Talk to me about boilers

Do you think inline filter help much. Part on new boilers insint on them and about 5yrs ago i fitted one on mains before it goes into my bathroom and the electric shower has been fine since.

Before that I had replaced the element on my twice but it’s been fine since so evidence suggest they do work
 
An inline mains 'filter' is different to a central heating filter, which is much more important to the life of a boiler. Mains is only an issue in really hard water areas.
 
They haven't fitted a temperature regulator or something similar have they?

Our bath water was tepid at most but due to building regulations there was a temperature safety valve thingy mabob fitted to stop the water scolding.

I removed this and fixed the issues.

Wondering if the mixer tap or plumbing has something similar fitted?
 
It's what I said a few days back :p

Usually under the taps, you'll need to remove the bath panel. If it's free standing the it will be in the floor which is obviously a pain.
 
Russinating said:
It's freestanding with freestanding taps and a tiled floor (obvs).
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Only a complete muppet would put a TMV under an inaccessible floor as they are meant to be accessed to adjust and check, so chances are you dont have one if you cant see it behind basin or in an access hatch, pretty unusual to fit on a domestic from what I understand anyway (though I'm electrical, not plumbing/mech so could be wrong)
 
Adam_151 said:
Only a complete muppet would put a TMV under an inaccessible floor as they are meant to be accessed to adjust and check, so chances are you dont have one if you cant see it behind basin or in an access hatch, pretty unusual to fit on a domestic from what I understand anyway (though I'm electrical, not plumbing/mech so could be wrong)
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You're right, it's rare to see a TMV fitted in a domestic setting unless there is a specific need for one, or a previous owner had that need.
For example, the elderly, vulnerable, disabled, the public, holiday let etc...

The most common place to see these devices in the domestic area, are where people have thermal stores, (and they aren't that common). But the OP has a combi ;)
 
Russinating said:
Talk to me about boilers
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I had a Worcester Bosch 4000 fitted recently for free. There seems to be some government schemes running atm and they are desperate to give free boilers away, infact, they've started offering cash incentives if you can recommend someone. I didn't think we'd be eligible at all but apparently we were. Friend of mine didn't think he was eligible either but he's just had a Vaillant fitted, he had to pay approx £350 though since he has his boiler moved from an upstairs bathroom to a downstairs utility room. These companies are basically fighting each other to give away free boilers, the only catch is you must have underfloor insulation fitted by them as well, they can't do a boiler on its own apparently.
 
Flying fish is right, the poor hot water performance is not related directly to the temperature on the boiler, that's the temperature of the water from the main heat exchanger. The combi has 2 heat exchangers, a big gas to water one for central heating and another water to water called the plate heat exchanger for the DHW (hot water). When the central heating is on but not hot water is required the main exchanger heats the water around the central heating loop. If there is DHW demand a valve called a diverter diverts the hot water from the main exchanger through the plate heat exchanger which heats the the cold mains water using the the water from the main heat exchanger. A combi boiler will have a specified flow rate and temp, ie 12 lt/m 30degrees, this is basically the performance of the plate heat exchanger. Usually, if the rads are getting very hot but the water isn't its this plate heat exchanger loop to blame. As shown above, the plate heat exchangers can easily get blocked, reduced flow through the heating side of the exchange means reduced heating of the mains water. If its been running like this for a while, other parts of the loop can also start to get blocked up. It could also be the diverter itself, if this is not fully opening to allow the water into the DHW loop that would have the same effect. There are other thigs that could be at fault in the boiler, thermostat, bypass valves etc but less likely given the symptoms. The main exchanger loop could also be a fault here mind, central heating loops run very slowly, even a semi blocked loop will heat the rads ie the reduced flow could even be before the diverter.
Interestingly, depending on your shower thermostat and head, it may be that the shower flow of hot water is restricted much more than just opening a tap, especially the bath taps. This means that any reduced plate exchanger performance may be able to heat the water at the shower flow rate but not when a bath tap is open.
Plate heat exchangers can be cleaned, but a boiler engineer may elect to simply replace it.
 
Well, boiler engineer visited this morning and as you pros predicted, has diagnosed a blocked/scaled up plate heat exchanger and has advised a replacement.
 
e36Adz said:
I had a Worcester Bosch 4000 fitted recently for free. There seems to be some government schemes running atm and they are desperate to give free boilers away, infact, they've started offering cash incentives if you can recommend someone. I didn't think we'd be eligible at all but apparently we were. Friend of mine didn't think he was eligible either but he's just had a Vaillant fitted, he had to pay approx £350 though since he has his boiler moved from an upstairs bathroom to a downstairs utility room. These companies are basically fighting each other to give away free boilers, the only catch is you must have underfloor insulation fitted by them as well, they can't do a boiler on its own apparently.
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Jumped into the thread as new house is run entirely off ancient electric hot water tank and storage heaters, so am investigating more efficient alternatives. Would pay for the central heating upgrade ourselves, but money is tight and we're not planning to stay in the property long enough for it to pay itself off. Have seen similar schemes advertised, but always seem to need to be on some form of benefit. @e36Adz - do you have a link to/any info on the scheme you used please?

Apologies for derailing thread OP - glad you found the issue :)
 
Varwen said:
Jumped into the thread as new house is run entirely off ancient electric hot water tank and storage heaters, so am investigating more efficient alternatives. Would pay for the central heating upgrade ourselves, but money is tight and we're not planning to stay in the property long enough for it to pay itself off. Have seen similar schemes advertised, but always seem to need to be on some form of benefit. @e36Adz - do you have a link to/any info on the scheme you used please?

Apologies for derailing thread OP - glad you found the issue :)
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Send me an email mate and I'll forward you some info.
 
Varwen said:
Jumped into the thread as new house is run entirely off ancient electric hot water tank and storage heaters, so am investigating more efficient alternatives. Would pay for the central heating upgrade ourselves, but money is tight and we're not planning to stay in the property long enough for it to pay itself off. Have seen similar schemes advertised, but always seem to need to be on some form of benefit. @e36Adz - do you have a link to/any info on the scheme you used please?

Apologies for derailing thread OP - glad you found the issue :)
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Same here, ancient electric hot water tank and storage heaters, but I am planning to stay here for a long time. Costing me 5k for a combi boiler and radiators all through the house. The price might change depending on where you are based, but will give yoyu a rough idea if you find out you can't get any grants etc.
 
FlyingFish said:
Oh and if you're interested here's a picture from a blocked up water heat exchanger from a Viessmann combi I washed out a few years ago.
It was poor hot water performance reported by the customer.
dtkKsFr.jpeg


:D
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Just been advised by our plumber that we are suffering exactly the same issue with the same model of boiler and need the heat exchanger replaced. Just waiting for a quote...FlyingFish, could I ask you what sort of quote would be reasonable? Cheers
 
1hrs labour, whatever that be round your part of the world. (We charge £105) And the cost of the plate heat exchanger. Inhibitor is a good idea, and wash the filter if you have one, and also recharge the vessel while the boiler is drained. Straight forward job, for someone in the trade.
 
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