Replacing heating pump isolating valve

I need to replace the right hand pump's bottom isolating valve as it's leaking.

I've no problem with physically fitting it but do I need to drain it right down first?

I changed the sensor above the pump a while ago and just turned off the mains.

Any other tips appreciated. Thanks in advance.

You need to drain the BM 2000.
And any rads above it.
Rads on the same floor too.
Do the job.
Don't forget the inhibitor when filling.
Mike

Thanks for the reply.

I ended up calling British Gas on this one in the end as the drip was getting faster and my spare time was running out. I have a breakdown policy but pay a surcharge which to be honest was worth doing in this case. Called them early afternoon and they had finished the job by 5, replacing both pump valves and the drain valve.

You mention inhibitor, I queried that with the engineer and he said it wasn't necessary, and to be fair in the Gledhill installation instructions it does say it isn't isn't required, although beneficial to the radiators etc.

We do have a water softener so I presume that would eliminate limescale problems?

Right.
Page 40 of your book.
Specsavers visit required.
The biggest killer of the BM 2000 is sludge. In fact all systems.
Perhaps he did not have any!
For every 10 rads you need a bottle (500ml or 1 litre)
The BM 2000 you need the same for every 100 litres.
So a BM 125 would be 1.25 bottles.
And going to the top a BM 225 would need yes 2.25 bottles.
So a small system with up to 10 rads and a BM 125 would be 2.25 bottles.
So skin flints would put 2 in.
I would put 3 in.
With ref to your water softener all that is protecting is the domestic half of your plate heat exchanger.
From the book
On filling the heating system and before the boiler is fired up, it is important to ensure the
system water is treated with a suitable corrosion inhibitor, in accordance with the boiler
manufacturer’s instructions.
Since the concentration of inhibitor present in a system can become diluted, for a number of
different reasons, the system should be checked annually and re-treated as required, or after
every full or partial drain-down. A water treatment manufacturer’s test kit
may be used to check the correct concentration of inhibitor in the system.
Where recommended by a boiler manufacturer, a ‘physical corrosion
protection device’ may be fitted in the primary pipework in accordance
with the boiler manufacturer’s instructions.
The Benchmark log book should be completed indicating the date and
details of any of the above products added and a permanent label
should be fixed to the system in a prominent location.

I await your reply.

Mike

Your rads, and boiler.
All run off the BM 2000.

Thanks for that, I only got to page 27 where it implies it's just beneficial.

Primary Water System Treatment
Although the BoilerMate 2000 has no special
water treatment requirements, the radiators
and other parts of the circuit will benefit
from the application of a scale and corrosion
inhibitor such as Sentinel X100 or a Protector
such as Fernox MB1.

Yet on page 40 as you mention On filling the heating system and before the boiler is fired up, it is important to ensure the
system water is treated with a suitable corrosion inhibitor


I will get on to British Gas and hopefully get them to come back and add the required amount. the downstairs rads weren't drained so there must still be a small amount in the system.

The boiler and BM2000 are now some 12 years old so could need replacement in the not too distant future anyhow.

Same as always people do not read the book.
BG should know better.
All systems suffer with sludge etc.
Hence the "magna clean2 filter developed for system.
I suggest if interested going on the Fernox website and read all about systems etc.
Very interesting and will shock some people.

British gas said they do not include the cost of inhibitors as part of their repair cover. But apparantly if there is a problem caused by it not being there it they will cover any repairs!!

To be fair though they did say if I get hold of my preferred brew, they would come back and partially drain down and add it.

Does it have to be the Sentinel X100 - my local Toolstation are doing some build-cert approved bottles for about £7, half the price.