very cold family - any heating repair advice ?

dk67

Hi

Our boiler is not working and we are freezing!

It seems to fire up an makes the right noises (you can tell i am great at DIY) but the water is not heating up and the radiators are cold...

but

once or twice it has come on (really hot) then after a while got cold again.

we seem to be jinxed as 3 months ago our electric fitted fire from Homebase stopped working and we have yet to receive a replacement or refund.

5 children plus mum and dad absolutely freezing!!!

any advice warmly welcomed...

roses

I had this problem last year, it was the diverter valve. Not cheap to repai though. It cost me £150 just for the part plus £80 labour.

Go to the Corgi website, call up a local plumber who does not charge a call out fee & ask them to diagnose the problem for you.

If they want more than £180 then get British Gas to do the repair for you as they charge a fixed cost inc parts & labour of about £170, depending on where you live.

djheath

Yep, sounds like the diverter valve. They get stuck. sometimes you can manually switch the switch on them which overides the electric switch and divert the hot water to the radiators as a temporary fix until it is fixed properly.

Canucklehead

Hi
Could you tell us what boiler and system you have?

Corgi Guy.

dk67

oh no this sounds bad... but thanks for the advice.

It is a Potterton boiler. what do you mean by the system? (sorry)

there is a potterton boiler on the floor then a tank above it and a timer thing too.

radiators in every room.

ormus

http://www.grantandstone.co.uk/heating-controls/images/v4043.jpg

on an older conventional CH system, you may have a valve like this.
move the lever from side to side a few times and it may free it up. they sometimes stick.
its also a manual overide lever.


edit.
here is the 3 port version.
http://www.toolstation.com/images/library/stock/webbig/60151.jpg

Canucklehead

Hi

Pump failing.

Kingfisher?

Do you have two of the valves in ormus's link?
Corgi Guy.

res1996

Personally I would check your header tank first it is the small tank in the loft that is fed by the larger tank.

I had to do mine this morning my fault was adjusting ball !!!! months ago and it came off in my hand lol. still not got round to replacing so having to fill header tank everymonth it is surprising how quickly the water can evaporate.

Hope this helps