Avoid Hot Water Problems From Your Combination Boiler.

Combination Boiler Hot water Problems

The Combination boiler was invented many years ago,

it was designed for properties without a loft space like flats and apartments.

We all know that flats and apartments are limited for space.

When these boilers first appeared on the market it was hailed as a revolution.

Described as an ingenious space-saving boiler

specifically for small properties.

Central heating and hot water all from one small wall mounted boiler.

No need to have separate hot and cold water tanks, 

with continuous hot water on demand.

Nowadays the combination boiler accounts for around 50% of all boiler installed in the united kingdom.

These newly updated boilers now produce even more hot water than ever before, are highly efficient, thus saving on your energy bills.

They can suffer hot water problems if not serviced annually.

These combination boilers tend to suffer a few problems if left un-maintained.

These are hot water problems and pressure problems.

Hot water problems.

You may notice the water not as hot as it normally is, 

it may sometime run hot and cold then hot again.

It may only get Lukewarm.

If you open a hot water tap that is close to the boiler, watch the boiler temperture gauge to see what happens.

You may notice the temperature rise rapidly then the boiler shuts down,

after about 20 seconds the boiler fires up again. 

This is one of the most common problems with combination boilers, 

It means the boiler is overheating. 

Try to Avoid these hot water problems.

When you make a demand for hot water, the boiler goes through a cycle.

The internal diverter valve switches over, so that water is only heated within the boiler, not through to the central heating.

The water is pumped through the hot water plate heat exchanger.

This works on the same principle as when you put a babies bottle into a saucepan of warm water.

The bottle temperature will eventually rise the same temperature as the saucepan.

The two waters never actually touch. 

Water that circulates within the boiler is not the same water that comes out of the hot taps.

The reason the hot water deteriorates is down to small blockages within the heat plate exchanger.

Water from the boiler cannot pass through fast enough to heat the water,

The boiler starts to overheat and shut down, 

Eventually, the hot water will stop working.

So how do you avoid these hot water problem?

When any new boiler is installed, the whole of the system should be cleaned and flushed out.

The reason it has to be cleaned is to remove any debris and sludge that may be within the system. 

Sludge is the biggest killer of combination boilers.

It causes more boiler breakdowns than anything else.

Once the system is clean, an inhibitor is added to protect the system and stop the build-up of sludge.

If you have a combination boiler that is a few years old, you may have noticed the hot water not as hot as it used to be.

You need to have the boiler and system checked over to see if you have sludge build-up. 

If your boiler fuel is gas, make sure you only use a gas safe registered service engineer.

Another common problem with the combination boiler is the expansion vessel.

You may notice the pressure gauge rising and then discharging water through pressure relief valve pipe.

With any boiler that heats your water and central heating together, you should always have annual service.

Part of the service is first to ensure everything is safe, the boiler is working as it was designed too.

The combustion needs to be checked with a gas analyser and adjusted if needed.

Expansion vessels should be checked, reset if needed,

This tends to get missed out of the service, 

but it’s a very important part of the boiler. 

If not checked, it will lose its pressure over time and you will notice the pressure rise and then drop to zero.

Avoid Hot Water Problems From Your Combination Boiler

Next, the inhibitor within the system should be topped up if needed. 

Over time it dilutes down, and will not protect the system as much.

When this happens the sludge starts to form, so again this is very important check.

If the above is followed you should have a problem-free combination boiler.

Try to Avoid these hot water problems by looking after your boiler and it will look after you.

Avoid Hot Water Problems From Your Combination Boiler.

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