Idiots, cold radiators and a hot boiler...

hots

Hi, no DIY knowledge at all but looking to be pointed in the right direction hopefully!

Basically the boiler is heating up and we're getting hot water but none of the radiators are heating up at all. I think I've narrowed the problem down to being the pump (red thing in pictures?). The pipe above leading into it is hot, as is the pump but the pipe coming out of it is cold (this pipe leads out into the first radiator I think). The pump is also making some noises, although I'm not sure if it's just water in there if if it's moving parts? It's quite quiet anyway...

Hoping to be called a fool and told to turn on a switch but just wanted to ask here before calling someone to look at it.

Robbie.G

hobbit of the shire wrote: »

Hi, no DIY knowledge at all but looking to be pointed in the right direction hopefully!

Basically the boiler is heating up and we're getting hot water but none of the radiators are heating up at all. I think I've narrowed the problem down to being the pump (red thing in pictures?). The pipe above leading into it is hot, as is the pump but the pipe coming out of it is cold (this pipe leads out into the first radiator I think). The pump is also making some noises, although I'm not sure if it's just water in there if if it's moving parts? It's quite quiet anyway...

Hoping to be called a fool and told to turn on a switch but just wanted to ask here before calling someone to look at it.

It is possibly the pump can you feel or hear if it's running.
It can be checked by removing front brass screw on pump and insert screwdriver to check if pump is spinning.
It could be seized or have no power to it.
If you are able to check any of these if not you will have to call in a pro

hots

Robbie.G wrote: »

It is possibly the pump can you feel or hear if it's running.
It can be checked by removing front brass screw on pump and insert screwdriver to check if pump is spinning.
It could be seized or have no power to it.
If you are able to check any of these if not you will have to call in a pro

Thanks for the reply! It doesn't feel as if it's running at the moment, there's no noise and maybe the tiniest vibration from it (I'm guessing just the water?)...

When you say remove the screw do you mean from the red bit at the back or the little one on the black plastic thing on the front of the pump?

Robbie.G

hobbit of the shire wrote: »

Thanks for the reply! It doesn't feel as if it's running at the moment, there's no noise and maybe the tiniest vibration from it (I'm guessing just the water?)...

When you say remove the screw do you mean from the red bit at the back or the little one on the black plastic thing on the front of the pump?

On the front of the pump.If you do unscrew it put a small bowl or tea towel under it there will be water coming from it
Not a lot of water but a steady drip

hots

Robbie.G wrote: »

On the front of the pump.If you do unscrew it put a small bowl or tea towel under it there will be water coming from it
Not a lot of water but a steady drip

Nice one thanks, I'll give that a go tomorrow!

macnug

hobbit of the shire wrote: »

Hi, no DIY knowledge at all but looking to be pointed in the right direction hopefully!

Basically the boiler is heating up and we're getting hot water but none of the radiators are heating up at all. I think I've narrowed the problem down to being the pump (red thing in pictures?). The pipe above leading into it is hot, as is the pump but the pipe coming out of it is cold (this pipe leads out into the first radiator I think). The pump is also making some noises, although I'm not sure if it's just water in there if if it's moving parts? It's quite quiet anyway...

Hoping to be called a fool and told to turn on a switch but just wanted to ask here before calling someone to look at it.

Is this a house you just moved into or are unfamiliar with op? The reason I as is usually there is a valve for turning off radiators in the summer. In my house its wired through the thermostat, so if I put the stat down to 5c, the radiator don't come on but the boiler still heats the water. With older houses its a physical valve.

SteelyDanJalapeno

I've have a handle on my boiler that switches between heating the rads and heating the water to the taps, anything similar here maybe?

slimjimmc

hobbit of the shire wrote: »

Nice one thanks, I'll give that a go tomorrow!

Before you do anything to the pump make sure you isolate the electrical supply.
Actually, you could check the power to the pump hasn't already been shut off.

hots

Hmm thanks all, how would I check if there's power to the pump? There's a white cable coming out of it but it goes into the boiler...

We're in the house nearly a year now and we haven't shut anything off but we've had plumbers in earlier in the year who might have?

macnug

hobbit of the shire wrote: »

Hmm thanks all, how would I check if there's power to the pump? There's a white cable coming out of it but it goes into the boiler...

We're in the house nearly a year now and we haven't shut anything off but we've had plumbers in earlier in the year who might have?

Is this the first time on since the plumbers?

hots

Yeah it was, called a plumber out yesterday, apparently we need a replacement pump due to lack of water in the system... quote €290 + €50 to diagnose the problem, does that sound about right or should we get someone else out for a second opinion?

Thanks everyone for the help!

Dtp1979

hobbit of the shire wrote: »

Yeah it was, called a plumber out yesterday, apparently we need a replacement pump due to lack of water in the system... quote €290 + €50 to diagnose the problem, does that sound about right or should we get someone else out for a second opinion?

Thanks everyone for the help!

If it's 350 to change a pump and diagnose then yes it's too dear. Even if he uses an A rated pump worth 100

macnug

hobbit of the shire wrote: »

Yeah it was, called a plumber out yesterday, apparently we need a replacement pump due to lack of water in the system... quote €290 + €50 to diagnose the problem, does that sound about right or should we get someone else out for a second opinion?

Thanks everyone for the help!

So the last plumbers probably didn't refill the system and the pump burned out? 350 sounds a bit dear, shop around.

hots

Cheers guys, much appreciated. Any idea what sort of price we should be expecting?

Dtp1979

hobbit of the shire wrote: »

Cheers guys, much appreciated. Any idea what sort of price we should be expecting?

200 would be fair id say

650gs

http://www.ie.screwfix.com/grundfos-ups2-15-50-60-central-heating-pump.html
If you buy anything cheaper your buying crap this would be the cheapest you should go for an if you want to be sure to be sure go up a mark.
As for 200 you get what you pay for Id say 200 for the local DIY'er with no vat and you messing around for months after before you get in another plumber to sort it

Dtp1979

650gs wrote: »

http://www.ie.screwfix.com/grundfos-ups2-15-50-60-central-heating-pump.html
If you buy anything cheaper your buying crap this would be the cheapest you should go for an if you want to be sure to be sure go up a mark.
As for 200 you get what you pay for Id say 200 for the local DIY'er with no vat and you messing around for months after before you get in another plumber to sort it

200 is fair if using an A rated pump. 100 incl vat to fit a circ pump is all I'd ever charge

650gs

Dtp1979 wrote: »

200 is fair if using an A rated pump. 100 incl vat to fit a circ pump is all I'd ever charge

So 100 euro inc vat, you take 13.50 euro off for vat leaves 86.50 euro to supply and fit an A rated pump ?????? wow you must be making top dollar

Dtp1979

650gs wrote: »

So 100 euro inc vat, you take 13.50 euro off for vat leaves 86.50 euro to supply and fit an A rated pump ?????? wow you must be making top dollar

86 euro on labour yes. It's about 5-7 mins work changing the actual pump. I'd always have a few spare ones in the van so I don't have to drive to the shop each time I need one.

650gs

Dtp1979 wrote: »

86 euro on labour yes. It's about 5-7 mins work changing the actual pump. I'd always have a few spare ones in the van so I don't have to drive to the shop each time I need one.

5 to 7 min if your lucky PM me a number I have a few for you to do, cheers at them prices

Dtp1979

650gs wrote: »

5 to 7 min if your lucky PM me a number I have a few for you to do, cheers at them prices

If you cant change a pump in less than ten minutes then your in the wrong game mate.

650gs

1 last week under floor boards nuts solid and had to lift half the floor to get to it, a little more than 10 min a few weeks ago 1 in a downstairs hot press bot valves solid and not working into the bargain, needed two large stilsons and take the side of the hot press off Oh had to drain down the system.
But as I sai PM your number have about 6 to replace at your price if your willing

Dtp1979

650gs wrote: »

1 last week under floor boards nuts solid and had to lift half the floor to get to it, a little more than 10 min a few weeks ago 1 in a downstairs hot press bot valves solid and not working into the bargain, needed two large stilsons and take the side of the hot press off Oh had to drain down the system.
But as I sai PM your number have about 6 to replace at your price if your willing

Don't be stupid, there's always going to be awkward ones that take more time to change and obviously the price increases accordingly

650gs

Still like your number if you fancy changing some

Dtp1979

650gs wrote: »

Still like your number if you fancy changing some

I think I have some spare time in March if that's any good

650gs

Don't thinks so, say's it all

Dtp1979

650gs wrote: »

Don't thinks so, say's it all

Care to elaborate on the tripe your talking?

Thargor

Plumber fight!

dodzy

650gs thinks that dtp is supplying & fitting pump for €100 when in fact it's his rate for fitting only.

"€86.50 for labour - yes"

Come on lads......group hug

Dtp1979

Dtp1979 wrote: »

200 would be fair id say

I think it was pretty obvious I said 200

TOEJOE

Hobbit
You should put a jacket on that Hot water cylinder you are wasting heat.

hots

TOEJOE wrote: »

Hobbit
You should put a jacket on that Hot water cylinder you are wasting heat.

Yeah I did think it was odd it didn't have one when I opened it up (rented house and in my room-mates room), we always had one in my house as a kid, worth buying yeah?

cerastes

hobbit of the shire wrote: »

Yeah I did think it was odd it didn't have one when I opened it up (rented house and in my room-mates room), we always had one in my house as a kid, worth buying yeah?

Thats in a rented house? Id be leaving this to the landlord to sort, mucking about with their heating system, any problems and you'd be liable, better to inform them, and get a professional.

hots

cerastes wrote: »

Thats in a rented house? Id be leaving this to the landlord to sort, mucking about with their heating system, any problems and you'd be liable, better to inform them, and get a professional.

Yeah we were just trying to pay for it ourselves and do them a favour (rent review coming up soon), I called the property co. to see if they were alright with it and they've insisted on their own guy so we're now waiting for him to come out tomorrow to re-diagnose it and then later during the week to fit it :rolleyes:

dodzy

Dtp1979 wrote: »

I think it was pretty obvious I said 200

I agree, but.........

650gs wrote: »

So 100 euro inc vat, you take 13.50 euro off for vat leaves 86.50 euro to supply and fit an A rated pump ?????? wow you must be making top dollar

Dtp1979

dodzy wrote: »

I agree, but.........

Yes that was talking strictly about the labour end of it

Dtp1979

Dtp1979 wrote: »

86 euro on labour yes. It's about 5-7 mins work changing the actual pump. I'd always have a few spare ones in the van so I don't have to drive to the shop each time I need one.

As I said above straight away