dual heating system. back boiler and pump

RNH16

Hi,

Was wondering if anyone can give me an answer on the following;
I just moved into a two storey house built in approx 1986 which has a dual heating system (as far as I know), oil and solid (back boiler over open fire). My question is how do I know if the pump that circulates the water from the back boiler is on or not. Since I moved in I've been messing around with it a little trying to see which way gives more heat to rads and now I don't know if its on or off (either way made no significant difference to heat going to rads). Really can't afford to wait until I get an electric bill that is too high and then I know it was left on. Is there any way to know if the pump is on or off? The button which the previous owner told me to use has no indication as to whether its on or off.
Apologies if this is a really stupid question. This is my first house and I know nothing about heating systems. Much less about back boilers and pumps.

Thank you

Billy Bunting

RNH16 wrote: »

(either way made no significant difference to heat going to rads).

you mean pump speed settings ??

You should have a pipe thermostat on the return from the cylinder that controls the pump on/off. photos may help.

shane0007

Billy Bunting wrote: »

You should have a pipe thermostat on the return from the cylinder that controls the pump on/off.

???

Should be on the flow from the back boiler!

Billy Bunting

Mmm 1986!!

shane0007

Billy Bunting wrote: »

Mmm 1986!!

Dtp79

shane0007 wrote: »

Me too

TPM

Billy Bunting wrote: »

you mean pump speed settings ??

You should have a pipe thermostat on the return from the cylinder that controls the pump on/off. photos may help.

shane0007 wrote: »

???

Should be on the flow from the back boiler!

Billy Bunting wrote: »

Mmm 1986!!

Bill is using his wisdom here, he is saying the return pipe from the cylinder because that is most likely where you would find it on an irish heating system around the eighties(with the switch on the watt to turn on when everything starts banging) Its far from right but seems to be what was done.

Billy Bunting

shane0007 wrote: »

Dtp79 wrote: »

Me too

Well simply trying to be specific to the year, and any dual fuel heating system of that vintage in my manor would have had pipe stat on return at cylinder. :eek:

:P

Dtp79

Billy Bunting wrote: »

Well simply trying to be specific to the year, and any dual fuel heating system of that vintage in my manor would have had pipe stat on return at cylinder. :eek:

:P

Ah yes very true. I've often seen 3 stats. God knows why!!

Billy Bunting

Most also had 1/2 vent pipes

Dtp79

Billy Bunting wrote: »

Most also had 1/2 vent pipes

Just fixed up a system today that had a 1/2 vent. It also had a gate valve on the primary flow and a pump on the primary return. And no safety valve

BikerTech

RNH16 wrote: »

Hi,

Was wondering if anyone can give me an answer on the following;
I just moved into a two storey house built in approx 1986 which has a dual heating system (as far as I know), oil and solid (back boiler over open fire). My question is how do I know if the pump that circulates the water from the back boiler is on or not. Since I moved in I've been messing around with it a little trying to see which way gives more heat to rads and now I don't know if its on or off (either way made no significant difference to heat going to rads). Really can't afford to wait until I get an electric bill that is too high and then I know it was left on. Is there any way to know if the pump is on or off? The button which the previous owner told me to use has no indication as to whether its on or off.
Apologies if this is a really stupid question. This is my first house and I know nothing about heating systems. Much less about back boilers and pumps.

Thank you

This may help,It may not!

I have a pump as part of my heating system,It is a solid fuel back boiler set up.
If you can get access to the pump,switch it on and see if it makes a whirring sound,this will signal it is on.
On my pump also,there is a screw in the centre of the pump that needs to be loosened and retighten to get the pump to cut in sometimes after periods of inactivity.
Just my 2 cents

RNH16

BikerTech wrote: »

This may help,It may not!

I have a pump as part of my heating system,It is a solid fuel back boiler set up.
If you can get access to the pump,switch it on and see if it makes a whirring sound,this will signal it is on.
On my pump also,there is a screw in the centre of the pump that needs to be loosened and retighten to get the pump to cut in sometimes after periods of inactivity.
Just my 2 cents

Thanks for your replies.

I have found the pump...will attach pictures later. Does have a screw in the centre...what happens when you loosen and retighten it...does it make the pump work more efficiently?

dpofloinn

No the screw is for bleeding the pump

RNH16

I have attached pictures. Socket on the wall contains the switch the old owner told me to use to turn the pump on or off.

Also having a problem with my boiler which is out in the shed. (don't know if it is a problem but is very annoying). it makes a 'firing up' noise every few seconds for about twenty mins then stops and does again while it is on. Heating is working so isn't affecting it actually firing up but seems to be trying to fire up again while it is already on.

anybody know how i can stop it doing this? really annoying considering that i can hear it in the front rooms of my house and the boiler is at the end of the back garden.

thank you

aujopimur

Your boiler needs a service.