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Original poster

Anyone know how to top up a boiler URGENT

30 replies

thesockmonsterofdoom · 23/01/2009 19:39

Heatline c28 boiler, I bleed a radiator and the boiler pressure has dropped and dh and I cant work out how to top it up. there are 4 valves, 2 black and one yellow one do nothing and a red one that I cant get to move.
Please help me.

OP posts:
whoingodsnameami · 23/01/2009 19:41

I would not even try, far too risky, call someone out.

AmIOdetteOrOdileOrABagpipe · 23/01/2009 19:42

My DH knows how to do this, and will be in from work in a minute (he's had to do it for the past couple of weeks) Will ask him when he's in.

pooka · 23/01/2009 19:43

DH says look for a metal braided flexible hose and a small black-handled quarter turn valve. When the valve is turned you should hear the noise of water filling.

You need to keep an eye on the pressure gauge to make sure the pressure doesn't go over 1.5.

Original poster
thesockmonsterofdoom · 23/01/2009 19:43

thanks, cant afford to call someone out, they charge a bomb dont they.
feckity feck feck feck.

OP posts:
AmIOdetteOrOdileOrABagpipe · 23/01/2009 19:44

He's home. He says open them one at a time until you hear water going into the system. do not let it go over 2 bar (1.5 is average)

harpomarx · 23/01/2009 19:44

oh, we had to do this not long ago - it was pretty easy (though I'm sorry, I don't remember which valve it was). You have to be careful not to then make the pressure too high because then you will have to bleed the radiators for ages to get it down again.

Watoose · 23/01/2009 19:45

Here is a site where you can pay £30 for access to the instructions - although I would think any old plumber could tell you how without charging that much!

I think it might be the red one.

Watoose · 23/01/2009 19:45

Here is a site where you can pay £30 for access to the instructions - although I would think any old plumber could tell you how without charging that much!

I think it might be the red one.

AmIOdetteOrOdileOrABagpipe · 23/01/2009 19:45

(I say 2 because I had a BG engineer here yesterday and he set it to 2 - go to 1.5 to be safe)

ANTagony · 23/01/2009 19:45

The pipe will be a cold water into the system so should be cold.

Probably black but really could be anything.

Probably the following....One will be the hot water out to the central heating, one hot water central heating return? and one hot water to taps. Yellow may well be the gas in though.

Can you eliminate any by that list?

If not we'll work it out somehow.

If boiler is off shouldn't matter at all turning any of the taps. If its the right one then you'll hear the boiler filling and see the pressure going up.

I'd try the black ones first a quarter of a turn to see if you hear the hiss of the boiler filling and pressure going up.

Watoose · 23/01/2009 19:46

Sorry it went funny and wouldn't post!

AmIOdetteOrOdileOrABagpipe · 23/01/2009 19:46

(watoose - every time I see your name I read it as Waitrose )

Watoose · 23/01/2009 19:47

I ahevn't even been in a waitr*se since I was 23.

though I would if there was one here.

MavisGrind · 23/01/2009 19:48

I second Pooka's instructions - we also have a cold tap running when we top it up (although I have no idea why, but we're not on a mains water supply so that may be it). It's pretty straightforward, I've been up in the loft this week sorting out ours and I'm 33 weeks pregnant!

Original poster
thesockmonsterofdoom · 23/01/2009 19:52

right have found the cold water in tap, will turn clockwise, does nothing, can not get it to turn anti clockwise, think that may be what needs to happen and it is just stiff, djh is giving it his all at the moment.
got a torch in there now and the taps are bluie.

OP posts:
ANTagony · 23/01/2009 19:54

Is it a modern plastic oblong type tap turning handle bit or more of an old fashioned valve type?

Original poster
thesockmonsterofdoom · 23/01/2009 19:54

Oh bugger, dh now tapping it with a hammer. this is going to go so wrong isnt it.

OP posts:
Original poster
thesockmonsterofdoom · 23/01/2009 19:54

it is a modern plasticy type tap. just wont turn anticlockwise.

OP posts:
ANTagony · 23/01/2009 19:55

Should be turning it clockwise to 90 degrees

Original poster
thesockmonsterofdoom · 23/01/2009 20:14

turning the valves is just not doing anything. do we need to switch something off or on and where would that be?
I am sch a twat I just wanteddds rADIATOR TO WORK AS HER ROOM IS FREEZING, WELL NW THE WHOLE HOUSE IS. opps

OP posts:
MavisGrind · 23/01/2009 20:19

have you tried running a tap whilst you have the valve for the boiler open? As I say, we do this but I don't know why!

(huge disclaimer - I know nothing about boilers, just how to keep ours going!)

ANTagony · 23/01/2009 20:20

How long have you waited with it turned?

If you imagine how big a radiator is and how long that would take to fill with water it will probably be a couple of minutes.

You earlier mentioned quite a few taps. Are you confident you have the cold water in.

southeastastra · 23/01/2009 20:21

agree with pooka too, to do ours you have to use a screwdriver to turn the um nut type thing

diynot is a good site if desperate

southeastastra · 23/01/2009 20:22

when you turn it, the pressure goes up straight away, like turning on a tap. takes seconds not minutes

ANTagony · 23/01/2009 20:24

Nut type thing is probably a valve (tap) with a screw to turn instead of a tap. Is there one of these in addition to all the other taps?

Open is with the screw head at 90degrees to the line of water flow.