Boiler problems in new house!

[doddym]

Hello,

Ive just moved into a new house which has an older boiler installed.
It is a Glowworm Ultimate with a Lifestyle LP112 programmer.

I cannot get the central heating to switch on by itself, it will only operate if the hot water is also switched on at the same time.

If i switch on the central heating by itself the boiler does not even attempt to start or fire up.

The hot water always fires up first time - no probs there.

There does not appear to be a 'y' valve in the airing cupboard.

There are four pipes going in/out of the boiler.

Any advice would be most appreciated

TIA

Doddym

 

[diesel_ltd]

is room stat turned up??

 

[doddym]

Yep - all the way!

 

[diesel_ltd]

can you hear a click when you turn it up and down?

 

[doddym]

Yes - & it has an indicator lightthat activates....

 

[diesel_ltd]

ok this is good
is your pump in the hotpress?

 

[doddym]

The pump is upstairs in the airing cupboard (hotpress) It works fine aslong as the hot water is switched on too.

 

[diesel_ltd]

ok under the pump there should be 2 gray boxes on the pipes these are motorized valves one is for heat other for hot water is this true??

 

[ghost]

Definately sounds like a controls issue. Very difficult to diagnose without actually looking at it.

 

[doddym]

Hi Diesal,

difficult to see, but it looks like a std pump with pipe in one side, out the other & a power cable going to a fused spur. I can't see any grey boxes on the pipes. Its v low to the airing cupboard floor partially hidden by a shower pump.

 

[ecowarm]

sounds to me like a gravity system

 

[diesel_ltd]

ok maye have a look for them motorised valves sounds to me like you have a faulty valve on the heating if u find it theres a black arm on top of the valve flick that over to manual and it will fire your heating up.

power go from, time clock>room stat>motorised valve>boiler

and you have clock>room stat>????

we know your boiler is ok as it works on hw

all signs point to a faulty motorized valve

if you flick the arm on the MV you have to manually reset it or your heating will stay on.

keep us posted

 

[ecowarm]

Hello,

Ive just moved into a new house which has an older boiler installed.
It is a Glowworm Ultimate with a Lifestyle LP112 programmer.

I cannot get the central heating to switch on by itself, it will only operate if the hot water is also switched on at the same time.

If i switch on the central heating by itself the boiler does not even attempt to start or fire up.

The hot water always fires up first time - no probs there.

There does not appear to be a 'y' valve in the airing cupboard.

There are four pipes going in/out of the boiler.

Any advice would be most appreciated

TIA

Doddym

Gravity HW thats why you can only have HW and heating at the same time. Thats why no 3 port valve.

 

[stevetheplumber]

with nthis system you have to select hotwater to get heating

 

[doitmyself]

If you mean there are four water pipes connected to the boiler (or three plus the gas pipe), you have a pumped heating/gravity hot water system. Which explains why you do not have a Y-plan valve.

With this type of system you cannot have the heating on without having the water on. In the summer, you can have just the water on.

If you remove the timer from the backplate, you will see a switch on the back. It's probably in the P position; it should be in the G position.

If you want separate control of CH and HW, you will have to either put a valve into the return pipe from HW cylinder to boiler, or convert it to a Y Plan system.

 

[doddym]

Thanks for the responses.

Does this then make the boiler very inneficient & therefore expensive to run?

Is it a big job to convert to convert to a Y valve system? What would you guess a plumber/gasman would charge to do this?

 

[doitmyself]

Does this then make the boiler very inneficient & therefore expensive to run?

Yes. Mainly because of the time it takes for the hot water to be reheated and the fact that, as you have found, you cannot have heating and hot water at separate times in the winter.

Is it a big job to convert to convert to a Y valve system? What would you guess a plumber/gasman would charge to do this?

How hard will depend on the relative positions of the boiler and cylinder as new pipes will have to be installed, as well as a motorized valve, cylinder thermostat and wiring centre. It's probably a day's job plus parts.

Get three quotes from recommended installers.