Combi boiler Ideal ISA????

Cherokee_2

My parents who are both pensioners have just had their solid fuel boiler replaced with an Ideal ISA 24 combi boiler using the warmfront grant. Well their house has never been warm since. The upstairs rads are hot but downstairs are barely warm. They have been back and flushed the rads and been back and fiddled around a bit but they still arent hot. It has been suggested that the boiler isnt big enough to power the house (there are 7 rads in the house) They have now said they will come back and flush again and that should sort out the problem. My parents are cold, neither of them are in good health but they are reluctant to demand its sorted as they say the men are very nice. I want to ring up and sort it for them but want to know first if this boiler is sufficient for their needs. Any info would help

Canucklehead

Hi

The heating should be roasting with the output from that boiler (20kw or thereabouts.) into 7 rads.
Flushing a second time will do no good.
Was it flushed before or after the boiler was installed and run for the first time?(it must be done before)
If it was after then it's possible that the return filter on the boiler is partly blocked.
The installer might be nice but doesn't come across as very good. Maybe calling Ideal and trying to get them to look at it would work. If they do come out and find it wasn't flushed they will charge you. Also complain to Warmfront.
H.T.H.

Corgi Guy.

Cherokee_2

It was flushed after the boiler was installed and run, now they are saying it may need doing again but arent going back for 2 weeks, I have never known my parents house so cold, also because its not getting up to temperature the thermostat is running constantly without shutting off so my parents are now worried it is going to cost them a fortune in gas. I am going to get on the phone on Monday, they cant leave them like this for two weeks, its really cold in their house

Canucklehead

Hi


It should have been flushed before fitting, so now all the flakes of scale and gunk have been moved round to the boiler and the pump. Hopefully when they come back that is where they will start checking.

I don't think you will be using loads of gas as the system is not heating up.

Call them constantly on Monday.
Good Luck.

C.G.

The_Economist

Hi Cherokee did they drain the whole system down when they fitted the new one. If so did they get rid of all the air in the system as this can cause air locks. Even after a few days or weeks i have had air in the system and needed to keep bleeding the radiators to get the heat flowing through all of them. Or do all the radiators need re-balencing. I also agree with Canucklehead could be lots of rubbish floating around inside. Hope you get it sorted. Keep us posted.

Canucklehead

Hi

Just remembered ... you say you had a solid fuel boiler. I presume it heated a cylinder?
If so then it would likely have been gravity circulation for the cylinder and a pump to run the rads.
It was common to fit a non return valve on the heating flow pipe to prevent gravity circulation in the summer,or when the heat was off. You might have this lurking around on a boxed in pipe.(It would be fitted on the vertical usually)

Good luck again.

C.G.

Cherokee_2

Thanks for your imput, I will mention the valve to my dad tomorrow, he may know where or if there is one. Hi Economist I know they have bled the rads a couple of times, may be worthwhile getting it done again though. Thanks again you have been very helpful, will keep you updated

Razor

Couple of points, if the system was powerflushed as opposed to the filling loop being opened and a drain valve opened to run a bit of water through there should not be any air lurking due to the high flow rate from the powerflush unit. I wonder what the installer put down on the comissioning record where it asks if the system has been flushed according to manufacturers instructions, there could well be a nr valve on the old hot water primary circuit, these pipes quite often will be redundant with a combi but it depends on the setup, if still used u should find its a much fatter pipe than the others and yes usually in a vertical run, are u sure the auto air bleed is open on the boiler, wouldn't be the first time it was overlooked, stopping the pump from working properly!

Cherokee_2

Update....... Someone from Ideal has been and had a look, apparently it has been fitted to a one pipe system instead of a two pipe system, Ideal say it should have never been fitted and wont touch it. My parents have been in contact with the plumbers several times over the last couple of days and each time they have said someone will get back to them, they never have. I rang them tonight fuming, I called in my parents both have been to the doctors with really bad coughs and the house is freezing, they are as I have said both pensioners in ill health and I just dont think this is acceptable. They said there was nobody there I could speak to, I told them if we didnt get a call back by 10am in the morning I would be taking it further. Needless to say no phone call as yet. Who do I speak to next??? I will ring warmfront in the morning, is there anything else I can do???? I am really worried as its freezing, they wont come and stay at my home but they are sat there in their woolies

lolly1963

Hi,
My parents were in a similar situation last Sunday. Their new ideal boiler (fitted by warmfront also) broke down. Phoned them on Monday and they sent someone Tuesday. Control panel had blown due to a vent which was leaking.Part had to be ordered via Ideal and the man from Ideal came last Friday to fix it. He blew up the first control panel as something else had got wet inside the boiler! Luckily he had another one, fixed the vent and leaking gasket and all is fine now. He did say Warmfront should have given them utmost priority as my Dad is on Disability allowance and also has emphysymia.
Please speak to them and DEMAND action and perhaps contact Ideal to help maybe.
Good Luck
Lorraine

Cherokee_2

Well they didnt call back so we got in touch with warmfront, they called them and hey pronto!!!! out the same afternoon. We told them what the chap from Ideal said, plumber called his boss and told him and they are going to come on monday and re do the pipe system making it a double!!!!! Hopefully my parents should be warm by next week