No hot water

[CarlH]

I'm staying with friends in Sale [attending Mod 10 at BTSC] they are having problems with their boiler. They have a Halmsted Quattro Combi which is about 10 years old lately they do not get any hot water a plumber has told them that it needs replacing and will do it for 1,500. I had a look [more out of intrest] I saw that the flow and return pipes going into the hot water heat exchanger is totally rusted up. Whilst fiddling about I noticed they could get hot water if the central heating was switched off? But primary heat exchanger would only fire up once the hot tap was turn on fully? I also noticed a red flame on some of the coils to the primary heat exchanger [I've got pic and vids of this on my phone but cant up load them till I get home] I tried the hot water with the central heating back on but agin it went cold instantly so again switched the CH off this time the red glowing coils was black as if it had burnt out?? The boiler is getting a good 2bar preassure so that aint a problem?

So would it be best for them to buy a new boiler [they've only bought the house about 6 months ago so money is a big issue] or can it be repaired?

Now some questions for my education!
Why was the coil glowing red when the rest where blue I'd say it's turned black cause it burnt out, I'm guessing this would be a problem can it be replaced/repaired?

Why would the hot water heat exchanger rust up? Is this common? could understasand on the Ch side if it didnt have any inhibator? But suppose 10 years any metal is gonna rust?

Any ideas why the water wont get hot when ch even tho it's getting good preassure??
Thanks for any replies.

 

[Puddle]

The Halmsted Quattro Combi will be coming to the end of its economical life,so you would not want to be spending to much money on it,what boiler is going to replace it,
A boiler this old has probably had a few leaks and weeps which will cause rust mark here and there
Black spots on main heat exchanger can be caused by restricted circulation

IMHO