Ideal Icos HE 15 Problem

[marlboro]

Hello there.

I have got the above boiler and 2 days ago it started making a really loud banging noise as well as clicking/cluncking etc.

Yesterday I tried to fire the cycle up, the 'C' symbol came on and the burner light came on.

After 10 seconds the banging/clicking started again and the burner light started flashing. The 'C' symbol was still showing with no error messages.

Now I understand the burner light starts flashing when the water has been heated or the central heating has reached the temp on the thermostat but the boiler is not staying on long enough for it to heat the water or radiators.

I have tried resetting the boiler but the banging noises start again and the boiler does not heat water/radiators.

I have had a problem in the winter with the condesat pipe where it froze up and I had to give the external pipe a whack to clear it. The 'LF' fault code was flashing for this.

As mentioned above there is no error code but there is this terrible banging/cluncking noise about 10 seconds into the cycle.

I have read that it might be something to do with the 's-trap' being blocked?

Any help would be greatly appreciated as my girlfriend won't be too impressed with washing with kettle water for long.

Many thanks

Marlboro

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[SafeGasInstall]

I am afraid you need engineer in , to solve the problem !
By the way what is your pressure gauge showing ???

 

[marlboro]

I am afraid you need engineer in , to solve the problem !
By the way what is your pressure gauge showing ???

There is no pressure gauge from what I can see 😕

I have cleared out the s-trap and I have since been told that it may be a faulty pump?

I have accepted I need an engineer to have a look at it, but just wondering if anyone has experience of this.

Thanks

 

[diamondgas]

Sounds like your pump has failed, nothing to do with the boiler this time!

 

[aggis]

Agree check pump out.

 

[marlboro]

Right an update.

I have been up into the loft and the pump doesn't seem to be working.

I turned the hot water taps on and the header tank is filling up so I don't think it's a mains water problem.

When I turn the boiler on whilst the hot taps are running the boiler still bangs but not as bad as before. The boiler light starts flashing after a short while though and still doesn't heat the water or rads.

Would the pump in the loft be causing this problem if it is not working?

Is there a pump situated in the actual boiler which could need replacing? There is not fault code displayed on the boiler.

Apologies for the long winded post.

I appreciate the advise.

Cheers.

 

[diamondgas]

Defo your pump in the loft! No integral pump with the Icos!

 

[marlboro]

Defo your pump in the loft! No integral pump with the Icos!

Thanks pal.

Much appreciated.

 

[diamondgas]

Alarm bells just rang marlboro regards where your pump is fitted ... Only thing you need to know to be certain its the pump, is that the system is filled with water and the pump has 240v to it when you are calling for heating or hot water! Still sounds like its deffo the pump though...

 

[aggis]

There's only a pump in the boiler if it's the icos he 15 system boiler, if you've got a pump thats connected to the pipes from the boiler in the loft, you need to check if it's stuck [ big screw in centre, remove & put flat blade screwdriver into slot inside & spin. Put old towel underneath when doing this!] if it runs/spins,refit big screw turn off & on again to check it starts again.[Put screwdriver against pumpbody & listen with ear against handle.
If it doesn't work check you've got 240v to it, if you have it's a new pump.
You can check for 240v 1st & rather than removing screw, give it a good tap with a hammer, it might start!
Make sure your header tank isn't dry, the small tank, as Diamondgas said

 

[marlboro]

Alarm bells just rang marlboro regards where your pump is fitted ... Only thing you need to know to be certain its the pump, is that the system is filled with water and the pump has 240v to it when you are calling for heating or hot water! Still sounds like its deffo the pump though...

I live in a bungalow, the boiler is in the kitchen and the pump is in the loft. I think the same switch turns on the boiler and the pump. My Mum & Dad's pump has separate switch! Not sure what is common practise.

I have tried banging the pump but it still doesn't start up.

When the system is set to zero would you still hear any noise from the pump if it worked?

My dad is coming round tomorrow with his metre to test the power to the pump.

How will I know if the system is filled with water?

Thanks again.

 

[marlboro]

This is the boiler.

 

[Blake]

You really need to put the cover back on that boiler and get someone in if you are struggling to fix it chap

 

[diamondgas]

How will I know if the system is filled with water?

Thanks again.

Starting to get a bit technical here, let me know if it's over your head ... You kind of really need to know if your heating system is open or sealed? Open you'll find 2 tanks in the loft, big one for your water, little one for your heating. The little one needs to be checked to see if it has any water in. Push the ball valve down gently and see if it is floating in water or is freed and lets water in. If freed that may well be your issue, if floating then pump!
A sealed system has a pressure gauge and an expansion vessel (big cylindrical red thing) as well as means to re-pressurise ... Your's will probably be next to your hot water cylinder in the airing cupboard, if you have one?

Bye-the-way ... put the case back on the boiler! lol

 

[marlboro]

Starting to get a bit technical here, let me know if it's over your head ... You kind of really need to know if your heating system is open or sealed? Open you'll find 2 tanks in the loft, big one for your water, little one for your heating. The little one needs to be checked to see if it has any water in. Push the ball valve down gently and see if it is floating in water or is freed and lets water in. If freed that may well be your issue, if floating then pump!
A sealed system has a pressure gauge and an expansion vessel (big cylindrical red thing) as well as means to re-pressurise ... Your's will probably be next to your hot water cylinder in the airing cupboard, if you have one?

Bye-the-way ... put the case back on the boiler! lol

The case is all back on now. 🙂

My system is an 'open' system and both tanks are working ok.

Hopefully when my dad tests the pump tomorrow we will find it's that.

One question though...

Does the pump control both heating and hot water? What does the motorised valve do?

Cheers.

 

[mfgs]

You shouldn't be messing around with the boiler, taking the case off and removing the condense trap.

 

[diamondgas]

Marlboro, the pump circulates the hot water around the system & the motorise valve decides the direction of the water to your radiators, your cylinder, or both 🙂 your boiler heats the water up! Simples!!!

 

[marlboro]

Marlboro, the pump circulates the hot water around the system & the motorise valve decides the direction of the water to your radiators, your cylinder, or both 🙂 your boiler heats the water up! Simples!!!

Tested the pump and it's sh@gged.

New pump is getting fitted tomorrow.

Cheers for all the advice.

 

[marlboro]

Just to let you know it was the pump.

Me and my Dad changed it over and now it all works.

Cheers for all the advice anyway.

🙂

 

[diamondgas]

Thanks marlboro ....