Plumbing help: How to replace a circulation pump?

teepoo

Hi All,

I need help replacing my [FONT=&quot]circulation [/FONT]pump. How do I do it?

I was attempting to replace the bolt-on motor part this weekend but I ended up flooding the bathroom!

How do I know that the valves on either end are closed?

I then tried to turn the pump on this morning and a burning electrical smell came from it! I assumed it was because no water was flowing through it and it over heated. The main-switch board fuse did not trip, but I still cannot get power to the programmer to switch the pump back on.

Any suggestions on where I should start? (I have a replacement pump already).

Thanks,
Pete.

EliteHeat

teepoo wrote: »

but I still cannot get power to the programmer to switch the pump back on.

It all made sense up to this bit.

Anyway, you will not know whether the pump valves have shut until you remove the pump, or at least loosen it. If the valves do not shut then you will have to drain down - which is a lot safer anyway.

deano72_2

1, turn power off (but sounds like u got no power anyway)
2,try to get like for like pump it saves changing the base
3,should have isolation valve either side which sounds like u have..isolate both valves but no sure way of telling...
4,take the bolts out holding the pump onto base
5,gently prize pump from base,u will probly get some water but dont panic..
6,asumeing the valves have isolated remove the pump then replace it with the new one
7,reconect the electrics to pump.open valvues either side
8,run the pump,sometimes u can feel it with ur hand,if not u will see big sloted screw on front...
9,undo this screw & remove,u will get lil bit of water dnt panic it wont gush out..
10,gently stick small screw driver in the slotted screw houseing,,u should here scrape the screwdriver if the pump is working...

if you have problem getting power to the pump get back to me with more info

teepoo

Thanks for the info.

By "drain down" do you mean empty the hot water cyclinder? I am assuming that I should do this by holding the ball-!!!! up while running the hot water?

"but I still cannot get power to the programmer to switch the pump back on." means that my hotwater/central heating programmer controls my pump, and the only way to turn on my pump is to get power to the programmer.

This par confuses me too, since I thought that the programmer was powered independantly of the pump.

Pete.

latecomer

So did you have power to the programmer before you started trying to replace the pump? Are you sure there is power going to the controller/programmer?

How did you know the pump needed replacing?

latecomer

Also what kind of central heating system do you have as most older systems have gravity fed how water and hence its on a completely separate circuit to the pump.

The pump circulates the hot water (within a pipe) from the boiler through the tank which heats up the water inside it. Gravity provides the pressure for delivering the hot water from the tank to the taps. So if you have this kind of system you dont need to drain the tank, but the central heating system.

teepoo

I have a 'switch' that alternates between the central heating system and the hot water. There is also a red handle above my hot water cylinder. Does this switch off the water supply to my hot water cylinder?

moonrakermagpie

Hi have you got a replacement pump that is the same as the old one??

Do you know how to check if you have power at an electrical conection??

You can buy a screwdriver tester that are fairly cheep and save for DIY use, obviously be careful as one can die if you get it wrong....i.e sticking you fingers in!!!!

teepoo wrote: »

I have a 'switch' that alternates between the central heating system and the hot water. There is also a red handle above my hot water cylinder. Does this switch off the water supply to my hot water cylinder?

latecomer

So you cant have both the hot water and central heating on at the same time?

the red handle...... give us a clue. Is it circular and attached to a valve? If you turn on the hot tap in the kitchen does the pipe get warm? Does it get colder? Its probably the cold feed to the hot water tank and if so its got nothing to do with the pump.

Have a look at these 2 diagrams and see if they make any sense to you:

http://www.deals4homes.co.uk/images/centheat1.gif
http://www.deals4homes.co.uk/images/centheat2.gif

These are 2 standard configurations used for centeal heating/hot water.

deano72_2

it sounds to me that you not really got a clue (no offense) its good your having a go but u mite create more problems than you allready have...try to avoid drainging down the system if i was you because 1 u dont really know how to, 2 if you do it successfully u mite get airlocks when refilling the system which is a mare,,trust me i done the same & eneded up hireing a machine to pump the air out of the system....
your programer will control the pump one way or another so you have to make sure you have power to it usually by a fusespur next to it (it will have a 3amp fuse in the spur so check if thats ok.)then take it from there..good luck

teepoo

It is this one:
http://www.deals4homes.co.uk/images/centheat2.gif

I will check the fuse in the fusespur. I would have thought to drain the system, all I would have to do is, turn off the main supply, turn on all the taps and then hold up the cold water storage ballcock and run the water until it empties.
As described here:http://www.simplifydiy.com/plumbing-and-heating/mains-water-systems/draining-system

Yes the red handle is circular and attached to a valve.

Everyone agree?

Thanks,
Pete.