Omega Owners Forum
Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Sir Tigger KC on 12 October 2016, 16:54:22
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Glow worm Betacom C24 combi working fine except it has low pressure on the hot water taps. Nothing wrong with the plumbing as the cold water has good pressure.
Any ideas chaps? ??? TIA! :y
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Pressure the same on all taps?
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Yep.
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Never liked combis but they are very popular.
Heating ok? common link with the hot water via the internal pump.
Do you have a manual or is there one online?
Just had Scottish gas fix ours for a one off price of £99.
Needed an electrode and a pcb.
Warm as toast now :y
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What is the system pressure?
Found a manual online if you need it.
https://www.glow-worm.co.uk/glow-worm/betacom-c-july-09-157123.pdf
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Thanks for that! :y
Heating is fine. It's just the water pressure at the hot taps. :-\ A bit of Googling suggests there might be a lime filter that's clogged. :-\
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Thanks for that! :y
Heating is fine. It's just the water pressure at the hot taps. :-\ A bit of Googling suggests there might be a lime filter that's clogged. :-\
Are you going to pay someone to fix it? Or take it to bits yourself and pay someone to put it back together and fix it?
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Thanks for that! :y
Heating is fine. It's just the water pressure at the hot taps. :-\ A bit of Googling suggests there might be a lime filter that's clogged. :-\
Are you going to pay someone to fix it? Or take it to bits yourself and pay someone to put it back together and fix it?
What do you think? :)
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Thanks for that! :y
Heating is fine. It's just the water pressure at the hot taps. :-\ A bit of Googling suggests there might be a lime filter that's clogged. :-\
Are you going to pay someone to fix it? Or take it to bits yourself and pay someone to put it back together and fix it?
What do you think? :)
I don't know, that's why I asked :P
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Taking a guess at a sticking diverter valve.... hit it with a hammer
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Just had my Vaillant serviced yesterday
Apart from cleaning out the magnetic filter for the heating circuit, the plumber removed a plastic round container from underneath the boiler and his comment was "theres not much crap in there either" . Both got rinsed out under the cold tap, before refitting.
Perhaps you have something similar, I assume the container he removed from the boiler was something to do with the hot water :-\
Maybe best to get it serviced before the onslaught of winter :y
My plumber charged me £40 for the service (he did do other 'stuff' apart from cleaning the filters) plus I needed his sig in the service book for the 7 year warranty :)
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Combis have a dual purpose, CH and HW heat exchanger, and although the heating may be OK, if you are in a hard water area and the water is not softened, there is probably limescale in the HW flow side of the exchanger causing your problem. (Beware that if this is the case, you may also have limescale in the CH side also, leading to gradual reduction in heat output.) If your combi has an aluminium exchanger, it is probably not allowed by the maker to soften the water inlet into the exchanger. It is not a difficult job to remove these units on most combis, and you then have the option of descaling it (difficult) or fitting new. :y
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Yes a clogged heat exchanger has crossed my mind and could prove expensive. :-\
I like the idea of hitting it with a hammer! ;D
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They usually have a mesh filter on the feed which supplies the hot water, they clog up with crudd.....the instruction manual shows one fitted to the cold water inlet.....
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They usually have a mesh filter on the feed which supplies the hot water, they clog up with crudd.....the instruction manual shows one fitted to the cold water inlet.....
Ah yes, I see that now. I'll have a look at that later. Thanks! :y
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I have the opposite problem with mine in the new house (a Vaillant); the hot water is piping hot and plentiful but the rads only get to about 35-40C.. and the boiler is in the loft that this fat bas..git can't get into.
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I have the opposite problem with mine in the new house (a Vaillant); the hot water is piping hot and plentiful but the rads only get to about 35-40C.. and the boiler is in the loft that this fat bas..git can't get into.
Weird things, Vaillants. I was feeling the cold this morning so turned the stat up from 20 to 22. The target temp for the CH is 75 degrees (the max). It always kicks into life with a really low flame and stays that way, with the temperature gradually creeping up, for about 20 minutes then, all of a sudden, the burner comes to life and the temp gets up to 75. That's where it's sitting now.
If I turn the stat back down, and the decide it's cold, it will go through this 'warming' cycle again.
According to the forums, it's normal. :-\
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Also, not just any CH engineer wants to try to service them, either.
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I have the opposite problem with mine in the new house (a Vaillant); the hot water is piping hot and plentiful but the rads only get to about 35-40C.. and the boiler is in the loft that this fat bas..git can't get into.
Weird things, Vaillants. I was feeling the cold this morning so turned the stat up from 20 to 22. The target temp for the CH is 75 degrees (the max). It always kicks into life with a really low flame and stays that way, with the temperature gradually creeping up, for about 20 minutes then, all of a sudden, the burner comes to life and the temp gets up to 75. That's where it's sitting now.
If I turn the stat back down, and the decide it's cold, it will go through this 'warming' cycle again.
According to the forums, it's normal. :-\
Depends on the type of controller fitted to the boiler, I reckon.
My plumber doesn't fit any other type of boiler except Vaillant and he reckons mine is the only one he's fitted that does that.
But then mine is the only one he's fitted using a Vaillant controller with weather compensation. He normally fits other makes of controller.
Tho a gradual rising of the temp of the CH, probably saves gas and that's why it does it :y
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They usually have a mesh filter on the feed which supplies the hot water, they clog up with crudd.....the instruction manual shows one fitted to the cold water inlet.....
^^^^This^^^^
Had a similar problem with mine last year.
Remove the mesh filter (Carefully) ;)
Stick it in a bowl with some Cilit Bang or similar for a few hours.
Give it a good brush with a nail brush then flush out under the tap.
Rebuild
Happy days :y :y
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They usually have a mesh filter on the feed which supplies the hot water, they clog up with crudd.....the instruction manual shows one fitted to the cold water inlet.....
^^^^This^^^^
Had a similar problem with mine last year.
Remove the mesh filter (Carefully) ;)
Stick it in a bowl with some Cilit Bang or similar for a few hours.
Give it a good brush with a nail brush then flush out under the tap.
Rebuild
Happy days :y :y
Use white vinegar.
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I have the opposite problem with mine in the new house (a Vaillant); the hot water is piping hot and plentiful but the rads only get to about 35-40C.. and the boiler is in the loft that this fat bas..git can't get into.
Weird things, Vaillants. I was feeling the cold this morning so turned the stat up from 20 to 22. The target temp for the CH is 75 degrees (the max). It always kicks into life with a really low flame and stays that way, with the temperature gradually creeping up, for about 20 minutes then, all of a sudden, the burner comes to life and the temp gets up to 75. That's where it's sitting now.
If I turn the stat back down, and the decide it's cold, it will go through this 'warming' cycle again.
According to the forums, it's normal. :-\
Depends on the type of controller fitted to the boiler, I reckon.
My plumber doesn't fit any other type of boiler except Vaillant and he reckons mine is the only one he's fitted that does that.
But then mine is the only one he's fitted using a Vaillant controller with weather compensation. He normally fits other makes of controller.
Tho a gradual rising of the temp of the CH, probably saves gas and that's why it does it :y
I fitted a Vaillant combi and the weather compensator.
It does start gently before building up to full output but it doesn't take 20 minutes.
The Vaillant boiler has hundreds of software settings that allow the boiler to be set up in weird and wonderful ways - I will have a look and see if there is a setting to control how long it takes to reach full throttle.
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Thanks, Andy. There is an installers menu, or something, but I don't know how to get into it. It was already installed when we moved in, but no instructions.
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Thanks, Andy. There is an installers menu, or something, but I don't know how to get into it. It was already installed when we moved in, but no instructions.
I expect you could find the user manual online, as EverReady kindly found mine. :y
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Thanks, Andy. There is an installers menu, or something, but I don't know how to get into it. It was already installed when we moved in, but no instructions.
I expect you could find the user manual online, as EverReady kindly found mine. :y
I've looked at it. Remember the instructions you used to get with Japanese cameras? ;D
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I reckon this is the fella, not much help, really.
(http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n156/stmo987/IMG_0342.png)
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Thanks, Andy. There is an installers menu, or something, but I don't know how to get into it. It was already installed when we moved in, but no instructions.
This looks like the installers guide for your boiler https://www.vaillant.co.uk/downloads/ecotec-installation-servicing-2006-261447.pdf (https://www.vaillant.co.uk/downloads/ecotec-installation-servicing-2006-261447.pdf)
I can't see anything obvious that would cause a 20 minute delay so probably best not to mess with it.
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I reckon this is the fella, not much help, really.
Nope, that just resets a timer....if the burner is off but there is still a demand for heating...resetting it just makes the burner come back on without it waiting a period of time (this 'feature' is suppose to prolong the life of the boiler, so to keep resetting the timer is probably not a good idea)
But unless you have a weather compensator controller fitted, I don't see how this would happen in your install, as your CH temp is set to 75C, unless your rad stats are shutting the rads off before the room stat knocks the boiler off.
All the 'good' bits to play with are under the installer menu....and probably best to leave alone unless you really understand what they do :)
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My installer menu is just a zero at each level. Obviously done when it was put in. It's working fine, and I do like to 'fiddle about' with things, so maybe it's best I can't get to it. ;D
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That's not quite correct. In the installer level there are two digits flashing. It asks me to enter the level and I can go up in ones by pressing the + button, but it won't let me press 'enter'. No matter what digits are showing, they just keep flashing and the enter button does nowt.
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My installer menu is just a zero at each level. Obviously done when it was put in. It's working fine, and I do like to 'fiddle about' with things, so maybe it's best I can't get to it. ;D
Mine asks for a 2 digit code to access the installer menus.....
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Think I've worked it out...a bit. If the stat's showing 20 and I ask for 21/22, the boiler takes the water up to about 45 degrees and that's it, obviously bring the temperature up gradually. If I ask for, say, 25, it gets it's arse into gear much more quickly, obviously realising that it needs the full 75 degrees to bring the temperature up.
What I don't like is the fact that it takes the outside temperature into consideration and this can make it behave differently. I want to be in charge of what happens indoors, not the fickin boiler. >:(
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Pretty sure your wife will always trump you when it comes to being in charge of what happens indoors, regardless of the boiler.. :P :-X
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Pretty sure your wife will always trump you when it comes to being in charge of what happens indoors, regardless of the boiler.. :P :-X
Yes the old boilers are always in charge! ;D
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Pretty sure your wife will always trump you when it comes to being in charge of what happens indoors, regardless of the boiler.. :P :-X
Not in this house. The only thing that bosses me around is the dog. :(
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Pretty sure your wife will always trump you when it comes to being in charge of what happens indoors, regardless of the boiler.. :P :-X
Not in this house. The only thing that bosses me around is the dog. :(
That's what you think! :P
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Pretty sure your wife will always trump you when it comes to being in charge of what happens indoors, regardless of the boiler.. :P :-X
Not in this house. The only thing that bosses me around is the dog. :(
who do you think instructs the dog?
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The little bastard has just had a plate of ham and is now looking at me eating my sandwich. (Looking=staring..staring..staring...staring..staring) Moving closer, ears back, pathetic look on face......fick off...all gone. :P
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Think I've worked it out...a bit. If the stat's showing 20 and I ask for 21/22, the boiler takes the water up to about 45 degrees and that's it, obviously bring the temperature up gradually. If I ask for, say, 25, it gets it's arse into gear much more quickly, obviously realising that it needs the full 75 degrees to bring the temperature up.
What I don't like is the fact that it takes the outside temperature into consideration and this can make it behave differently. I want to be in charge of what happens indoors, not the fickin boiler. >:(
Whats the heat curve set to? (its under the installer settings on the controller, not on the boiler) The higher the number the more it makes the boiler work. Also on the controller settings, you can set the min temp of the CH. Mine is set to 65C on the controller and 75C on the boiler, so the lowest temp the CH can be is 65C and the max is 75C, the controller is then in charge of where the temp should be between those two temps.
I suppose you could set the two settings to 75C, but that kinda defeats having weather compensation.
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Errrr......controller?
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Errrr......controller?
We've told you already, that's Mrs STEMO! ::) :P ;D
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I have this:
(http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n156/stmo987/IMG_0343.jpg)
This
(http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n156/stmo987/IMG_0344.jpg)
And this
(http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n156/stmo987/IMG_0345.jpg)
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21? :o
Conclusive proof of who wears the trousers there. ;)
The dog has clearly been taught well. ;D
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So I pulled out the little filter on the cold feed to the boiler this arvo and it was OK, so it looks as though I have bigger problems.... :(
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I have this:
(http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n156/stmo987/IMG_0343.jpg)
This
(http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n156/stmo987/IMG_0344.jpg)
And this
(http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n156/stmo987/IMG_0345.jpg)
Ecotec 831, the same boiler as mine.....but several things....
Its quite a modern 831, going by the left hand side lcd panel (same as mine) ive seen older versions.
But the installer has put in an old timer control and then added a third party room stat.
Nowt wrong with that setup, but it wont be making the full use of the boiler features
It doesn't have weather compensation btw. You need the Vaillant VRC 470 or VRC470F (wifi version) for that.
I have the VRC470F fitted to mine https://www.vaillant.co.uk/homeowners/products/weather-compensating-control-1984.en_gb.html
That's the controller I referred to in an earlier post, its a room stat/timer and a host of other things too.
But I doubt if its worth changing your setup as the VRC470F is nearly a £200 option and its been superseded which costs about the same!
PS Someone has nicked the front panel off your boiler ::) theres suppose to be a metal panel that covers the controls and I can see in the pic off the boiler its missing!
PPS If you really really want to mess with the settings of the boiler......when its asks for the code , press up arrow until 17 is displayed then press enter.....on your head if you fook it up ::) ;D
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21? :o
Conclusive proof of who wears the trousers there. ;)
The dog has clearly been taught well. ;D
Mine is set to 21C , I'm the only one in my house who wears the trousers ;)
Its also the government advice temp.....tho that is probably best ignored....but its a temp I feel comfortable :)
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The metal cover is in the cupboard in the kitchen, I reckon someone has slammed the boiler cupboard door shut with the cover open.
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17 got me in, thanks.
I've pressed a few buttons and now it won't work at all ........not ;D
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So I pulled out the little filter on the cold feed to the boiler this arvo and it was OK, so it looks as though I have bigger problems.... :(
Any error code showing when there is hot water demand?
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So I pulled out the little filter on the cold feed to the boiler this arvo and it was OK, so it looks as though I have bigger problems.... :(
Any error code showing when there is hot water demand?
Nope, apart from the poor water pressure at the hot taps all is normal. :(
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The pressure on our hot taps has slowed since the weather got colder. Could it simply be that, because the temperature of the cold water feed has dropped, the boiler is slower to heat to the required temperature? :-\
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The pressure on our hot taps has slowed since the weather got colder. Could it simply be that, because the temperature of the cold water feed has dropped, the boiler is slower to heat to the required temperature? :-\
Water temp coming from water pipes buried underground only varies slightly, plus the pressure of the hot water would remain the same, just take ever so slightly longer to heat it, hardly noticeable. :)
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The pressure on our hot taps has slowed since the weather got colder. Could it simply be that, because the temperature of the cold water feed has dropped, the boiler is slower to heat to the required temperature? :-\
Water temp coming from water pipes buried underground only varies slightly, plus the pressure of the hot water would remain the same, just take ever so slightly longer to heat it, hardly noticeable. :)
Yeah, people keep telling me that that water from the cold tap only varies slightly, but it certainly varies quite a bit in the houses I've lived in. And I reckon it's very noticeable.
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The pressure on our hot taps has slowed since the weather got colder. Could it simply be that, because the temperature of the cold water feed has dropped, the boiler is slower to heat to the required temperature? :-\
Water temp coming from water pipes buried underground only varies slightly, plus the pressure of the hot water would remain the same, just take ever so slightly longer to heat it, hardly noticeable. :)
[/quote
Yeah, people keep telling me that that water from the cold tap only varies slightly, but it certainly varies quite a bit in the houses I've lived in. And I reckon it's very noticeable.
I don't disagree with you, if you are noticing a temp in the water that has been standing in the pipes in your house, but if you let the cold tap run for 10 secs or so.....I bet theres not much difference in temp over the year. :)
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So I pulled out the little filter on the cold feed to the boiler this arvo and it was OK, so it looks as though I have bigger problems.... :(
Any error code showing when there is hot water demand?
Nope, apart from the poor water pressure at the hot taps all is normal. :(
It maybe then, Shakeng is correct, you have limescale buildup :(
How old is the boiler?
I did try to have a looksee on your water company website, to see the hardness of the water, but it kept saying data unavailable.
You may have better luck having a look... :-\
I also had a look on your boiler manu website .... its suggests a fixed price of £200 summat for a repair, might be worth considering :-\
Altho I would, if possible, see what the flow is like going into boiler and see what the flow is like coming out of the boiler, to ensure the fault lies within the boiler and not a partially blocked pipe somewhere :-\
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The boiler is in South Wales so it's Welsh Water. ;)
It's about 4 years old, and I'm not sure what the hardness of the water is to be honest. As said earlier the little filter was clean but the heat exchanger could be clogged up with limescale as Shakeng said earlier. :-\ I guess it's possible that there's a blockage somewhere in the hot water pipes downstream from the boiler but how to check? :-\
As it's in a rental property it's time to get the professionals in so I'll give my GasSafe guy a ring on Monday morning. :y
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The boiler is in South Wales so it's Welsh Water. ;)
It's about 4 years old, and I'm not sure what the hardness of the water is to be honest. As said earlier the little filter was clean but the heat exchanger could be clogged up with limescale as Shakeng said earlier. :-\ I guess it's possible that there's a blockage somewhere in the hot water pipes downstream from the boiler but how to check? :-\
As it's in a rental property it's time to get the professionals in so I'll give my GasSafe guy a ring on Monday morning. :y
Any children in the house?
I would trace the route of the pipes serving the boiler to check that little fingers haven't partially closed a valve somewhere :-\
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Mine has got a fernox valve in the old cylinder cupboard upstairs. Apparently you switch the water valves either side of it off, clean the magnet, inject some more fernox and switch the valves on again. Keeps it all tickety boo....apparently.
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This is the fella:
http://www.plumbworld.co.uk/fernox-tf1-compact-filter-93-32269?utm_source=GoogleBase&utm_medium=GB&utm_campaign=GoogleBase&gclid=CNKLpKjM3c8CFasp0wodvdgJxw
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No nothing fancy like that and the only kids in the house are a pair of very spoilt Staffies! ;D
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Mine has got a fernox valve in the old cylinder cupboard upstairs. Apparently you switch the water valves either side of it off, clean the magnet, inject some more fernox and switch the valves on again. Keeps it all tickety boo....apparently.
That's for your CH....not HW
The magnet is suppose to attract the sludge to stop it ending up in the boiler :y