Does anyone here understand central heating systems?

[Lord Bracknell]

Bracknell Towers is equipped with a solid fuel stove that is connected to seven radiators and a hot water tank.

Last year, we called in a specialist heating engineer to do some maintenance. He did a great job on cleaning out the stove, but for some reason left us with a central heating system where only one radiator and the hot water tank were working. I tried bleeding any trapped air out of the system - but to no avail.

The outcome was a cold house - all bloody winter.

This year - tonight to be precise - the whole system has suddenly sprung into life and we have hot water flowing into every radiator. The entire house is suddenly warm again. I've bled the radiators and all seems well.

Does anyone understand why things have suddenly fixed themselves?

I'm even thinking now that a cold, wet Tuesday night at Withdean is something to look forward to, because I'll be returning home afterwards to a lovely warm house.

 

[The Large One]

Suddenly repaired itself?

Sounds more like it took seven months to repair itself.

 

[Fazz62]

Bracknell Towers is equipped with a solid fuel stove that is connected to seven radiators and a hot water tank.

Last year, we called in a specialist heating engineer to do some maintenance. He did a great job on cleaning out the stove, but for some reason left us with a central heating system where only one radiator and the hot water tank were working. I tried bleeding any trapped air out of the system - but to no avail.

The outcome was a cold house - all bloody winter.

This year - tonight to be precise - the whole system has suddenly sprung What is the problem.

into life and we have hot water flowing into every radiator. The entire house is suddenly warm again. I've bled the radiators and all seems well.

Does anyone understand why things have suddenly fixed themselves?

I'm even thinking now that a cold, wet Tuesday night at Withdean is something to look forward to, because I'll be returning home afterwards to a lovely warm house.

LB

Surely if the stove was not working.
Whats to stop your servants "preparing" the bed for your return.
With the use of one of those olde fashioned family brass bed warmers (embosed with L.B. of course)?

 

[Lord Bracknell]

Brass bedwarmers are nowhere near as good as the contraption that my Italian landlady used to provide me with in winter - when I lived there years ago.

It was basically an open bucket of hot charcoal, taken from the droppings of a wood-burning kitchen stove, and placed inside a wooden frame that went under the bedclothes. For a reason I never understood, it was called a "prete" ("priest").

 

[Lord Bracknell]

Suddenly repaired itself?

Sounds more like it took seven months to repair itself.

The only explanation I can think of is that I tried switching it off and then switching it back on again.

 

[Fazz62]

Brass bedwarmers are nowhere near as good as the contraption that my Italian landlady used to provide me with in winter - when I lived there years ago.

It was basically an open bucket of hot charcoal, taken from the droppings of a wood-burning kitchen stove, and placed inside a wooden frame that went under the bedclothes. For a reason I never understood, it was called a "prete" ("priest").

LB

You are obviously a man of pricipal.

However I understand that it was not an uncommon uncoath practice of the Mayfair Set to employ servants to "warm" their beds. Prior to their masters arrival.

ps
The question I posted last week about a cart.
It was about a bloke from the poor house who died of a heart attack having been made to pull a cart through Brighton to the workhouse

 

[Nottseagull]

Brass bedwarmers are nowhere near as good as the contraption that my Italian landlady used to provide me with in winter - when I lived there years ago.

You lived in a place called "winter" ?

With answers like this, you've probably realised your on the wrong forum. I've had a browse, and this looks a good'n:

http://www.askthequestion.co.uk/phpBB2/forum-2.html

 

[Uncle C]

I would say it was trapped air (air lock) in the pipework. Until it works its way to a radiator it cant be bled out of the system.

 

[Deleted User X18H]

Get British Gas round £192 flat fee years guarantee only thing is you pay before they turn up so it could be a 30 quid problem on the other hand it could be a 2 grand problem you still only pay the 192 quid though!!!

Piece of mind

 

[Skint Gull]

Get British Gas round £192 flat fee years guarantee only thing is you pay before they turn up so it could be a 30 quid problem on the other hand it could be a 2 grand problem you still only pay the 192 quid though!!!

Piece of mind

Did you actually read what he said. This is for SOLID FUEL, not GAS!


And anyway, if your boiler breaks, do they replace it for you for £192 p/a?

 

[Man of Harveys]

Whilst we're on the subject, what might be causing the water pressure in my rather swish combi boiler to drop almost every week, despite my regularly topping it up to 1 bar? The thing didn't fire on the timer this morning and my testicles haven't descended since. There's no sign of leakage anywhere, either at the radiators or on the boiler itself.

 

[Garage_Doors]

The only explanation I can think of is that I tried switching it off and then switching it back on again.

Is the system run by "Windows" ?

 

[Barnet Seagull]

Whilst we're on the subject, what might be causing the water pressure in my rather swish combi boiler to drop almost every week, despite my regularly topping it up to 1 bar? The thing didn't fire on the timer this morning and my testicles haven't descended since. There's no sign of leakage anywhere, either at the radiators or on the boiler itself.

There is a leak somewhere. Whack the pressure up a bit and you'll soon find out where

 

[Westdene Seagull]

Is the system run by "Windows" ?

Radiators are normally placed under windows rather than next to them

 

[Deano's Right Foot]

Whilst we're on the subject, what might be causing the water pressure in my rather swish combi boiler to drop almost every week, despite my regularly topping it up to 1 bar? The thing didn't fire on the timer this morning and my testicles haven't descended since. There's no sign of leakage anywhere, either at the radiators or on the boiler itself.

This happened to me - no discernable leak.

I called the experts in.

Apparently my flange had perished

 

[Man of Harveys]

my flange had perished

Cheers - I'm so sorry to hear that. Must be a difficult time.

I can't see any evidence of a leak somewhere in Harveys Towers so it must that my old flange is getting a bit ragged too by now.

 

[trueblue]

Did you actually read what he said. This is for SOLID FUEL, not GAS!


And anyway, if your boiler breaks, do they replace it for you for £192 p/a?

Too bloody right they don't. I spent thousands over the years on their homecare policy but when my 7 1/2 year old boiler broke down they couldn't obtain the gasket because it's a discontinued line. So did they replace the boiler? Nope. Because if it's over 7 years old, it's tucked away in the small print that it's not covered.

To add insult to injury, they then quoted me over £4000 to fit a replacement. Wasn't hard to work out that was a rip-off, as the exact model of boiler they wanted £1200 for is available for half that from suppliers on the internet. They even, laughably, claimed they were giving me a £450 discount.

I no longer have a Homecare agreement, and my electricity and gas is now supplied by Eon. Avoid British Gas like the plague.

 

[Easy 10]

I understand that it was not an uncommon uncoath practice of the Mayfair Set to employ servants to "warm" their beds. Prior to their masters arrival.

I like the sound of this.
Do you know if any of the servants would stay on and do "extras" ?

 

[Skint Gull]

Too bloody right they don't. I spent thousands over the years on their homecare policy but when my 7 1/2 year old boiler broke down they couldn't obtain the gasket because it's a discontinued line. So did they replace the boiler? Nope. Because if it's over 7 years old, it's tucked away in the small print that it's not covered.

To add insult to injury, they then quoted me over £4000 to fit a replacement. Wasn't hard to work out that was a rip-off, as the exact model of boiler they wanted £1200 for is available for half that from suppliers on the internet. They even, laughably, claimed they were giving me a £450 discount.

I no longer have a Homecare agreement, and my electricity and gas is now supplied by Eon. Avoid British Gas like the plague.

Exactly.

£192 p/a - £50 for a service by a decent plumber is £142 p/a, over seven years thats £994 HB&B will spend more than he needs to. There is no way on earth that Homecare is good value for 95% of people, only the tiny percentage of very unlucky ones who's boiler completely packs up within the first 7 years.

Lucky Hove Bed & Breakfast is so rich he can afford to waste his money

 

[Nottseagull]

Get British Gas round £192 flat fee years guarantee only thing is you pay before they turn up so it could be a 30 quid problem on the other hand it could be a 2 grand problem you still only pay the 192 quid though!!!

Piece of mind

Don't do that, anybody. Instead, put £16 per month into a high interest regular saver or isa. You'll almost certainly be quids-in in the long run.