potterton flamingo 50 - HELP - Have C/H but NO H/W?

Hi,

we have just checked the hot water tap again and I would like to confirm, that we now have HOT water again...wooohhhhoooo....

So really, the answer to our question was, to tap all the pipe's connecting to the emmersion heater with a hammer to take off the limescale (I mention salt in my previous answers). I'm no longer going to replace the emmersion heater for now, but will do some stage as the only way we can have hot water is by turning the hot water on from the boiler as the heating element from the emmersion heater is no longer working.

I have saved loads of money by sitting down and looking at the manual and diagrams on the internet and having a little bit of common sense....Trust me, if I can, anyone can.

I would just like to say, I am so so so chuffed I resolved an issue I didn't know anything about....Lucky or what!!? "What ever it is you're think, your probably right"

now clean Dan and clean Sharon
March 2009

Hi, I've just tried something out, it kind of fixed the problem alittle bit.

please refer to link below:

http://www.diydoctor.org.uk/projects/domestic_hot_water_systems.htm

Thinking that the coild pipe '5' was covered with salt, I went and tapped pipes '4', '7' and '3' (not in that order), with a hammer. I heard things (probably the salt) hitting the bottom of the emmersion heater. Literally afew minutes later we're having warm water again, not hot as it was originally, but warm enough to definitely notice the difference and maybe take a quick shower, probably just one of us.

I definitely need a new emmersion heater. Everthing else is working..(I think)...

Screw Fix, selling the exact one I need for just under £150, I think without the heating element....

Wish me luck on replacing the emmersion heater myself....however, I will be keeping a look at this thread through the night just incase someone could really tell me what the problem is and have an answer to fixing this problem that Sharon and I are having.

Thanks again in advance and I hope this would also help people who go through the same problem.

not so clean Dan and now clean Sharon
March 2009

Hi, I've got more information that could potentially help resolve this problem.

Please see the link below to see the hot water cylinder (Indirect Cylinder)that we are using that has the heating element numbered as '6' on the picture no longer working.

http://www.diydoctor.org.uk/projects/domestic_hot_water_systems.htm

1) Pipe number '4' is where the hot water coming from the boiler down stairs.
2) The hot water goes through the coiled pipe and goes out to pipe '3' cold, which I think goes back through the boiler to get heated up again.
3) Pipe '2' is where the cold water comes from, from the tank in the loft, which fills up the emmersion heater. Which should also get heated up by the hot water going through the coiled pipe coming from the boiler pipe '4'.
4) Once the cold water coming from pipe '2' gets heated, then this goes out from Pipe '7' (Pipe '8' is just a air pipe, not link to anything) which comes out of the taps. But the problem is, the water coming out of pipe '7' is cold.

Question - Could it be that the coiled pipes inside the emmersion heater is covered with salt, which is why the water in the emmersion heater is not heating up?

There is water coming out of all the taps, which is cold and the water going into the emmersion heater from the boiler (pipe '4') is boiling hot. But the water coming out of pipe '7' go to the taps is cold.

I apologise if this isnt clear, but it might make it alittle bit more clearer by referring to the picture of the diagram in the link.

not so clean Dan and Sharon
March 2009

Peccavi, I've just checked and cannot find this valve...Also checked the kitchen, still no luck?...

Our emmersion heater is not working and the electrician from B/Gas has disconnected it and said we need a new emmersion tank, but said we should still get direct hot water etc from the boiler....was ok but now only heating but no hot water at all?

not so clean Dan and Sharon
March 2009

Peccavi....thank you for your quick reply...I'll try this out right now and get back to you....thanks again...

not so clean Dan and Sharon
March 2009

Non expert answer...

Heating systems for Hot water and Central Heating need a valve to send the heated water to where it's needed...

The heated water will be directed to the Hot Water storage tank or to the radiators and sometimes shared between the two. A motorised valve (often in the airing cupboard) does this - sometimes the valve gets stuck and they usually have a lever so you can switch it over manually...Here's a picture of one...

http://www.toolstation.com/images/library/stock/webbig/85125.jpg

In an ideal word your hot water tank will have a working immersion heater for emergencies like this.
Good luck...

Peccavi
March 2009