Recent: Home max fs506x?

Mend > Home Heating Systems

Mend Baxi Bermuda Boiler Radiators Blockage

Baxi Bermuda - Lukewarm hot water ?

Back boiler producing lovely hot rads - but tepid 'hot' water.

Investigated the airing cupboard: The hot pipe comes in from the boiler to a 1970s white plastic 3 way manual valve - marked with a red&green spiral design and the text 'Hot Water' - 'Radiators'. This is siezed in the mid setting and hasn't been budged for years.

The CH pipe comes out of this valve hot, whereas the 'hot' water tank coil pipe comes out of this medium hot, then turns 90degrees (to go up to the hot tank) after the 90degree turn the pipe is lukewarm.

Is this a 'blockage' problem?
Would flushing solve it - or potentially make it worse?
Are replacements available for a 3-way valve?
How much would be a fair charge to remove valve, clean, fix replacement/refurbished valve ?

Not sure if I've forgotten anything......

BigDave
January 2009
Top advice Tony.

Its working now! I think your air lock diagnosis was spot on.

Solution:
Last night I took off the rad nearest the boiler, flushed the rad (no actual 'sludge', more the consistency of ink), also drained a tiny bit of water (it was very clean)out of the system via the In rad valve.
Then replaced the rad, fully opened all rads, turned the old faithful baxi bermuda 551 back on at medium temp, balanced all the rads in the property. Hey presto.

Don't know whether it was air (would make sense as the DHW inlet into the hot water tank is the 2nd highest point after the filler tank). But the system seems to be circulating well now.

Cheers,

PS, Have another one;
Since all this activity, the analogue timer switch (very simple, with 2 time slots on a 24hr revolving dial on the front, plus a Timer/Off/Constant toggle switch on the side) has given up the ghost. What would be a fair price for fitting a new one ?

BigDave47
January 2009
Top advice Tony.

Its working now! I think your air lock diagnosis was spot on.

Solution:
Last night I took off the rad nearest the boiler, flushed the rad (no actual 'sludge', more the consistency of ink), also drained a tiny bit of water (it was very clean)out of the system via the In rad valve.
Then replaced the rad, fully opened all rads, turned the old faithful baxi bermuda 551 back on at medium temp, balanced all the rads in the property. Hey presto.

Don't know whether it was air (would make sense as the DHW inlet into the hot water tank is the 2nd highest point after the filler tank). But the system seems to be circulating well now.

Cheers,

PS, Have another one;
Since all this activity, the analogue timer switch (very simple, with 2 time slots on a 24hr revolving dial on the front, plus a Timer/Off/Constant toggle switch on the side) has given up the ghost. What would be a fair price for fitting a new one ?

BigDave47
January 2009
yeh Dave it will be an air lock.Bang it on Water only and crank the boiler stat to high and leave it for a while.It may bang and clout,but should push the air lock out the way.You can then turn it back down to your desired setting.Hope it works for you.

Tony S
January 2009
Thanks for your help Tony.

HW pipe leading to the tank coil is now hot after the manual-3-way-valve, but I'm still getting only luke warm water.

By the way, should ave said this all started happening after the system went a bit dry after the filler tank failed to top-up.

Could it be an air lock ? If so how can it be cleared ?

BigDave47
January 2009
Thanks for your help Tony.

(the manual-3-way-valve has 'Simplicity' stamped on it.)

HW pipe leading to the tank coil is now hot after the manual-3-way-valve, but I'm still getting only luke warm water.

By the way, should ave said this all started happening after the system went a bit dry after the filler tank failed to top-up.

Could it be an air lock ? If so how can it be cleared ?

BigDave47
January 2009
These valves were a cheapo version of a motorised valve but they always seemed to seize up.Chances are is that the DHW side is virtually closed hence tepid water.Im not sure if you can still get them.You are always tempted to give it a crack with a hammer to try and move the lever but you know what water is like.You may need to drain the system but just enough so you can take the whole valve off.You will be able to see the problem then and if need be take it to your nearest plumb center to see if they sell anything similar.

Tony S
January 2009

Related Questions ...

Mend warm radiators help
2

Luke warm radiators?

Really need help with a central heating problem (old, but sturdy back boiler open vented system in a flat - o... [Read more]
Mend heating radiator pressure
2

Message on boiler says "Filler needed" ?

We have just removed air blockage from 2 radiators and now our boiler quotes "Filler Needed" with diagram of a... [Read more]
Mend boiler central heating blockage
2

Help with Worcester greenstar ri?

Hi, drained a central heating vented system today to fit a new rad valve, turned the cold water back on and re... [Read more]
Mend combi boiler central heating blockage
2

ferroli f30 ?

central heating fires up for 5 to 10 sec then cuts out then fires up again for 5 to 10 sec then cuts out and s... [Read more]
Mend boiler pressure blockage
1

2 rads wont heat, i have diagnosed everything i can think of?

i have 2 radiators that wont heat at all, they are the 2 furthest from the boiler, both with relatively new tr... [Read more]
Mend central heating boiler blockage
1

Baxi Combi Boiler?

I have had an engineer out to my central heating system and he has said that their is a blockage in the system... [Read more]
Mend combi boiler central heating radiators
1

Baxi Combi Boiler?

An engineer has been out to my central heating he has said that we need to flush the system to get rid of a bl... [Read more]
Mend boiler heating lockout
2

potterton puma ?

my potterton puma which is about 8yrs old has developed two faults, when you run the shower upstairs for more ... [Read more]
Mend central heating sludge radiators
3

IDEAL CLASSIC BOILER ONLY STAYS ON FOR 2 MINUTES?

My Ideal Classic FF280 will only stay on for 2 minutes then cuts out. I have recently been having problems ... [Read more]
Mend boiler central heating blockage
1

Worcester 24i - Cold Radiators!!!?

Hello I am having problems with my central heating system. Basically the radiators are cold even when the hea... [Read more]
Mend boiler radiators sludge
1

whats going on with my potterton profile boiler?

most of my radiators upstairs fail to heat up when the boiler is on. All of the radiators downstairs are fine.... [Read more]
Mend boiler radiators heating
2

boiler and pump are working, but rads are not getting hot?

Hi My boiler (Potterton Kingfisher II) is working, as is the timer switch and pump. The radiators however, ... [Read more]
Mend blockage radiators boiler
4

Draining down sytem?

I drained down my system in order to clean the system with Fernox through the draincock on the boiler but it t... [Read more]
Mend combi boiler heating pressure
12

Baxi Bahama 100 - Pressure rising only when heating on!?

Hi, to anyone who can help me :-) I have a Baxi Bahama 100 combi boiler. Just recently, it has developed a ... [Read more]

How to mend ...

Find out how to mend just about anything howtomendit.com for free repair help, information and advice.
Mend Home Heating Systems ...