Please Help Back Boiler has heating but no HW

[emzi84]

Hi All,

Can anyone please help me with my dinosaur of a back boiler, before we begin Im a 27 yr old mum of one who tries to do what I can in the DIY stakes, I have no family that live nearby and with little funds Im wondering if anyone can help.

I have been away this weekend, came back yesterday and fired up HW only on the back boiler... worked fine.

Today I fired it up and nothing, turned to HW and Heating and the heating is firing away but still no HW.
I have checked the tank in the loft to make sure the ball valve isnt stuck, which it isnt and reading on serveral forums I understand it may be an air lock in the coil joining the cylinder.

So, How do I get rid of this air lock, whats the best way?

Thank you for reading!!!

Emma

 

[diamondgas]

Hi emma ... can I ask, how many tanks do you have in the loft, and did you check them all?

 

[emzi84]

Hi emma ... can I ask, how many tanks do you have in the loft, and did you check them all?

Hi there, got one in the loft and one above the cylinder in the airing cupboard.. have checked both and seem to flow ok

 

[EPH]

Is there a motorised valve on the pipe leading to the coil of the cylinder?

 

[emzi84]

Ok apologies for the dumb comment that may follow.... where will I find the coil for a start?

 

[EPH]

No problem, its inside the cylinder and uses the water heated by the boiler to give you (normally) lovely hot water.

Normally the two pipes on the same side of the cylinder, one about half way up and the other six inches from the bottom.

 

[emzi84]

Ok doesnt look like there is a motorised valve. To the left of the cylinder I have two pipes, one that feeds to the top of the cylinder by the old immersion and one that goes into the loft. I have one output from the bottom of the cylinder.

 

[EPH]

Any chance of a pic

(the cylinder!!)

 

[diamondgas]

Emma basic Q if I may....... When asking for hot water only does the bouiler light for a short period of time then tur off for quite a whie the light for a short period of time repetivly? AND do you know what kind of boiler you have ..

 

[diamondgas]

By the way emma you should have four pipes miimum attached to ya cylinder!

 

[emzi84]

Sorry if these are rubbish

 

[emzi84]

Emma basic Q if I may....... When asking for ho****er only does the bouiler light for a short period of time then tur off for quite a whie the light for a short period of time repetivly? AND do you know what kind of boiler you have ..

Hi Diamondgas it fires up then goes off then on again I have noticed whilst listening to it this evening. I believe it is a bermuda back boiler and is 30+ years old

 

[EPH]

Can't even see the coil on there or signs of the vent or cold feed to the heating as I'd expect, are they pipes at the back centre if the cupboard?

 

[emzi84]

Yes they are centre of the cupboard from the back boiler downstairs... dont know if this helps but just ran the tap... it went from cold to luke warm for a few secs then back to cold

 

[EPH]

The coil should be directly opposite the pipe connection on pic 2 so at about 11 o'clock looking down on the cylinder itself?
Possible to see if there's any heat in there?
Sounds like a circulation problem either due to air or lack of water.

 

[emzi84]

All the pipes are cold, the two at the back of the cupboard i have found slaso feed into the bottom of the cylinder (also cold), I can feel the heat from below but nothing in the pipes. P.S Im running HW only at the moment and the boiler has prob fired up twice in last 10 mins

 

[EPH]

Like I said before sounds like a circulation issue due to air possibly, other than checking the small tank in your loft actually has water in it I'm not sure what else you could do.

 

[emzi84]

I have checked the tank in the loft which is about 2 inches from the top, will the issue right itself if I keep the HW on or do I try and drain the sytem etc?

 

[diamondgas]

Emma .. flick ya dodgy imersion on and get someone out! Unless you know how to remove the stat and boil the bugger out, ya stumped! Are you sure tank in loft is full of water?

 

[emzi84]

Emma .. flick ya dodgy imersion on and get someone out! Unless you know how to remove the stat and boil the bugger out, ya stumped!

Dodgy Immersion got removed years ago by the looks of the clipped leads, will get someone out... do you know the average cost, not exact just an estimate

 

[diamondgas]

Where you based emma? there are many a gallent knight who will willingly save you amongs us here .. *weg*

 

[Dannypipe]

Where are you Emma in the UK? You may find someone on here willing to come out.

 

[emzi84]

Doncaster

 

[Blackcatgas]

Sludge in the coil, air lock in the coil, the coil is inside the cylinder, it is conected to two pipes going into the side of the cylinder, a coil is also an excellent form of contraception.

 

[Gray0689]

Sludge in the coil, air lock in the coil, the coil is inside the cylinder, it is conected to two pipes going into the side of the cylinder, a coil is also an excellent form of contraception.

Lol is that a proposition blackcatgas lol