Combination Boiler Hot water Problems

Hot Water Problems From You Combination Boiler

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

Described as an ingenious space saving boiler

specifically for small properties, 

the central heating and hot water all from one small mounted boiler, 

no need to have separate hot and cold water tanks, 

with continuous hot water on demand.

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

These new undated boilers now produce more hot water than ever before,  

are highly efficient, thus saving on your energy bills, 

but can suffer hot water problems if not serviced.

The combination boiler tends 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 the hot again.

It may only get Luke warm.

If you open the hot water tap close to the boiler, watch the boiler and 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 go through a cycle, 

the internal diverter valve switches over, so the water is only heated within the boiler, 

not through to the central heating.

The water is pump through the hot water plate heat exchanger, 

Basically this works on the same principle as when you put a baby bottle into a saucepan of warm water,

the bottle will eventually be the same temperature as the saucepan.

The two waters never actually touch, 

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

The reason the hot water over time 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 has to be cleaned and flushed out, 

the reason it has to be cleaned is to remove any debris and sludge from the system. 

Sludge is the biggest problem,

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 have noticed the hot water is not as hot as it use to be,

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

If your boiler is run by gas then make sure you only use a gas safe service engineer.

The other common problem with the combination boiler is due to the expansion vessel.

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

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

Part of that service is first to make sure everything is safe, the boiler is burning as it was designed too.

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

expansion vessel should be checked, reset if needed,

this tends to get missed out of the service, 

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

If not checked, it will loose it’s pressure and you will notice the pressure rise and then drop to zero

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

overtime it gets diluted, and does not protect the system as much, 

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

If the above is followed and carried out then 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.