Simple plumbing question...

[mrbios]

I've just noticed that the pressure on my boiler is showing 0 bar, not sure how long it's been like that as i rarely check and everything was working ok until i realised two radiators weren't heating up properly (Then when i went to bleed them i find no air comes out....or water, just nothingness)

 

Anyway, i've never had to top one up before so here's the setup:

System boiler in the attic (This one to be exact: Greenstar 24i System gas boiler - Worcester, Bosch Group UK homeowner site)

Pressure gauge on the boiler itself and in the airing cupboard

The airing cupboard gauge has a small flexible pipe on it with two things i can twist as in this image:

 

If i turn these will the pressure slowly go up? Or is it that something completely different?

 

The house i rent is owned by a plumber, so i can get him to sort it if it's anything more in depth than that, but i wasn't sure if it could be just as simple as that.

 

EDIT: Additional stupid question, but presumably when pressurising the system the heating should be turned off?

Edited November 26, 2014 by mrbios

[kearton]

I had a similar setup on my old house, and yes, opening both valves topped up the system pressure. If it's at zero then you might have a leak somewhere (?)

[mrbios]

I had a similar setup on my old house, and yes, opening both valves topped up the system pressure. If it's at zero then you might have a leak somewhere (?)

 

I think it was my fault when i tried to bleed a radiator and didn't do it back up properly (trying to do it with pliers wasn't a wise move, got a proper key now haha)

[andyrite]

Should be done while cold. Needs to be 1.5bar.

[mrbios]

Cheers, done it now, all went well albeit i don't know which pressure gauge to believe. The one on the boiler itself is 1.5bar, the one in the airing cupboard is now showing about 1.9bar (Heating is now up to temperature mind, so presumably it will have risen? Not sure why both gauges are giving different readings though)

[elsiegee40]

You are not supposed to leave the connecting hose permanently connected. The reason it is a removable hose is to prevent accidental over-pressurisation.

 

We had one with a permanent connection in a brand new flat. It failed building regs and we had to get the builders out to put in a temp hose like you have which is how we found out.

[mrbios]

You are not supposed to leave the connecting hose permanently connected. The reason it is a removable hose is to prevent accidental over-pressurisation.

 

We had one with a permanent connection in a brand new flat. It failed building regs and we had to get the builders out to put in a temp hose like you have which is how we found out.

 

Interesting you should say that, as this one was installed right before we moved in as it was brand new, and it was installed by the landlord who happens to own the plumbing business who installed it! I shall bring that up with them

 

I must admit i looked at it and thought "I need a lock or catch on this airing cupboard, wouldn't want my son turning this on!". I'll ask them to give me some caps so i can cap it off and remove it.

[elsiegee40]

If both taps are off, you should be able to unscrew that hose by hand. That's how we did it. Looks like you can do the right hand end in your pic. That's enough. Edited November 26, 2014 by elsiegee40

[mrbios]

Yea i can remove that flexible pipe now, going to go to bnq tomorrow and get some plastic caps to stick over the ends of the pipes to avoid any accidents too:p

[plexer]

If both taps are off then the only issue will be if someone who doesn't know turns it on otherwise I'd just leave it connected, the filling loop on our combi is permanently connected with the taps shut off.

 

Ben

[TomHD]

I'm pretty sure that building regulations allow you to leave the filling loop in place nowadays.

 

TomHD

[Hefferzzzz]

If its rented, I wouldnt be messing with the boiler. Especially if its from a plumber who will more than likely be able to tell if its broken becuase of fault or becuase of someone tampering.

 

Benefit of having a landlord!

[TomHD]

I had to refill my boiler just yesterday after bleeding some rads. It is very simple and your landlord would probably expect you to be able to do it. You say he's a plumber so perhaps he can come show you how it is done and you will know in future.

 

Else, you could look at the manual and it will more than likely detail what needs to be done. Look for "Filling" or "Re-pressurising" sections.

 

TomHD

[eyetea]

It's times like this when I get on my phone... "Daaaaaad" (Or sometimes the "in law" but I don't call him Dad! ) We had a reasonably bad leak under the sink when we moved in to our place this summer that we only found as there was a not quite as bad leak on the hot pipe! Rung up the Mrs' Dad and he was over within the hour, and sorted it within 30mins!

[mrbios]

If its rented, I wouldnt be messing with the boiler. Especially if its from a plumber who will more than likely be able to tell if its broken becuase of fault or becuase of someone tampering.

 

Benefit of having a landlord!

 

Well it's a general home maintenance type task, so i don't think my landlord would have any issues with me doing it...afterall it's his or his employees time wasted if i ask them to come out just to turn two taps for 30 seconds and walk away again. I've done it now anyway, i'd never seen an external filling loop system before, all the ones i've seen in the past (and never actually done myself!) had one of those special keys you had to put into the bottom of the boiler.

 

To be honest i think if i'd have phoned them about it they'd have probably walked me through it over the phone rather than coming out anyway, it was that simple!

[Hefferzzzz]

Well it's a general home maintenance type task, so i don't think my landlord would have any issues with me doing it...afterall it's his or his employees time wasted if i ask them to come out just to turn two taps for 30 seconds and walk away again. I've done it now anyway, i'd never seen an external filling loop system before, all the ones i've seen in the past (and never actually done myself!) had one of those special keys you had to put into the bottom of the boiler.

 

To be honest i think if i'd have phoned them about it they'd have probably walked me through it over the phone rather than coming out anyway, it was that simple!

 

 

True, sorted now and thats the main thing!