Boiler 'overheating' - my fault??

vixxxen

Hi, hope this is in the right place.

I moved into this property in Dec last year after a slight delay to my moving in date due to no heating (day of moving in, we got there and the LA told me the heating wasn't working so we had to stay the night in a hotel - turns out the prev tenants had switched the gas supply off or something...the LA didn't explain fully).

Anyway about a week after moving in, the heating/hot water stopped working again. LL came round, got a bit confused, changed the thermostat on something like a valve...not sure what as I'm even remotely diy-orientated!

A month later, it went off again but this time, switching the mains to the boiler on and off seemed to work.

Sometimes the radiators heat up quickly, others they're only just warm to the touch 20-30mins after heating coming on. This is with the thermostat set to 30 degrees as I turn it right up for 30mins or so after waking up, and leave it on 15-18 degrees overnight so it's not freezing in the morning.

Anyway yesterday evening I noticed my hot water had gone colder more quickly than usual and the downstairs radiators were cool. I've recently bled them...ignored it and went to bed as by then my water was hot again, then an hour ago (3am) I was woken by my boiler (in the next bedroom) banging loudly as if someone was hitting it with a hammer! Went in to check and the overheat light was on (this has come on before a few times with no banging sounds; turning the thermostat on the boiler to off and on again, or switching off the mains then on again has fixed this prob in the past), couldn't get the boiler to switch on again (pilot light? the little gas flame you see in the window of the boiler was out, is what I mean) so turned off at the mains switch to stop the banging.

I'm paranoid about faulty boilers and CO/gas leaks so phoned the gas emergency helpline who are sending someone out to check there's no leak (I only phoned them for advice as I have young children) but is it air trapped, or lack of water, or something else causing this banging/overheating problem, and is it my fault for leaving the heating on 24/7 (15 deg at overnight, 18-20 during the day), or just one of those things?

My LL is going to hate me if I phone him tomorrow to say there are problems again...esp as the rent is due and I wont have it until I get paid on monday!

Is there anything I can do to fix this problem myself?

Sorry for the essay! :rotfl:

Canucklehead

Hi

You have vented the rads and not topped up the system pressure.
The result is that the boiler can't circulate water so it lingers in it and boils.
Most boilers will not 'dry fire' and lock out. Not yours by the sound of it.

Ultimately the boiler is the L/Ls and if he/she hasn't instructed you , or pointed you in the direction of written instructions, how to look after the boiler and it's pressure as an end user then he only has him/herself to blame.

It sounds like the system has multiple problems and it needs a decent GSR person to put it right. (unlikely as a rented, as most L/L are unwilling to spend out).

A boiler make and model would help.

Complain long and loud .

GSR.

ormus

as above.
modern boilers have controls to stop them firing when theres any fault/s. ie low pressure. pump not working.
sounds like your controller/pcb/IC chip isnt working properly.

gas4you

Banging is usually due to lack or circulation, therefore causing a degree of overheating.

Has the landlord had the pump checked?

What boiler/system is it?