Totally off topic - Domestic plumbing advice pls!

[MarcusMan]

OK - Its the coldest day of the winter, snow on the gound and the boiler has shut down. Further investigation and theres water pouring from an overflow pipe out of the loft. Went up to check what was going on and sure enough the cold tank is full to within an inch of the top and the water in it is WARM!?

I no little or nothing about plumbing, naturally the guy who services the boiler for us is not answering his phone, I'm scouring the net for ideas and I wondered if anyonw with a practical mind here (ie almost anyone but me!) has a thought.

Cheers

Mark

 

[halcyon]

Is pump running ?
You have water circulating via the expansion tank, not the radiators.

Brian

 

[MarcusMan]

Thanks Brian - Off to check now.

 

[sgball]

I can see that your in East Sussex - where abouts. We are in Brighton. Partner Steve may be able to help. That's if he hasn't frozen in Brighton Marina (had to clean 2 hulls ready for racing tomorrow).
Trudie

 

[Duster]

Almost certainly a pump problem - the boiler has reached temp and shut down but hot water is rising . It may just be that the pump has stuck , hit the pump with a lump of wood- seriousely we have to do it to ours occasionaly!!

 

[DavidJ]

The only reason why it should do this is (I recon) is that the thermostate has failed in your boiler, the water has boiled and forced water up through the overflow into the expansion tank. The boiler has shut down because of some safety cut out maybe, again due to the temperature ,due to the thermostate.
How's about that for a theory??

 

[stamfordian]

agree with this boiler thermostats are two stage the first stage resets automaticly but the second stage "latches" and needs to be manually reset...you could keep warm or generate hotwater by running the boiler for short periods only ...only if you can,t get anybody out don,t jam the stat yourself.

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.arweb.co.uk/argallery/stamfordian>http://www.arweb.co.uk/argallery/stamfordian</A>

 

[MarcusMan]

Many thanks for all the advice.

Having looked at it all and checked a few things out, it appears to be a theromstat problem, on the hot water cylinder rather than in the boiler itself - hence the water boiling and expanding. Our electronic ignition boiler, which is a bit tempremental at times had indeed tripped but seems quite happy as long as its only heating the Central Heating not the Hot Water. Fortunately we've got an immersion to overcome that problem. If all else fails its off to the boat for a hot shower tomorrow!!!!!

I'll let you all know if this is indeed the problem and many thanks again for your help. Trudie, particular thanks for volunteering your partner - hope hes thawed out now

Mark

 

[sgball]

Please to hear you sorted your heating out. Yes he has thawed out - a few Brandy's worked wonders.
Trudie

 

[boatmad2]

No dont hit it there may be a big screw in the centre of the top if so unscrew this to reveal a slotted shaft end turn this with a large screw driver to free pump.
Prblem may also be air lock in system some where.