new Potterton combi 24kw; why can't I get hot water running if a cold tap is on?

[amygdala]

1 Is there anyone expert enough to suggest why, with a newly fitted Potterton 24kw combi and supposedly strong pressure from mains, I cannot get a reasonable flow from the hot tap ever, and not at all if a cold tap is on? This is the case in both bathroom and kitchen, both of which rooms are on the second (top) floor of a 3 storey house. Only the kitchen cold tap now produces a reasonable flow. (This was the case prior to having water meters fitted).

2 I had 2 water meters fitted today. The kitchen cold tap still has good flow/pressure. Now the cold taps in the bathroom are extremely slow. As slow as the hopeless hot taps.

I feel as though I am living in the dark ages and regret having made changes. Surely this can't be normal.

Can anyone advise on what it would take to get good flow from hot and cold taps simultaneously?

Thanks.

 

[Destroyer2813]

You are only going to a certan flow of hot water, combis can only heat the water so fast depending on what the flow rate is listed as. The mains will always out perform the hot.

Sound like the pressure/flow rate could be low if struggling to open two outlets at once

 

[Destroyer2813]

Why two water meters ?

 

[Puddle]

Having a 24 kw will not help matters,should have gone for a 28 kw at least,was gas supply to boiler updated to,to give required working pressure when on full rate

As said ,do not mix up the water pressure with available flow rate

imho

 

[Js58gas]

To me it sounds like the supposed good pressure is not or the main stopcock is not fully open. I assume this has all happened since the boiler was fitted ?

 

[amygdala]

Thanks for reply Js58gas.

The loss of hot water flow when a cold tap is turned on happened after the combi was fitted.

The reduction in flow from the bathroom cold taps occurred after the water meters were fitted.

 

[amygdala]

Thanks for advice.

 

[sparra1100]

probs 22mm pipe up to the 3rd story probs better in 15 when combi fitted its not been changed add to that you have 24 kw which is about as much use as a chocolate fireguard in a 3 story house as said 28kw minimum prahaps even a 33kw when boiler the was fitted you should have been told in a normal 2 story house a 24 kw is crap at filling the bath

 

[amygdala]

2 water meters - can't recall the Thames Water Board explanation. One servies the cold water. the other the hot water I think.

 

[amygdala]

Thanks to all of you who have responded. I will put these suggestions to my plumber who is coming back in Monday. Meanwhile, I reckon I need to sign up to a plumbing course!

 

[Timbob]

Possibly you have a galvanised water main which since the water has been turned off and on again a load of rust particles have been free'd up and are now blocking cold mains feed to boiler and also in taps in bathroom. I have seen this many many times when water meters fitted.

Are the water meters internal or external in the ground? I used to work for the water company and it is unfortunately fairly common for this too happen, also if its external meters then its very likely they the guys accidentaly got some grit into your supply pipe which will again find its way through to the filter on the mains feed to the combi and the taps.

Failing that, could be a stone in the supply pipe now stuck at the stopcock, a faulty stopcock or could simply be that the hot water is fine and as said above, the combi is not man enough for the job.



Hope this helps

 

[Destroyer2813]

Ask your installer if he checked the working pressure as well as the static pressure