Ideal Standard combi boiler. Is it??!

[petegit1947]

My son has a very old heating system in his house. The boiler is an Ideal Standard. When the heating is turned on the boiler fires up. When the hot water tap is turned on, it doesn't, so is this not a combi boiler? Apparently the tank in the airing cupboard is in 2 sections, main tank and header tank with another header tank in the loft I believe. The control is just a lever with "heating" to the left and "hot water" to the right. Apparently putting the lever to the central setting does both. Is the hot water heated by gas, or is there likely to be a heating element in the tank? The boiler fires up when heating is turned up, but nothing when hot tap is turned on. Any thoughts would be much appreciated as I'm thoroughly confused!

 

[PlumbBobBob]

hi pete welcome to the forums. no it will not be a combi boiler but a heat only one.it is possible that there will be a coil in the hot water cylinder that heats the hot water. can you post some pictures of the setup? it will really help.

 

[petegit1947]

I'll try my best, but on holiday from Monday, so may not have time! If it is a coil so doesn't heat by gas, is the water heated electrically then? If so, how does he switch it on?! No hot water at all unless he uses the immersion heater, which is gonna be expensive!
Cheers,
Pete

 

[IDCHAPPY]

Steve is spot on, you don't see m,any with just a lever to change the flow of hot water these days though

 

[Whyme]

Never seen a hot water to heating VALVE. servowarm did a summer/winter manual 3 port.Along with there boiler behind radiator jive. Is there a cylinder stat (strapped about a third up from the bottom) ?

 

[kris]

This will be pumped heating and gravity hot water,, thats why when you select heating ON the boiler fires up and the pump operates and because there are no zone valves the hot water circuit is open and piped to work on gravity circulation so when heatings on the hot water will heat aswell, but when you select hot water on its own the boiler will fire but no pump allowing the hot water to circulate via gravity, This is what most systems used to be like at one stage,

 

[kris]

If the systems old there might not be circulation happening because of dirt/ sludge in the pipework

 

[petegit1947]

Right, the boiler is an Ideal Classic, (not Standard as i put in my first msg!) The system is the old Servowarm system, which is very dated apparently! I notice in the airing cupboard today that a valve on the pipe going up into the loft was turned off. Surely it should be open? I assume the pipe goes up to a header tank in the loft??
I would try to put a few photos on here, but can't upload them unfortunately! And i'm away for a week, so won't be able to reply to any answers until i get back, but thanks for the thoughts so far. I'm assuming that with the servowarm system it is the boiler that heats the water? Cheers everyone!

 

[petegit1947]

Strange! I replied to this thread earlier, but not showing up on here so will try again! The system is the old SERVOWARM, and the boiler is an IDEAL CLASSIC, not Standard as i put before. found a valve in the airing cupboard on a pipe going up to the attic which I assume goes to a header tank probably? This valve is closed. Should it be open? I haven't found a cylinder 'stat, and the boiler doesn't fire up when hot water tap turned on. Away for a week, but any advice/thoughts appreciated!

 

[Riley]

Pete, there is a delay to your posts being added due to a queue for new members I believe this disappears once you are over 10 posts. So persevere and try and post some pics

Strange! I replied to this thread earlier, but not showing up on here so will try again! The system is the old SERVOWARM, and the boiler is an IDEAL CLASSIC, not Standard as i put before. found a valve in the airing cupboard on a pipe going up to the attic which I assume goes to a header tank probably? This valve is closed. Should it be open? I haven't found a cylinder 'stat, and the boiler doesn't fire up when hot water tap turned on. Away for a week, but any advice/thoughts appreciated!

 

[petegit1947]

Hi, I'm back from holiday and they've still no hot water! How do I go about uploading photos on here please? Any help appreciated!!

 

[PlumbBobBob]

on the quick reply box there are several icons along the top, hover your curser over the ones at the right hand end the one you want is in the middle. just click on that and away you go.