Hot water problems
Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2007 5:58 pm
NO Hot Water, but CH OK
I have a Glow Worm Boiler 65/80. There is a single heater unit for the dual purpose of CH and domestic water supply, although the hot water for bathroom and kitchen is provided by pumped circulation. There is a Cylinder (21 Gallons). A corrosion inhibitor was added to the CH installation. I normally have HW even if the CH is off.
Two weeks ago I noticed there was not hot water, but the CH was OK.
As I have BG CH three star cover I requested service. The Engineer came and in a hurry decided there was a blockage from the expansion tank into the system and that this was not covered by the Insurance.The estimate was £318. However he raised the CH to 20 degrees and in one hour I had hot water again.
An independent plumber told me the expansion tank was OK.
But as soon as I switched off the CH, I ceased to have hot water again.
I request a second opinion from BG three star service. The inspector said the reason I did not have hot water was a faulty valve (located in a box outside the cylinder).
A few days later another engineer came to do the job, but the first thing he did was to empty the system. Before even looking at it, he said the system was full of sludge and this was the cause of the problem. However when he emptied the system I noticed that only for a few seconds the water came out dirty - dark grey = after that continued flowing from the system completely clean. The engineer insisted the system needed to be power- flushed, that the system did not replenish when he changed the valve and that this required a work not covered by my insurance. I have been left without CH or Hot water now and an estimate for repairs nearing £700.
Please could you advise whether the fact that the water came clean from the hose after the first bursts is irrelevant, and that indeed the system needs power flushing. I should say that right from the time the CH was installed, the few drops of water that came out from the radiators when there was air in the system were always dark. This engineer told me the system is corroded and that there was no inhibitor in the system despite I have guarantee from BG installer that an approved corrosion inhibitor was duly added.
The system has been serviced every year, it was working perfectly well and I had CH despite not having hot water. I have never been told that the system required cleaning when I had the last service.
I would be grateful for a knowledgeable opinion on this matter.
I have a Glow Worm Boiler 65/80. There is a single heater unit for the dual purpose of CH and domestic water supply, although the hot water for bathroom and kitchen is provided by pumped circulation. There is a Cylinder (21 Gallons). A corrosion inhibitor was added to the CH installation. I normally have HW even if the CH is off.
Two weeks ago I noticed there was not hot water, but the CH was OK.
As I have BG CH three star cover I requested service. The Engineer came and in a hurry decided there was a blockage from the expansion tank into the system and that this was not covered by the Insurance.The estimate was £318. However he raised the CH to 20 degrees and in one hour I had hot water again.
An independent plumber told me the expansion tank was OK.
But as soon as I switched off the CH, I ceased to have hot water again.
I request a second opinion from BG three star service. The inspector said the reason I did not have hot water was a faulty valve (located in a box outside the cylinder).
A few days later another engineer came to do the job, but the first thing he did was to empty the system. Before even looking at it, he said the system was full of sludge and this was the cause of the problem. However when he emptied the system I noticed that only for a few seconds the water came out dirty - dark grey = after that continued flowing from the system completely clean. The engineer insisted the system needed to be power- flushed, that the system did not replenish when he changed the valve and that this required a work not covered by my insurance. I have been left without CH or Hot water now and an estimate for repairs nearing £700.
Please could you advise whether the fact that the water came clean from the hose after the first bursts is irrelevant, and that indeed the system needs power flushing. I should say that right from the time the CH was installed, the few drops of water that came out from the radiators when there was air in the system were always dark. This engineer told me the system is corroded and that there was no inhibitor in the system despite I have guarantee from BG installer that an approved corrosion inhibitor was duly added.
The system has been serviced every year, it was working perfectly well and I had CH despite not having hot water. I have never been told that the system required cleaning when I had the last service.
I would be grateful for a knowledgeable opinion on this matter.