Any plumbers on here?

[breezer]

Need some advice re my boiler...

Greenstar 24i Junior, condensate pipe was frozen this morning, managed to get it defrosted and heating is working again but nothing happens when I turn any of the hot taps on.

No hot water comes out, not even any cold water comes out.

Cold tap is working though, can't think that if the cold supply is getting to the kitchen tap that it would be frozen anywhere going up to the boiler. Nor that any of the hot pipework would be frozen as it's all inside (and not the loft)

Could it be an airlock? If so how do I cure it?

Any help gratefully received.

Jim

 

[the snooper]

if the condensing pipe was frozen at the boiler it could well be that the water feed has also frozen at the boiler try warming the feed into the boiler
if one pipe froze then there will be no reason why another wouldnt

you only tend to get airlocks when using header tanks, mains pressure usually forces its way through ok

 

[breezer]

No the condnsate pipe was frozen outide - not inside

 

[the snooper]

thats a strange one then what about hot water supply pipes from the boiler to the taps where do they run under the downstairs floor boards could possibly freeze them up.

just been down to the workshop and things are freezing up inside quite nicely

 

[hunter27]

If its a 24i or 28i junior The hot water pipe cannot be air locked as it is under mains pressure. It will not be a boiler fault as even with no gas or electric connected to the boiler the water should still pass through the boiler to the hot tap. If you look under your boiler the fourth pipe along 15mm from left will have a ball valve tap (cold water inlet ) and the second one along 15mm one will have no tap (hot water outlet). Make sure that this tap is on (slot in line with pipe)

If you have a filling loop under the boiler (usually a flexi braided pipe about a foot long with a tap at one end.) disconnect the end opposite the tap end and put it over a bucket and turn on the tap. If it runs you have cold to your boiler and the problem is on the hot side to the tap if it does not run then the problem is in the cold supply to the boiler.

If you have no filling loop you probably have a filling key (white plastic) turn on the small plastic tap next to where the key plugs in but leave the key out PUT A BUCKET UNDER FIRST again if water pours out the fault is on the outlet to the hot taps.

Instructions can be downloaded here 24 and 28i juniors are virtually the same. http://www.worcester-bosch.co.uk/installer/products/gas-boilers/greenstar-24i-junior
Good luck.
Pete

 

[stevo70]

Jim, got exactley the same boiler as you and the same problem this morning!! Heating is working fine but no hot water !
Cold water flows no prob, but turn the hot tap on ,,,nothing, not even any water at all.
The condenser pipe which flows outside was frozen solid.
Had a plumber call today and he reckons its a frozen pipe, even though all the pipe work is internal in our kitchen ??
He said use a blower to blow hot air into the cupboard where the pipes are and leave
the hot tap open, so just doing that now.
So will have to wait and see if it works
Steve

 

[Rick]

I cannot believe how a bit of cold kills all the heating systems! Imagine if this country was actually cold.

I know of about 5-6 just in our family/friends who are having problems. I fixed a few of them (I'm not a plumber) 1 called a plumber and he said he was stupidly busy.

 

[mike os]

guess why I hate these loverly "green" & "environmentally friendly" POS they call condensing boilers?.... nothing but trouble IME.

as suggested chect the inlet for water... if not call worster service

 

[breezer]

Pete, thanks mate you are spot on, white filling key.

By the small plastic tap do you mean the square peg type thing? Will have a look at the destructions online.

Been having a dig around and the both the cold inlet and the hot outlet pipes go under the kitchen floor where there is an air brick so it will be fairly cold under there.

Steve, I'm feeling your pain!

How come the cold in both Steve's and my case doesn't freeze? There must be a reason

Cheers people

Jim

 

[breezer]

Mike - Worcester service?

Tried several times. Not taking calls due to volume of existing calls! Understandable I suppose, called the fitter who installed the boiler and he is receiving more "emergency" calls than he can deal with

 

[drjim]

My hot water pipes froze last winter - exposed pipe run directly under an air vent behind a cupboard. heating on, house warm no hot water.

Follow the pipes my friends!

Jim

 

[BeeJay99]

... How come the cold in both Steve's and my case doesn't freeze? There must be a reason...
Jim

You have been very good people in a previous life.

 

[mike os]

my oh my a service line that you cannot get through on......what will they think of next

yes the white plastic square head screw... give it a couple of turns (bucket under hole next to said screw)... if water comes out then you have water to the inlet side of teh boiler... & pipework frozen on hot side

 

[breezer]

right - undid the plastic square tap.

LOTS of gurgling.

NO water came out.

What's that mean then?

 

[tigler]

Having the same prob on my Mothers system, the condensate pipe that is. The clown installer routed the pipe through the garage wall without insulation, and the pipe is tight fit in the hole ! Then bend on the pipe on the outside of the wall is exposed without insulation. the insulation that was fitted on the straight section is loose and not fastened, the pipe goes into an exposed soak away which freezes and the boiler vent is directly above the condensate outlet so drips onto the pipe then freezes !!!!!!!!

Do these people actually have qualifications to install boilers !! I could do better working from just the installation manual !

So, when I'm over there on Thursday I have to core drill the wall so I can fit an insulated condensate drain pipe.

Also noticed he hasn't lagged the feed and return or the part of the condensate drain inside the garage !!!

 

[the snooper]

turn on the small plastic tap next to where the key plugs in but leave the key out

if you get no water the supply is at fault

 

[breezer]

What's the gurgling though snoops?

Jim

 

[the snooper]

What's the gurgling though snoops?

Jim

probably water running back some where in the system it should gush out under mains pressure

 

[breezer]

Gushing was definately not in evidence...

 

[mike os]

I take it you have pressure in the system?

also worth turning the power off for a couple of minutes to reset the system

did I mention that I hate these crap systems the green ******* have forced on us?