Boiler/hot water problem - advice please

Canucklehead

Hi

I do like a photo.(good idea Razor):D

Follow the pipe from the 3 way valve . The brass fitting is a gate valve with the red handle taken off.Mark the spindle .(to give a point of reference) Using a small adjustable spanner open the valve like you would a tap. (anti clockwise.)Open it say two full turns. You may or may not hear a flow of water through it (with the system running)Keep going if you don't feel there is any difference.
The reason for the valve is to restrict the flow of water around the cylinder as it is the path of least resistance. With the valve fully open the central heating may not circulate properly.
You could try venting the fitting on the return in the same way you would a radiator.
The red cap on the black auto air vent should be loose but it might also let water out after any air. Quite often they are left tightened up (finger tight)

Corgi Guy.

justontime

Canucklehead wrote: »

You could try venting the fitting on the return in the same way you would a radiator.

Is this the pipe in the second photo I posted?

The red cap at the back is loose, can I do the other things you mention with the boiler still on, or should I turn it off first?

Thanks, I really appreciate your help.

Canucklehead

Hi

Yes that's the second photo, I don't think it will have any air in it so leave that one 'till last.
Yes you can leave the system on.
What happened to the photos? Odd. Now they're back...

Corgi Guy.

plumb1_2

I would turn the system off and vent the bottom airvent and lossen the red cap.
Also check the tank in the loft has not run dry, balvalve arm my have stuck
Looks like a old gravity system converted to pumpted system.

justontime

We are getting plenty of water from the hot tap, it just isn't hot (except on that one occasion when it went back to normal) would we get water if the tank in the loft wasn't working?

plumb1_2

justontime wrote: »

would we get water if the tank in the loft wasn't working?

It is a seperate tank, you will have a large tank suppling the Hot water, and a smaller 1 for the Central heating, you need to check the small tank.

justontime

plumb1 wrote: »

It is a seperate tank, you will have a large tank suppling the Hot water, and a smaller 1 for the Central heating, you need to check the small tank.

We only have one tank and it is filling and working properly.

justontime

Thanks for all the advice, I have tried all the suggestions so far, but the hot water is still cold. Any other ideas? Is it worth changing the cylinder anyway? If so how much should I expect to pay?

BobProperty

justontime wrote: »

We only have one tank and it is filling and working properly.

Er, are you sure? The hot water cylinder doesn't say "Primatic" on it does it? How big is the one tank? Is there a red cylinder and a pressure gauge somewhere?

justontime

No, the cylinder says 'Baguley' and there is a label on it that says 'sacrificial anode'. I have sent someone back up to the loft in search of a second tank, I wouldn't have thought it would be easy to miss a water tank, but I will let you know. There is no red cylinder and the only pressure gauge that I am aware of is on the boiler.