combi boiler problem - updated

kazzagrezza

This might sound really stupid but when I bought my house there was a back boiler and there was an immersion switch in the kitchen. You had to keep this on to gain hot water. However, when I had my back boiler taken out and the new combi installed the plumber didnt take out the immersion switch which means I still have to keep this on to gain constant hot water. If it is turned off then all I get is cold water (however, in this weather I do get luke water for a little while). So my answer is check to see if you have an immersion switch somewhere in the house and turn it on - you never know this may be the problem.

Destiny33

Definately no expert but had combi boiler fixed a few weeks ago with same problem. The answer is yes turn down the flow to a minimum trickle but first turn it on full blast as this ignites the boiler then turn it down.

I had so many cold miserable baths and thought i'd spent a fortune on a boiler that didnt work. Now problem solved and although it takes a while to run a bath it is lovely

silvercar

I think my problem is a little different, the boiler doesn't seem to ignite when I turn the water on. British Gas coming on Monday to do an inspection for their homecare service so I'll ask them how the controls work. After all, I still can't believe the previous owners built an en-suite but didn't have hot showers for 18 months (especially as there is scale onthe shower head). If that doesn't work I'll ring the manufacturers and ask them about warrenty work.

ScoobieGirl

You said that there were no fault lights coming on. Are there any lights on at all? If not, the power to the piezo-electric switch that is often used as an ignition source rather than having a pilot light on modern boilers may be off. It's normally a switch on the wall close by rather than on the boiler itself.

silvercar

lots of lights on!

Tried putting the heating on today and that works well except the pressure valve went into the red zone. Tried to get the hot water on while the heating was on and no joy!

ToAoB

my old home has similar problems - it was due to scale (you mentioned this on shower) and this as a result scaled up the heat exchanger inside the boiler - all it did was works for Central Heating but no Hot Water!

British Gas will not be able to do anything about it, you have to have it descaled (IF thats the problem) before they approve it on their homecare plan. I also believe that if it's not functioning 100% at the moment they cannot approve it yet

I had a power flush done by some private company as British Gas's own was too expensive!

The boiler I had was a valliant combi.

(I had probs with my own boiler but British Gas fixed it for me this morning )

silvercar

ToAoB, I hope not, its only 18 months old!. The central heating got the radiators too hot to touch in about 30 seconds so something is working well!

ToAoB

Hi silvercar - any update on this from British Gas?

silvercar

British Gas came, said the cupboard was to close to the boiler cover and refused to look at it!

Heatteam, who are in some way connected to potterton, are due to come tomorrow. There are charging £250 to right whatever the problem is , and for a years cover to the boiler and system.

If heatteam won't look at it I'm stuffed 'cos I can't create more access without removing walls etc.

Anyway BG have put the other boiler (15 years old but working) on their homecare400, so I've got cover for everything in the main bit of the house. Just want hot water in the extension!

silvercar

Update.

Potterton arrived, replaced a "valve differential" which was seizing up and the hot water now works.

Couldn't solve the ever increasing pressure on the central heating so are coming back next week to do that and I need to remove the cupboard its in.