Boilermate 2 banging

Hi All,

We have a Boilermate 2 with an Ideal Classic LXFF boiler.

The system is 11 years old, and up until a couple of weeks ago was faultless.

Now, we have a banging sound coming form the radiator system. Most times when the radiators switch on, there is a single bang in the system somewhere, and then it behaves as normal. The bang does not happen as soon as the system starts up but will happen soon after start up then not happen again till next time.

Having read advice on several forums, I took the silver screws out of both pumps and made sure that they were free, which they were, in both directions and also removed the bleed screw from the Primary Return to Heat Generator manifold and there was no air present, just a nice fountain of slightly dirty but nowhere near sludgy water.
The only thing that struck me as odd was that when I removed the silver centre from the Heating Flow pump, there was a gurgling in the Boilermate 2 vessel as if it were drawing air in???. This stopped as soon as I re-fitted the silver screw.
After I did all this, when I switched the system back on, I had my hand on the Heating Flow Pump and it felt as if air was being drawn through, but as I have no experience of heating systems that could be normal.
We had an "Engineer" from a local company out last week to look at the system. Basically he didn't have a clue and recommended we rip floor boards up looking for a loose pipe????? After 11 trouble free years, hmmmmm.


Anyone got any suggestions please.

All suggestions will be very mush appreciated.

Many Thanks in advance.

Charlie C

Number 1 with your unit BM II.
Check that it is / can take water from the header tank.
And that the vent is clear / not blocked.
Read through the posts ref BM II.
Has been answered many times by myself.
There will be sludge inside the unit.
And the cold feed and or vent may be blocked.
Mike
MGC/H2O
Norfolk

OK Mike,

Thank you, I will try and check it out.

Cheers

Charlie C

Still a bit baffled!!!

The vent is clear and the water still comes in at the header tank.

I was surprised though at how much "muck" is in the header tank.

The clunking sounds to me for all the world like a valve either shutting off or opening up suddenly.

Is it worth getting the system flushed out and the tank cleaned? working on the theory that if there is a sludge problem somewhere that flushing will cure it.

Thanks once again in advance.

Charlie C

The cold feed not blocked?
How did you check that?
Mike

mike wrote:The cold feed not blocked?
How did you check that?
Mike

Just pushed the ball cock down in the header tank.

Sounds like I got that wrong!!!!

What should I do. I know the vent and pumps are OK, am happy with them.

How do I check the cold water feed?

Pleeeease.

Charlie C

Right Charlie C.
Look in the BM II section.
Or search in that section.
I have answered that question many many times.
Mike

mike wrote:Right Charlie C.
Look in the BM II section.
Or search in that section.
I have answered that question many many times.
Mike

Oooppps, Sorry Mike, feel a bit silly now.

Located and checked the cold feed pipe. (The small 90 deg elbow?)

I think its blocked. There is sludge in the header tank as well, once I dipped my hand in, I was surprised how much there was!!!!

So, having read your web site, I understand that the pipe isn't easy to unblock, but is it a case of using a flexible implement, say a bowden cable on a drill to clear the pipe. Installing a new external pipe, sounds easy, but not something I think I would be comfortable in doing.

Also, once I have removed the sludge from the header tank, I assume I need to do something out that as well. To my knowledge, thihs system has never been de-scaled or had inhibitor in it.

Or is it to late.

Thanks for your patience.

Charlie C

You could try filling it up through the vent.
I would empty the top tank.
Remove it.
Clean it.
The cold feed may just be blocked in the tank.
Try blowing and see if vent is clear.
And or blow down vent to see if cold feed is clear.
If you can fill it.
Then drain some out.
Add sludge remover at 1 litre to every 100 litres.
So if the unit is 150 that 1.5 litres.
Then the boiler and rads.
Normal house 1 litre but I would say 2.
So 4 litres would be good.
Run for a month then drain out when hot.
Every rad drop.
Boiler if possible
And unit.
Fill and flush if need be.
Then fill and run to see if all ok.
After a few days drain the unit and add 1 litre inhibitor to every 100 litres.
3 to 4 is the norm.
Get it now.
Watch what you do, if not game over.
Mike

The whole saga just go a lot worse.

Finally found someone who will do what we want as per Mikes recommendations. No-one seems interested in coming out and fixing, just replacing.

Sadly, the thing is now leaking water out of the whole circumference of the bottom tray. Its not gushing, I am thinking a leak somewhere inside the jacket and capillary action is doing the rest!!!!!!!

The banging had stopped in the last week, but has started again this morning!!!!

Getting fed up with this lark now.

I suppose we will end up replacing it now as there is now way of finding the leak.

Any ideas anyone?

Charlie C

Hi ya,
Game over by the sound of it.
BM II's are getting old now.
And if they have been installed from new with out the correct amount of inhibitor or any at all !
This is the end result.
Remember your boiler is the same age too. Unless that has been replaced.
Choices.
Unvented cylinder, still gives you mains pressure DHW
Combi boiler, but DHW would not be as it was.
Gledhill Boilermate BP unit (subject to space etc)
Albion Mainsflow unit, direct or indirect both giving DHW at mains pressure.
None of the above are a 5 minute install.
Have heard that BG fits the Gledhill Torrent and use the panel off the BM II.
You could try leak sealer in liquid form but you will / would need a few bottles.
Will it work? Who knows.
But if the wrong time of year as in weather and £'s etc.
Could be worth a try.
Check around the immersion heater / blank to see if leaking there.
Mike

Been watching and listening this morning.

It only leaks when the boiler is running, so I am assuming that the water store is pressurising when heated, and pushing water out somewhere.

I guess its still game over though as you can't actually get at anything inside the jacket.

What do you think would be the best replacement unit??? Up until now, we have had no complaints with what we have and would like something that gives similar service.

Thanks again for your help

Charlie C

You need to read my last post.
Bear in mind space where the BM II is located now.
Boilermate BP may be awkward.
Mainsflow can be better for space.
But remember your boiler may be the same age.
Why not get some quotes etc. And see what the local guys recommend.
Mike

mike wrote:You need to read my last post.
Bear in mind space where the BM II is located now.
Boilermate BP may be awkward.
Mainsflow can be better for space.
But remember your boiler may be the same age.
Why not get some quotes etc. And see what the local guys recommend.
Mike

Will do.

Thanks
Charlie C