Brand new noisy CH water pump

[Shuggieg]

Hi Recently had a new WILO Gold RS50 water pump installed by registered fitter. The pump makes a loud gurgling sound when running, sounds like air and water being stirred up. Have bled the radiators and the bleed screw on the pump several times. Also a small vent at top of pipe on join between pump and tank. Only a small amount of air coming out of 2 upstairs radiators but pump still noisy. The noise reverberates around the house and is quite intrusive. Called the fitter out again to look at it but he says it is just system noise and we have to live with it. He has already power flushed the boiler and fitted a filter to catch any debris in the system. He says the only thing left to do is power flush the whole system (at a cost of £400) and says there is no guarantee of it getting rid of the noise. Read several forums where the answer is replace an old pump but this one is brand new! Any suggestions please?

 

[SimonJohns]

Sounds to me like there is still air in system

Try leaving pump off for a while and vent system with pump off.

Also if it is open vented. Check the system is filling correctly.

If its sealed. Check there's enough pressure in system

 

[Howsie]

Try turning the speed down.

 

[Shuggieg]

Thanks Howsie, it has 3 speeds and is noisy on all of them. He suggested keeping it on no.2.

Thanks SimonJohns, I normally switch it off then vent the pump and bleed rads. Will try after leaving off for a bit longer.

 

[JCplumb]

Some systems are just noisy for a while after they've been drained/refilled because of air in the pipes.
It's very likely that the noise will lessen and eventually stop if you keep on top of the bleeding.
There are a number of factors like bad design, sagging pipe runs etc that will cause air pockets around your system.
Once the air is gone you should have your quiet central heating system back.

 

[Shuggieg]

Thanks JCplumb, I will keep at it. However in the meantime will the air gurgling around in the pump likely cause any damage to the pump?
RGDS

 

[Millsy 82]

Try bleeding the pump on the little screw on the front of it. I fit alot of myson pumps and they sound awful until you get all the air out of them then they are fine

 

[Shuggieg]

Thanks Millsy, yes I have been venting the screw in front of the pump as part of my bleeding procedure but all I get is drips of water no air.

 

[cdodds2004]

sounds like air to me, aslong as water is coming out when your bleeding, keep at it and it will shut up eventually

 

[Howsie]

Did the installer add inhibitor?

 

[Shuggieg]

keep at it and it will shut up eventually[/QUOTE]

hope you are right cdodds

 

[Shuggieg]

Yes he added inhibitor after he flushed out the boiler and fitted the filter.

 

[mountainman]

Did the installer add inhibitor?

You got shares in Fernox of Sentinel by any chance?

 

[Whn1]

Hit it with a hammer!

 

[JCplumb]

Thanks JCplumb, I will keep at it. However in the meantime will the air gurgling around in the pump likely cause any damage to the pump?
RGDS

CH pumps will fail if they run dry, bubbles won't affect them, neither will air passing through them in small amounts. So as long as it's not running dry it will be fine. As mentioned in pretty much all the replies - just keep bleeding the pump and and other bleed points on your system. Plenty of tissues round the screw as you bleed the pump because the water usually likes to go under face plate.

 

[Howsie]

You got shares in Fernox of Sentinel by any chance?

lol - no!

I find that some inhibitors help to remove the bubbles and quieten the system down.

 

[Howsie]

You got shares in Fernox of Sentinel by any chance?

A plumber with shares? Give me a break

 

[mountainman]

lol - no!

I find that some inhibitors help to remove the bubbles and quieten the system down.

So does Fairy Liquid but we'd best keep that valuable info between the two of us.

 

[Shuggieg]

Hi


Following advice on this forum and others I have continued to bleed the rads which are still getting trapped air. Now about 3 weeks and no sign that it is improving. Is it possible that air is getting in somewhere and I am just wasting my time? I switch the system off before I bleed the air from it.


regards
Hugh

 

[JCplumb]

3 weeks is a long time to see no improvement. Is it an open vented system? My guess would be it's pumping over and oxygenated water is entering the system. Either that or you have a leak somewhere.
If it is open vent, get to the f/e tank and watch it as someone else turns the heating on, then watch it some more as the heating gets to temperature. If your system is sound there should be little or no activity up there.

 

[Shuggieg]

3 weeks is a long time to see no improvement. Is it an open vented system? My guess would be it's pumping over and oxygenated water is entering the system. Either that or you have a leak somewhere.

It is an open vented system

If it is open vent, get to the f/e tank and watch it as someone else turns the heating on, then watch it some more as the heating gets to temperature. If your system is sound there should be little or no activity up there.

Did as you suggested. Watched while system switched on then for another 15 mins till system fully up and running with pump making its usual gurgling sound. But no activity in the F&E tank. Also checked that the vent pipe meets the spec in the instruction manual for the Glowworm 18xi system.

Should I be looking for a leak in the system now?

Thanks again for your time and your input.
Regards
Hugh

 

[southcoastboile]

What boiler is it? you could combine the cold feed and open vent.

 

[Shuggieg]

What boiler is it? you could combine the cold feed and open vent.

Its a Glowworm 18xi

RGDS
Hugh

 

[JCplumb]

The problem could be a leak, but to be honest it's difficult to diagnose without being there.
A pressure test would detect a leak which is something a plumber could do for you, how long it would take and how much it would cost is anyones guess. I'd phone a few local plumbers for quotes. Or post on here in the plumber wanted section.

 

[zzzjim]

looking for a leak in the system now

The leak in question , (when off) may not let much water out , if any but be big enough that when pump pulls water along , air gets dragged in as well !