Noisy central heating

[Northy]

Hi guys, hope someone can help.

Every morning when the central heating kicks in it is very noisy, the noise is coming from the airing cupboard and sounds a bit like a pump that is catching as it spins, does that make sense?

The noise gets gradually quieter until its gone as the system heats up.

Any ideas? Is it fubar'ed?

Cheers,

G

[DCM]

Either you got a nasty case of trapped air in the system, which will require a full system bleed...

...OR...

The bearing in the water pump is on it's way out, I think there is a way of checking pump play, the shaft has a cover, which allows you to turn the pump using a screwdriver, you can check to see if it is grumbly. If the pump is on its way out, it is replaceable DIY as long as there is a shut-off valve above and below the pump.

[Northy]

Hi DCM,

Thanks for the quick reply.

2 questions:

What does the pump look like!

How do I bleed the system?!

Cheers

G

[BenG]

yeah, its trapped air, most likely, our's used to do it at night, and it freaked me out, but it was just some air in the system:D

[DCM]

unless the air is gathering in a high spot, then being distributed round the system when the pump comes round, otherwise you would normaly get pipe knocking and stuff like that.

Pump, big thing on the main pipe coming out of the boiler usualy (depends on the system), it will be on some 22mm pipe (3/4" for older houses), bout 10cm in diameter and 10-15cm long, have an electrical wire coming from the control unit into it.

Graham, if you are unsure, British Gas do a home care policy, which is monthly (no 12month minimum) cost £12 for boiler, £16 for boiler and systems cover, per month. Let them do it.

[Stu]

Sounds like its the bearings in the fan, not the pump.

[Southwell]

I thought all work like this had to be done by a registered and qualified repairer now?

[bert digler]

I thought all work like this had to be done by a registered and qualified repairer now?

nah bleed it first mate then phone the plummer if it dont work

[DCM]

Ian, not, it is things like Electricals in kitchens, bathrooms (wet areas) and outdoors got to be done (allegedly) by a qualified electrician, and gas work HAS to be done by a CORGI registered engineer.

Although after the hassle my father had with a the Fitters from Comet.... trained baboons would of done a better job of hard wiring the cooker into the hard wire point.... it was so bad, the earth and live were nearly touching (not enough earth sleeving on the earth wire and too much stripped from the Live)

[bert digler]

Ian, not, it is things like Electricals in kitchens, bathrooms (wet areas) and outdoors got to be done (allegedly) by a qualified electrician, and gas work HAS to be done by a CORGI registered engineer.

Although after the hassle my father had with a the Fitters from Comet.... trained baboons would of done a better job of hard wiring the cooker into the hard wire point.... it was so bad, the earth and live were nearly touching (not enough earth sleeving on the earth wire and too much stripped from the Live)

gas is qualified electrics is competant person the law is very vague on that but as long as you dont mess with the gas side of the central heating ie the boiler there is no real law stopping you BUT IF YOU DONT KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING DO NOT MESS

[Southwell]

Cool, thanks for clearing that up :)

[Northy]

Off I go to bleed the radiators...........

G

[ryan]

northy's house is now flooded:D

[Southwell]

Shouldnt you be able to see if theres air where the rads are by just seeing if they get hot? If they don't theres an air block.

[PaulRotheram]

Ashley, you have PM....:rolleyes:

[Northy]

Ashley, you have PM....:rolleyes:

:D

G

[Northy]

Right, I've had a look.

Got no air out of the radiators. The pump is a myson compact cp53. The speed was set flat out (3) so I've set that to 2. It does sound a bit noisy when it runs, I wonder if the bearings are on there way out?

When I do th emanual start spin thingy on it, it doesn't spin really free, it sort of grinds a bit. Is that right?

Cheers,

G

[Northy]

Almost forgot, I tried turning the pump onto speed 1 and it would not turn, just buzzed a bit. I guess this is a sign the bearings are fubar'ed?

Cheers,

G

[JCJC]

Gas is corgi, electrics are changing and a lot of people are confused, it will become like corgi..........pump may be near the hot water clyinder, may have three speeds, try it on a lower speed.

[Northy]

Would you class me as competent with an Electronics Degree? :confused::D

G

[Northy]

Gas is corgi, electrics are changing and a lot of people are confused, it will become like corgi..........pump may be near the hot water clyinder, may have three speeds, try it on a lower speed.

No worries dude, I've cogged it down a gear. My thinking is less speed = less noise! :p

G

[JCJC]

As I sit a type, he drops the speed........

[Barry Williams]

Would you class me as competent with an Electronics Degree? :confused::D

G
No-one in there right mind would ever class you as competent!!! lol
Have you checked the slipper clutch is set right on your central heating???:lol:

[DCM]

so I was right then Northy.... pump should be ok for now, but plan on getting it changed, a decent plumber will change it in an hour and cost less than £200.

[Northy]

Or I could buy an identical one for 40 notes and change it myself. :D

G

[WHITTLER555]

Northy, speak to Stu, I supplied a couple of bearings for his pump a couple of weeks ago, an hour or so later no noise.

Stu knows more than you think about central heating.:D

[JCJC]

Go with new pump & change it yourself........

[telboy]

i'd go with fitting new bearings...........

then replace the cells, get sme new tyres, paint the shell, get new radio gear and a decent speedo and.........

.....bobs your uncle!:D