Pump seems to have gone on the back boiler, but the Plumber is confused...

[Bryn Abbott]

I have a back boiler, and the central heating system isn't working. The hot water is fine, but when on Heating alone it stays alight for about a minute, then bangs and clatters a bit before shutting down.

Someone came round to have a look at it, and suspecting an issue with the pump, took up the floor boards and was suprised to find two pumps on the same pipe. One is the original one, an SMC Comet 2 controller. The other, about 6 inches away, is a new Masterhead 2 British Gas pump. Any ideas why there would be two? He doesn't know! Have they fitted a new one and just not bothered to remove the old one? The guy who looked at it reckons it's the Comet 2 controller that isn't working, but they cost about £300... he can't find the part so said if I could order one online he would fit it. But I don't want to buy it unless I know it will solve the problem.

Any ideas?!

 

[Dannyparty92]

Circulation issue. Feel the pump when you turn your room stat to max and your boiler fires up you should be able to tell if its working or not. But sounds like a blockarge on your heating circuit.

 

[Whn1]

Is the hot water working from the boiler or immersion heater?

 

[Destroyer2813]

Are both pumps still wired up or only one ? Is the pump scorching hot and is the hot water gravity still possibly

 

[Bryn Abbott]

It seems as if the hot water works on a gravity system, with a hot water tank in the upstairs bedroom, so isn't effected by the pump.

When I have turned the central heating on, there doesn't appear to be any response from the pump: there is no vibration or anything when I touch it. Is it worth changing the fuses or anything to see if it's as simple as that?!

 

[Bryn Abbott]

Both pumps are wired. The pump gets a little warm when the Hot Water is turned on (as is the pipe leading up to it). But when on Central Heating, it doesn't stay on long enough for the pipes to get warm, even the ones that come straight from the boiler.

 

[stevetheplumber]

cut them both out and fit one