weird boiler - any idea which thing i should try to twiddle?

[bimble]

it is a big oil fueled outdoor boiler and this is the inside stuff. i think i need to twiddle a thing to bring the pressure up a bit (have just gone round trying to get air out of the rads but that hasnt solved the problem).

What on earth should i be looking for to turn though and if i find it which way do i turn it?

Lots of valves / knobs/ twizzly things in there. It's not like a normal combi situation.
can't face any more plumbing websites today.
Any ideas?

 

[danny la rouge]

it is a big oil fueled outdoor boiler and this is the inside stuff. i think i need to twiddle a thing to bring the pressure up a bit (have just gone round trying to get air out of the rads but that hasnt solved the problem).

What on earth should i be looking for to turn though and if i find it which way do i turn it?

Lots of valves in there. It's not like a normal combi situation.
can't face any more plumbing websites today.
Any ideas? View attachment 299713

The dial on the left is telling you the pressure. Is there a valve or twiddly thing leading to it?

 

[bimble]

will get head torch on again and see if theres one nearest the dial..

 

[bimble]

Nearest one is the red one, but I think that’s probably not for turning ?
Bollocks I think I may have to ask for help from someone who actually knows this stuff. It’s ok, it’s not freezing in here just some rads not doing their thing properly.

 

[danny la rouge]

Nearest one is the red one, but I think that’s probably not for turning ?

Yeah, I’m not a plumber but it looks like that is connected to a thing to magnetically take gunk out of the pipes. So leave that.

I’m sure a plumber will be along to explain a) what to do and b) why I’m talking pish.

 

[danny la rouge]

I may just be assuming by his name but I think Sprocket. might know.

 

[bimble]

I’ve definitely not made things better with my attempt at plumbing today : (

 

[Storm Fox]

That red one will stop the pump from circulating. Grundfos make pumps and I have one like that on a gravity fed system
The pressure is reading 0 so you may have a problem.

 

[scifisam]

It should be those two red knobs down the bottom there - you just turn them and it adjusts the pressure. It's not the sort of thing that's likely be dangerous, and you should see the pressure changing straight away, but it's probably best to check with someone who's familiar with that specific boiler.

 

[platinumsage]

The big red thing is the pump that makes the water circulate to the radiators. The pressure is also at zero. That's about the limit of my knowledge when it comes to non-combi-boiler systems.

 

[8ball]

If it was me, I'd twiddle the middle one (nearest middle of the pic) a bit to see if any water comes through.
You'll hear it coming through and the pressure will rise on the gauge (pretty slowly).

If you Google "boiler water inlet" you'll see which bit I mean - the small black one.

Also, if it was me, I'd be wary of advice from internet randoms.

 

[Storm Fox]

It should be those two red knobs down the bottom there - you just turn them and it adjusts the pressure. It's not the sort of thing that's likely be dangerous, and you should see the pressure changing straight away, but it's probably best to check with someone who's familiar with that specific boiler.

No sorry, they are there to isolate the pump if it is faulty. I have the same almost exactly the same pump myself, with isolating taps

 

[StoneRoad]

Not a plumber, but I think ...

Open Little black thumbscrew and then big black thumbscrew.

Whilst watching the pressure & Keep hand on the big one.

Close big one first, then little when you've got up to pressure.

 

[Supine]

It should be those two red knobs down the bottom there - you just turn them and it adjusts the pressure. It's not the sort of thing that's likely be dangerous, and you should see the pressure changing straight away, but it's probably best to check with someone who's familiar with that specific boiler.

Not good advice. To add water you need to find where the water inlet is to the system. It won’t be a line valve in the recirculating system.

 

[8ball]

Alternatively, number the knobs in Paint and create a poll.

 

[8ball]

Not a plumber, but I think ...

Open Little black thumbscrew and then big black thumbscrew.

Whilst watching the pressure & Keep hand on the big one.

Close big one first, then little when you've got up to pressure.

But careful opening the big one if you hear water after opening the little one.
Me and StoneRoad are both assuming it's a fairly standard filler loop.

 

[bimble]

I just twiddled the shiny black one top right of pic and it did not change anything
So maybe little over first then try again?

 

[Storm Fox]

Not a plumber, but I think ...

Open Little black thumbscrew and then big black thumbscrew.

Whilst watching the pressure & Keep hand on the big one.

Close big one first, then little when you've got up to pressure.

That would be my guess, bimble do you know where the other end of that pipe goes?

 

[Supine]

I just twiddled the shiny black one top right of pic and it did not change anything
So maybe little over first then try again?

That one has another closed valve at the other end of the flexible. Both would need to be opened if that is the water line.

 

[StoneRoad]

Agreed, the red ones are to isolate the pump.

Q bimble - is the pump running properly (a steady hum) ?

 

[bimble]

Little black one plus big black one did move the dial !

 

[8ball]

Little black one plus big black one did move the dial !

Close big black one first then little black one when you're at pressure.

I think.

 

[bimble]

Agreed, the red ones are to isolate the pump.

Q bimble - is the pump running properly (a steady hum) ?

No idea can’t really hear anything.
Will ask someone to come check it all over and teach me what I’ve got.

 

[nogojones]

because you bleed the rads the pressure has dropped.

see the flexi cable bit? There's a black valve on either end. Turn one to open the system then the other to flood with water 'til the pressure gets to about 1. then turn them off

 

[Storm Fox]

Mine is a different system, but this is my pump running, When commanded to run by the system the Green LED is lit otherwise it's off.

 

[StoneRoad]

In our first house, the pump was rather noisy, mainly because it had been mounted upside down, although correctly in line and as a result, part of the housing touched some woodwork in the cupboard as the system warmed up ...
I think I whinged at the builders, and it got correctly remounted. These are the same builders that put a nail into some wiring and failed to fully tighten up the valves on a radiator !

Annoying, to say the least, so in our next place, the CH pump was one of the many things I checked ...

 

[scifisam]

No sorry, they are there to isolate the pump if it is faulty. I have the same almost exactly the same pump myself, with isolating taps

There you go, someone who knows that specific boiler!

 

[danski]

There you go, someone who knows that specific boiler!

Not trying to trump you or anything but those red valves are to isolate the pipework either side of the pump so it can be easily removed should it fail. Nothing to do with a specific boiler, it’s a general thing.

 

[scifisam]

Not trying to trump you or anything but those red valves are to isolate the pipework either side of the pump so it can be easily removed should it fail. Nothing to do with a specific boiler, it’s a general thing.

They look exactly like the valves for releasing the pressure on my boiler - and I'm definitely using the right ones. (Told by an boiler engineer who came to the property and it's also in the manual). But that's a combi boiler. So I'm not sure it's a general thing.

 

[danski]

No idea can’t really hear anything.
Will ask someone to come check it all over and teach me what I’ve got.

You should be able to feel it vibrate/ whir if you’re quiet. Put your finger on the centre shiny screwcap thingy.