Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Boiler issue - any experts (PigletJohn...)

5 replies

fasterkillpussycat · 27/08/2014 12:12

We have just moved into our house and have a heating system with a hot water tank. The heating system has a control panel with separate controls for hot water and heating. All was working fine but now when the hot water is on, the heating comes on. According to the control panel, the heating is switched off. We have tried turning down the thermostat and resetting the control but to no avail. Does anyone have any ideas? I am at a loss. Thanks.

OP posts:
Marmitelover55 · 27/08/2014 13:49

Yes we had this a few years ago and think it needed a new part - a valve i think - sorry can't remember the name of it. We didn't have it done in the end as were getting new boiler this year.

Pipbin · 27/08/2014 18:26

Ah yes, I have this and I asked the plumber about it when he was here today.

It seems there is a valve or some such that either sends the water that is being heated off to either the taps or to the heating.
When the valve is getting a little worn the hot water sneaks through and goes round the heating system too. He said that to fix it would be a part of about £200.

Just like Marmite I think the boiler is on the way out so I think we will just get a whole new boiler.

PigletJohn will be along in a minute to use all the proper words and that.

fasterkillpussycat · 27/08/2014 19:33

Thanks both. We are about to replace the hot water cylinder because it is tiny (god knows how they managed with a family of 4). Hopefully we will not have to replace the boiler too...

OP posts:
PigletJohn · 27/08/2014 22:06

somewhere, most likely close to the cylinder or the boiler, you will have a pump and a 3-port valve.

the valve receives heated water from the boiler, and is intended to open and shut the pipes which lead to the radiators and to the cylinders. Combi boilers do not have this type of valve.

They eventually wear out. If it is just some of the radiators getting warm, especially the ones close to the 3-port valve, then it is probably the rubber ball inside, which opens and closes the flow. If they all get hot fast, as if you had turned the heating on, it is probably an electrical fault, like a wire falling off, or the motor inside the head of the valve. As it is not a gas part, and is not part of the boiler, you do not need a gas qualification to change it. A competent plumber can do it, or an experienced handyman with plumbing ability. Or you can pay a heating engineer, or it will probably be covered by your maintenance contract if you have one.

The rubber ball is a wet part and usually involves some draining-down and refilling. The motor, or an electrical fault, is dry and easier to change. The motor can usually be detached from the valve and a new one fitted. If you get charged for an entire new valve, ask to keep the brass part even if it does not get fitted. You may want it another time. The valve will probably be Honeywell, or ACL Drayton. There are also some cheap brands....

fasterkillpussycat · 27/08/2014 22:18

Thanks - we have reset the system, which appears to have worked for the time being but we will look at replacing the valve if it keeps happening. It is really good to know - stops someone from ripping me off! I know nothing about these things.

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread