Stanley cooker / boiler

2012paddy2012

Hi have a Stanley cooker that also works as heating boiler. The central heating is zoned - upstairs and downstairs. Issues have arisen in recents months.
There appears to be an air lock in the system. I have a plumber investigating.
I note that on the upstairs zone the towel rail in the ensuite is not heating fully.
I have bled it numerous times. It appears to lose heat from time to time despite this. There is a lot of noise coming from the pump in cooker when heating comes on , by timer. I also have started to notice that a rad in the downstIrs zone is losing heat too. I bled it and it sorts it out although only for a period of time.
There is no obvious visable leak anywhere. With no heating on , at approx 5 am in the morning , I can hear the expansion tank in the attic filling. I presume this is to make up for a leak somewhere in the system. The Stanley is 20 year old with no real serious issues over that time. The problem now that I have is that the plumber is operating on a trying to change this and that to see if that sorts the issue. He has changed a valve here and there , but as yet no luck in sorting the issue. This is starting to get expensive. It would be regrettable and a waste of funds if this trial and error proves fruitless. Two questions- any one have any idea what may be causing the issue I know the information is minimal. Would the services of someone other than a plumber eg a heating engineer be money better spent in the quest to establish the source of the problem.
Many thanks all.

2012paddy2012

Anyone !!!!

Dtp1979

2012paddy2012 wrote: »

Hi have a Stanley cooker that also works as heating boiler. The central heating is zoned - upstairs and downstairs. Issues have arisen in recents months.
There appears to be an air lock in the system. I have a plumber investigating.
I note that on the upstairs zone the towel rail in the ensuite is not heating fully.
I have bled it numerous times. It appears to lose heat from time to time despite this. There is a lot of noise coming from the pump in cooker when heating comes on , by timer. I also have started to notice that a rad in the downstIrs zone is losing heat too. I bled it and it sorts it out although only for a period of time.
There is no obvious visable leak anywhere. With no heating on , at approx 5 am in the morning , I can hear the expansion tank in the attic filling. I presume this is to make up for a leak somewhere in the system. The Stanley is 20 year old with no real serious issues over that time. The problem now that I have is that the plumber is operating on a trying to change this and that to see if that sorts the issue. He has changed a valve here and there , but as yet no luck in sorting the issue. This is starting to get expensive. It would be regrettable and a waste of funds if this trial and error proves fruitless. Two questions- any one have any idea what may be causing the issue I know the information is minimal. Would the services of someone other than a plumber eg a heating engineer be money better spent in the quest to establish the source of the problem.
Many thanks all.

Your issue is that you have a leak. Changing the cooker will not sort this. A leak on the system will also introduce air into the system causing certain rads to fill with air. If your plumber hasn't realised this then get another plumber

2012paddy2012

Dtp1979 wrote: »

Your issue is that you have a leak. Changing the cooker will not sort this. A leak on the system will also introduce air into the system causing certain rads to fill with air. If your plumber hasn't realised this then get another plumber

Thks not going to change cooker. Correct have leak. Un traceable so far.
Have leak causing air into system yes.
Plumber is aware. Has checked everything to date. Trying various values and other parts to try establish problem .
Is there any other type of professional that could view my set up I wonder beside a plumber

Dtp1979

2012paddy2012 wrote: »

Thks not going to change cooker. Correct have leak. Un traceable so far.
Have leak causing air into system yes.
Plumber is aware. Has checked everything to date. Trying various values and other parts to try establish problem .
Is there any other type of professional that could view my set up I wonder beside a plumber

Well judging from previous posts your plumber dosent seem to competent. Get another plumber I'd say

2012paddy2012

Dtp1979 wrote: »

Well judging from previous posts your plumber dosent seem to competent. Get another plumber I'd say

Grand thanks .

Dtp1979

2012paddy2012 wrote: »

Grand thanks .

No worries. Please don't pick me up wrong, I just don't want to see you throw good money on top of bad to a guy you might feel loyal to

jimf

im no plumber but I am happy to try things around my own house maybe tie up the ballcock for say 6 hours when you are around at home this will give you some idea of the amount of water you are loosing

the fact that you are hearing the expansion tank filling at 5am might point to a leak only when the system is cold maybe at a joint

2012paddy2012

Dtp1979 wrote: »

No worries. Please don't pick me up wrong, I just don't want to see you throw good money on top of bad to a guy you might feel loyal to

Thks he is competent just can't get it sorted .. I just thought that there might be some sort of expert that could short cut the effort to sort it thks a lot

Dtp1979

2012paddy2012 wrote: »

Thks he is competent just can't get it sorted .. I just thought that there might be some sort of expert that could short cut the effort to sort it thks a lot

Maybe ring a leak detection company. Expensive though