How to refill condensing boiler? (no pressure)

spursfan323

We have a condensing boiler (Vaillant EcoTec Plus) downstairs and an unvented cylinder (Tempest) in the loft.

The system was installed several months ago but we have only recently moved in. When I turned it on for the first time, I discovered there is no pressure in the boiler. (I believe the contractor drained the system when his decorators took the radiators off to paint behind them.)

According to the Vaillant manual I need to ‘fill the system with water before turning it on’. Please can someone advise in simplest layman’s terms how to do this!

ormus

ive got the eco tec. im not sure which model.
to refill, take off the cover under the boiler.
you should find a valve with a small black knob/handle.
turn that on for a bit until the pressure gauge reaches about 1.5 bar.
you should hear it filling up. watch the gauge.

then turn off. job done.

ormus

ps
your boiler may have a service valve with a screwdriver slot, instead of a valve knob/handle.

keystone

Make sure your unvented hasn't been drained too.

Cheers

macman

You'll also need to bleed the rads as well of course.
Why did your decorator not put the system back into proper order?

spursfan323

ormus wrote: »

ive got the eco tec. im not sure which model.
to refill, take off the cover under the boiler.
you should find a valve with a small black knob/handle.
turn that on for a bit until the pressure gauge reaches about 1.5 bar.
you should hear it filling up. watch the gauge.

then turn off. job done.

Thanks - but are you sure you've also got a condensing boiler, not a combi?

Anyway, as someone pointed out below, it's poss they've drained the cylinder too

ormus

mine is a condensing combi boiler.
about 4yrs old.

i dont have a storage cylinder though.

keystone

spursfan323 wrote: »

Thanks - but are you sure you've also got a condensing boiler, not a combi?

Anyway, as someone pointed out below, it's poss they've drained the cylinder too

The EcoTech Plus also available as a system boiler not just a combi. Its against regs to have a non-condensing boiler whether system or combi unless the case can be made that a non-condensing boiler is the only possible solution and its also quite difficult to get such a case accepted.

Cheers

spursfan323

macman wrote: »

You'll also need to bleed the rads as well of course.
Why did your decorator not put the system back into proper order?

A nice friendly plumber popped in for a look. He found the service valve tucked away among all the pipework in the corner so got some pressure, but as you mentioned, said we'll need to bleed all the rads... so he's coming back (hopefully tonight) to see to it

I'm not sure why decorator didn't do it. Knowing my contractor, I'm guessing that he hunted around for the cheapest plumber he could find to come in for that job and remove rads and drain the system, but that plumber's prob long gone.

Contractor keeps insisting it's not rocket science to refill system, but when asked to explain how to do it, can't think of anything sensible :mad: