Central Heating Problem

[tommullin]

I seem to have an urgent problem with my central heating. This is the header tank for the radiators (I think). And judging by the colour of the water, it’s full of rust.

There’s hot water feeding back into the header tank via that white pipe, which I’m assuming is where the rust is coming from?

What can cause hot water to return to the header through that pipe? Is it a broken coil in the hot water tank? Or a bad mixer tap? Is there a way to find out?

 

[voipio]

Without knowing anything about the rest of the system, it's difficult to say.

First thing: it looks like the grey overflow pipe for the header tank is blocked, possibly by an airlock, maybe caused by the upslope in the pipe as it goes towards the black polythene sheeting-covered objects. The overflow should have a steady downslope along its length, all the way to the drain point.

Is the hot water cylinder a direct or indirect type?

Where does the pipe that feeds into the top of the header tank come from? Follow it to wherever it originates from.

Hopefully the answers to these questions will help the forum collective point you in the right direction.

 

[Tim.S]

Its pumping over through the vent pipe, normally caused by a poorly designed system but if its only just started it could be a blocked pipe, or someone adjusted the pump, sometimes a split coil but normally the water from the taps comes out discoloured.

 

[tommullin]

Without knowing anything about the rest of the system, it's difficult to say.

First thing: it looks like the grey overflow pipe for the header tank is blocked, possibly by an airlock, maybe caused by the upslope in the pipe as it goes towards the black polythene sheeting-covered objects. The overflow should have a steady downslope along its length, all the way to the drain point.

Is the hot water cylinder a direct or indirect type?

Where does the pipe that feeds into the top of the header tank come from? Follow it to wherever it originates from.

Hopefully the answers to these questions will help the forum collective point you in the right direction.

I think it’s an indirect cylinder?

I’m pretty sure the overflow is ok, it’s overflowing. I think the water that’s everywhere was caused by the vent pipe dripping onto the tank lid and spilling over.

I’ll try to chase where the vent pipe is coming from.

I don’t think the taps are coming out rusty, but I’ll check properly.

 

[brightspark]

i get a certain amount of rusty water in the header tank in my fully pumped system from the vent pipe but its never caused a problem . just clean it out every few years

 

[Kayos]

It's indirect or you would only have 1 tank in the loft

It's pumping over, pump is failing, pipe or boiler blockage would be my start point

 

[tommullin]

someone adjusted the pump

it was set to setting 3 of 3. ive just tried turning it down to 1. i will report back

 

[brightspark]

it was set to setting 3 of 3. ive just tried turning it down to 1. i will report back

normally run them on no 2 .3 spins the water in the pump and there noisy

 

[brightspark]

clean your header tank out refill it and keep an eye on it https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=y...YAQCwAQo&sclient=gws-wiz#imgrc=zbmOQO391gF5BM

 

[brightspark]

the tank only needs to be less than half full .check the ball valve is working properly and bend it down a bit to lower the level you will get water coming from the expansion pipe over the top but not a lot

 

[tommullin]

clean your header tank out refill it and keep an eye on it https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=y+plan+pipe+layout&sxsrf=AJOqlzXyumRy0UN9JETR6QQhDhDND4ohBw:1677609091075&source=hp&ei=g0j-Y9boAoSW8gKv3YbYAg&iflsig=AK50M_UAAAAAY_5Wk06i7d4fhbajnzGx1Ns5okzquJGn&oq=&gs_lcp=Cgdnd3Mtd2l6EAEYADIHCCMQ6gIQJzIHCCMQ6gIQJzIHCCMQ6gIQJzIHCCMQ6gIQJzIHCCMQ6gIQJzIHCCMQ6gIQJzIHCCMQ6gIQJzIHCCMQ6gIQJzIHCCMQ6gIQJzIHCCMQ6gIQJ1AAWABgvhZoAXAAeACAAQCIAQCSAQCYAQCwAQo&sclient=gws-wiz#imgrc=zbmOQO391gF5BM

thats useful, cheers. so its the primary open vent thats my problem

check the ball valve is working properly

i just tried lifting it up fully and its still dribbling water, ill get another one fitted, its not helping the problem. thanks brightspark!

 

[Tim.S]

The vent pipe is the one coming off the top of the little round cylinder just above and behind the pump, thats the air seperator and they can block up badly, also the water not rusty looking but if you run a basin full you can see its a funny colour.

 

[brightspark]

thats useful, cheers. so its the primary open vent thats my problem



i just tried lifting it up fully and its still dribbling water, ill get another one fitted, its not helping the problem. thanks brightspark!

bend the rod down on the new one so it only half fills

 

[gaz1]

yes it does turn your tank water brown just ignore it what you dont want is a constant feed from that overflow pipe return back into the tank

causes rad valves set to low, pump set to high, blockage , breather pipe too close to the pump

your system is a pumped gravity feed radiator system

you cant set the rads like you would do with the closed looped system

as the return flow needs to be open wider

lower your pump speed back down to 1 or 2

go around your valves and close and open the return pipe to above 1/4 of a turn as you still need to balance the system

 

[gaz1]

oh and bend your ball cock back lower as its too high of water set in your tank

 

[tommullin]

The vent pipe is the one coming off the top of the little round cylinder just above and behind the pump, thats the air seperator and they can block up badly, also the water not rusty looking but if you run a basin full you can see its a funny colour.

Thank you, that’s the pipe that I thought it traced back to. (Painted silver out the top of the separator).
I’m guessing it’s not user serviceable?

 

[gaz1]

thats useful, cheers. so its the primary open vent thats my problem



i just tried lifting it up fully and its still dribbling water, ill get another one fitted, its not helping the problem. thanks brightspark!

if the tank ball valve is dribberling all of the time you want a new ball valve washer

 

[tommullin]

if the tank ball valve is dribberling all of the time you want a new ball valve washer

thanks gaz, ill try to get it swapped tomorrow to eliminate it from the problem

 

[Farside]

bend the rod down on the new one so it only half fills

And hope the cheap arm doesn't snap.
Bt,dt,gtts.

 

[tommullin]

And hope the cheap arm doesn't snap.
Bt,dt,gtts.

That’s fine, we can weld! I just need to learn to plumb!