someone else with a duff boiler

[shirt]

that'd be me then.

my combi boiler doesn't seem to like it when it's cold [around zerp] outside. the heating works fine, but the hot water plays up. it will come on and heat right up to fking scalding [no matter what the setting] then turn off so it goes cold and repeat until i turn the tap off.

it did this last year but i wasn't at home much so never sorted it. as soon as the cold snap went it was fine again so again i never bothered. i'm now getting a bit narked with having sprint showers so does anyone know what might be up with it? i intend to get the guys who installed it to come have a look [this was 3yrs ago now] but if it's something that needs replacing or checking i can do that myself.

TIA.

[Simpo Two]

I just checked my thermometer and it doesn't have 'zerp' on it anywhere; must be damn cold, off the scale!

[wildoliver]

I'll swap you.

Boiler broken till I get a day off to mend it.

Hot water tank sprang a leak the other day and has been getting progressively worse recently - suspect new tank needed.

Electric shower packed up.

Yep I'm living in victorian times, thankfully have an open fire but still cold baths not pleasant in this weather.

[D1ngd0ng]

Sounds like a problem I had with my boiler 4 years into it's life. The secondary heat exchanger got filled up with gunk so you would get about 10 seconds of hot hot water before it went cold again. Eventually ended up having to have this part replaced, the system drained and cleaned out and a central heating filter installed to filter the water before it goes back through the boiler.

[shirt]

Simpo Two said:

I just checked my thermometer and it doesn't have 'zerp' on it anywhere; must be damn cold, off the scale!

its now 8 below zerp!

as an update, well i didn't fix a thing due to not having the time and the fact i won't be at home over xmas so i inted to tackle it on my week off.

however, the problem has got worse and i just have no idea what i should be checking.

the hot water issue is still the same but now the central heating circuit is causing me grief. with the thermostat set on max. my rads are lukewarm at best. i have a red light flashing [need to find the manual] which goes off every now and then which allows the boiler to light up for 20 secs or so before going back out.

i'm away xmas weekend so will be draining the system and turning the water off at the mains to avoid coming back to a downstairs swimming pool. i fitted the CH system myself and much of the boiler install [besides the gas & flue connections] so i intend to have a crack at fixing it before having my wallet raped.

any pointers as to what it maybe? a checklist would be highly useful.

[Simpo Two]

Zerp +2.6 here - snow is melting!

[Laurel Green]

Simpo Two said:

Zerp +2.6 here - snow is melting!

About the same in Londonshire and nearly all gone now.

ETA: Thought I was on the snow thread. Had to pop out and, must have put the PC to sleep whilst on this thread. []grumpy old fool smiley[/]

Edited by Laurel Green on Wednesday 22 December 13:28

[smac]

Is it a condensing boiler? If so the condensate pipe could be frozen solid outside.

[shirt]

it is a condensing boiler, but the pipe runs internally to meet up with the shower drain in the bathroom. its currently draining into a bucket though.

guy at work reckons it could be the CH pump that's failed so the boiler is trying to fire but not sensing a string enough flow. seems a good explanation but doesn't account for the HW problem. i'm going to get the pump details and see if we have anything suitable in works' stores.

guess i need to find the manual...