing faster. You can do a chemical clean and fit a system filtr to trap the partucles, but it needs either DIY plumbing or a pro. It does noy involve touching the boiler so you do not need a gas engineer. Try to get recommendation for someone local from friends and neighbours.

If the pump actually seizes up, it will get very hot (hotter than the hot pipes) and will need to be replaced, which is not very difficult. I expect yours is a dull red pump made by Grundfos, they are the best known and very dependable. Cheaper pumps may not last as well. BG will probably supply a Grundfos pump sprayed blue and badged BG.

It might also be pipes vibrating. If you grab hold of them and hold them firmly the vibration may stop. This can be fixed by screwing pipe-clips to the wall to hold the pipes steady. It is an easy DIY job.

or there is a chance it is water squirting through a nearly-closed radiator valve. You can check this by urning each radiator off, then after a minute back on.

OP posts:
Saltycopporn · 19/12/2012 10:14

Sound advice as always. Do you have a thermostatic radiator valve in the room where the noise is most noticeable? They can sometimes be a bit noisy when they jam.

CHST · 19/12/2012 10:42

thanks salty I am not sure, I will get dh to check later

OP posts:
PigletJohn · 19/12/2012 10:52

Re-reading it, do you mean the noise goes if you turn the thermostatic radiator valve up or down?

The water is squirting through the valve when it is almost closed.

Try reducing the flow by closing the lockshield valve and opening it just an eighth of a turn per half hour until the rad is hot all over but the exit pipe (return) is noticably not as hot as the entry pipe (flow).

The flow pipe should be too hot to hold, and the return should be too hot to hold for long.

CHST · 19/12/2012 13:08

will get dh to try that later when he is home from work. Thanks so much pigletjohn

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