Boiler Losing Pressure from Washing Machine

shudder

Hi Guys,

I have moved into a flat and the washing machine is coming up with a error message which means there is no fill coming in. I have checked the supply and it only lasts for a few seconds and the boiler loses pressure, re-pressurise the boiler and a decent flow returns; until I take it there is no pressure left in the boiler and we're back to square one.

Does this mean that the washing machine is plumbed into the wrong circuit?

I wonder if anybody can offer a resolution/best course of action for my problem.

Many Thanks

Stuart

Myser

Either it is sheer coincidence that the boiler pressure is dropping when the washing machine operates or, you have a serious plumbing defect!

shudder

It's no coincidence, my OH has looked at the pressure gage on the boiler whilst I turn the tap with the hose in the bucket.

The water comes out at a decent pressure until the boiler gage reads zero and then all that is left is a trickle; would probably stop if I left it running.

I assume that the tap for the washing machine has been plumbed into the wrong circuit?

southcoastrgi

Pics of the boiler pipework & where the w/m connects onto would help

keystone

You need to trace the pipes to be absolutely certain but who in his right mind connects the washing machine to a dirty central heating system. How clean is the water in the bucket?

Other questions.

What pressure / flow rate does the cold mains supply to the property arrive at?

What happens to the boiler pressure when you open the cold tap in the kitchen?

What happens to the flow rate at the WM tap when its open and you fully open the cold tap in the kitchen?

Trace the pipes and post some pics.

Cheers

macman

All modern w/m's are cold fill only. Make and model?
If it is plumbed into the CH circuit then this would be the plumbing bodge of the century!

shudder

I have tried tracing the pipes but unfortunately they disappear through a wall and under the floor.

I have just purchased a dishwasher so re-located the washing machine into the utility room hence discovering this problem.

The rest of the cold taps and the wm/dw work fine in the original kitchen location it only appears to be the one plumbing source in the utility room which causes the issue. I cannot really comment on the quality of the water I am draining off as I would assume that it would have to run through the central heating system to become 'dirty'.

shudder

Yes the washing machine is a cold fill one.

When the tap is switched on the boiler does not fire up but the pressure definitely goes down and the water feels cold.

keystone

So did you plumb the WM in the Utility or did you just connect it to an existing WM tap or a capped off pipe?

Have you got a sink in the utility? Does the cold water tap on that sink give the same problem when turned on?

If the answer to first is yes and the second is no then disconnect WM from the existing pipework and put a stop end on the end of it. Worry about it later. Tee off a new cold supply for the WM from the supply pipe feeding the cold tap at the utility sink.

Finish.

Cheers

shudder

keystone wrote: »

So did you plumb the WM in the Utility or did you just connect it to an existing WM tap or a capped off pipe?

Have you got a sink in the utility? Does the cold water tap on that sink give the same problem when turned on?

If the answer to first is yes and the second is no then disconnect WM from the existing pipework and put a stop end on the end of it. Worry about it later. Tee off a new cold supply for the WM from the supply pipe feeding the cold tap at the utility sink.

Finish.

Cheers

No, the tap was already in situ in the utility room, which is essentially just cupboard space for a washer and a dryer. There is a bathroom which runs off of that and one would assume they have tapped into the pipework supplying that; which doesn't cause the boiler to lose pressure.

keystone

Indeed. Same schedule for one of the bathroom taps then.

Cheers