Worcester Bosch Heatslave 26/32 Hot Water Problems

[heatslave]

I have a Worcester Bosch Oil Heatslave 26/32 which is about 17 years old. It has developed a fault that has come in stages so it might be more than one fault. It was fitted with the OEM programmer.

1. When the water heating is on, but the room heating is off, the boiler sometimes heats the radiators as well as the water. This has been true for several months. The room thermostat setting does not change this problem. The residual water heat is "stolen" when the boiler first fires and rewarms only with the radiator temperatures.

2. The water heating has now started to come on if a tap is run for a little time even if water heating is turned off but the room heating is on. Unfortunately it heats the radiators as well even though the room thermostat is set well below the room temperature. It is stopped on by turning the room heating off and then turning it on again.

Where do I start looking for the fault(s)?

 

[SimonG]

It's only one fault. What 3 port valve does it have?
[automerge]1599505061[/automerge]
If you're lucky it will just need a 001 head, not so lucky a new cartridge and brown end of the stick will be an old ACL valve that needs replacing with a 003 plus valve body but fitted in reverse.

 

[heatslave]

Thank you for the reply. Unfortunately I am not educated well enough ii plumbing terms to understand your reply.

The 3 port valve is part of the boiler and is whatever Worcester Bosch fitted at the time of manufacture. Is there a choice?

If I am lucky what is a 001 head, what is it part of and how do I test it?

I I am unlucky is the cartridge part of the diverter valve? I know nothing of a "brown end" nor an ACL valve nor an 003 & why, and how, would I fit it in reverse?

Thank you for your patience.

 

[WHPES]

If it's a 17 year old Heatslave it will be fitted with a piston type diverter valve. This will have become jammed in the down position. There is a grey actuator head fitted which has a push button release - press this and the actuator twists off. Under this you will see a pin sticking up. I bet you it will be jammed down - you can try pull it up with a pair of pliers to find out. You need to first de pressurise the system and then unscrew the plastic part out of the top (use pump pliers) Give the cylinder a good clean with a non stick pan scrub and grease up with a high temp grease (like Molykote) and re assemble - job done

 

[heatslave]

Is Copperslip a suitable high temperature anti seize grease?

 

[WHPES]

Is Copperslip a suitable high temperature anti seize grease?

No, it's not meant as a lubricant, only an anti seize compound. Use Molykote 111

 

[SimonG]

Tried cleaning them cartridges a few times. Now I just replace. They tend to come out in bits.

Ultimately the chances are it will be the quality of the water in the boiler. Might be worth draining down and filling up adding an inhibitor.

 

[WHPES]

Maybe been unlucky - Ive done a few and always come out in one piece.

A bit like closing the door after the horse has bolted I know, but I'd fit a system filter to remove any loose debris floating round

 

[SimonG]

Maybe been unlucky - Ive done a few and always come out in one piece.

A bit like closing the door after the horse has bolted I know, but I'd fit a system filter to remove any loose debris floating round

Some have been right Thomas Wats.

Fitted a filter this morning. Ran for an hour and nearly full.

 

[heatslave]

Thank you. As you think it will have old type valve which might come out in pieces can you confirm that this is the part that I might well need:

Diverter Valve Cartridge 87161051320

Pardon our interruption...

 

[WHPES]

I had a system earlier in the week that the mid position valve was so jammed up it wouldn't shift from the mid position