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superted

Hi,

I am a first time poster here, with little plumbing/heating knowledge so apologies for the potential newbie mistakes.

We have a hot water issue whereby the boiler correctly heats the water in the cylinder (as has been confimed by more than one boiler engineer) and hot water comes out of the taps but for less than a minute. After that short time the water is warm, certainly not hot and certainly not hot enough for a warm (let alone hot) bath.

We have a boiler insurance policy but this issue is not covered so I want some advice, and potentially a recommendation for someone to fix it. (Chandlers Ford, Hampshire)

It's a reasonably new Worcester boiler, heating a closed/sealed heating system, the boiler has been recently serviced too.
The expansion tank pressure is set to just above 1 bar and the central heating works when it's on.
The hot water issue is not critical as short showers and hot water from the taps is enough for hand washing etc, it's filling a bath that's not possible so the kids want it resolved. It's like the hot water is being mixed with cold on leaving the cylinder as several cylinder pipes are too hot to touch.


I noticed today that the cylinder is a combination cylinder and the top (cold) chamber of the cylinder is completely empty and dry but it looks to have evidence of water in it in the past. There is a feeder pipe (with some bad limescale stalagtites/mites) that I assume is turned off (or blocked with limescale?) hence the dry chamber, should the chamber be empty, is this related??


Ideally I would like some pointers for me to help diagnose this so I am not fleeced by a visiting plumber, once diagnosed an approximate cost range for fixing would be really helpful too.


Thanks in advance.
 
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Was all set to point you in the right direction until the last bit.

Not a good idea to be asking for free help from people you expect to fleece you imho.

Don't tar the many with problems from a few.
 
Last edited:
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Durr as SimonG politely informed you the majority of professional
plumbers and fitter who give their advice on here for free are
ALSO 'visiting plumbers' often with a really good customer base of loyal
happy customers and yes you do have to pay me as thats how i pay
my men and we use the money to feed out families - in return for our experience -

Centralheatking is out of office on this one !
superted said:
Hi,

I am a first time poster here, with little plumbing/heating knowledge so apologies for the potential newbie mistakes.

We have a hot water issue whereby the boiler correctly heats the water in the cylinder (as has been confimed by more than one boiler engineer) and hot water comes out of the taps but for less than a minute. After that short time the water is warm, certainly not hot and certainly not hot enough for a warm (let alone hot) bath.

We have a boiler insurance policy but this issue is not covered so I want some advice, and potentially a recommendation for someone to fix it. (Chandlers Ford, Hampshire)

It's a reasonably new Worcester boiler, heating a closed/sealed heating system, the boiler has been recently serviced too.
The expansion tank pressure is set to just above 1 bar and the central heating works when it's on.
The hot water issue is not critical as short showers and hot water from the taps is enough for hand washing etc, it's filling a bath that's not possible so the kids want it resolved. It's like the hot water is being mixed with cold on leaving the cylinder as several cylinder pipes are too hot to touch.


I noticed today that the cylinder is a combination cylinder and the top (cold) chamber of the cylinder is completely empty and dry but it looks to have evidence of water in it in the past. There is a feeder pipe (with some bad limescale stalagtites/mites) that I assume is turned off (or blocked with limescale?) hence the dry chamber, should the chamber be empty, is this related??


Ideally I would like some pointers for me to help diagnose this so I am not fleeced by a visiting plumber, once diagnosed an approximate cost range for fixing would be really helpful too.


Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
 
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I think you may need to call an engineer in and pay him to diagnose your problem. That top half of cyl should be full of water unless its been deliberately blocked and new feed cistern put in. The hot pipes your feeling are coming from the boiler. And of course your hot water is mixing with cold water because the hot starts as cold . .... Loads of us guys are honest guys and wouldnt be out the door with work if we FLEECED customers. I think its this attitude that give all of us bad names.
 
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SimonG said:
Was all set to point you in the right direction until the last bit.

Not a good idea to be asking for free help from people you expect to fleece you imho.

Don't tar the many with problems from a few.
Click to expand...

Okay - fair point, I asked for that !
Apologies, you are right I shouldn't tar the many with the problems of the few - I have just picked a couple of "the few" in the past hence the insurance route until now. In my attempt at a defence, I doubt the 'few' frequent these forums.... does that defence hold an water? Pun intended :)

I completely get that I have to pay to get this sorted - I am certainly not after free advice for fixing it, just a pointer as to what the likely cause is but I completely understand that I handled this very badly and bridges have been burnt :(
 
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Dont know about burnt bridges but i do have time for somebody who isnt afraid to admit they were wrong. Fair play.

Do you have mixer taps, a mixer shower or anything of the sort?
 
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Thank you for being so gracious and giving me a second chance - much appreciated.

Mixer taps, the bath in question used to, and we thought they were the problem so had them replaced with separate hot and cold taps. We have two showers that are mixer taps, one is an Aqualisa, not sure of the make of the other - B&Q probably.

There is a mixer tap in the kitchen too.

Ermintrude asked for a picture of the cylinder, he's right, it's a Systemate.

Thank you.
 

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Does this happen at all hot outlets??



Ahhh fleecing, now you're not fully forgiven for that one...

now if you go on the electricians forum and post how all of them fleece customers for their....mild skill sets ;)

you'll be completely forgiven and possibly gain yourself a crown.....
 
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That system mate does the hot outlet not go through a mixing valve right beside the cylinder mixing it with cold, if so have a look at the TMV,
 
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Sorry ted TMV is short for thermostatic mixing valve or anti scald , youl see if you have one , as the hot outlet leaves the cylinder it probably goes straight into a mixing valve ( teed into cold) and this gives you controled temp at all outlets until it plays up
 
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