Cylinder not filling

[Edjs]

Help! Please the hot water cylinder isn’t filling, which I’m assuming is the reason the central heating is also broken. The header tank in the loft is good and there doesn’t seem to be an airlock because (cold) water is coming out of the hot taps. However, that water is merely flowing through the cylinder, as soon as I close the gate then no water comes from the hot taps.

hoping to find a quick fix to do myself as next year will see a small extension which will include a new comb boiler.

 

[Chuck]

I doubt that there's anything wrong with your cylinder or the domestic hot water side of things.
If your central heating isn't working and you have no hot water, i.e. the water from the hot taps is cold, then your boiler or heating controls need investigation.

I suggest you call a plumber / heating engineer.

 

[Edjs]

Thanks for the reply. I do intend to call a plumber in but first I’m trying to establish why the cylinder isn’t filling up, there seems to be no more than 1 or 2 litres in at any given time.

 

[Basher]

Hello Edjs
I don't understand why you think there is no water in the cylinder. I apologise if I have misunderstood what you posted.
You say when you turn a hot tap on, cold water comes out. Therefore there is clearly water in the cylinder which is being replenished from your storage tank. Presumably if you leave the tap on, the water continues to run.

If you close a gate valve to stop water going into the cylinder, then no more water will come out of It to feed the hot taps. If you are not letting air or water in, no water will come out (well not usually!). It doesn't mean the cylinder is empty. I'm not sure what is leading you to that conclusion.

As Chuck advised, it is highly likely your lack of heat is due to a boiler or control issue.

 

[SimonG]

Well apart from the hot water being cold your hot water tank is doing exactly what it needs to do.

If your heating isnt working then either the boilers kaput, the pumps kaput, or something on the controls side is kaput.

 

[Edjs]

Thanks very much to the three of you! . It took a while but I slowly reached this same conclusion myself. Sometimes the boiler will work for about ten minutes and then fail again. Either pump or PCB looks the culprit