Hot water

[sherrardk]

My hot water doesn't seem to be heating up properly. When I had the central heating on (almost constantly) in the Winter I had loads of boiling hot water. Now I don't have the heating on in the daytime (but I do have the hot water on) the water just doesn't seem to warm up properly. Would the solution be to have the CH on but all the radiators turned off? Thanks.

[AlBags]

So you have a HW Cylinder and a conventional boiler and a Mid-position valve or Zone valve(s)?
If a cylinder, check the pipe into the cylinder is getting hot and the boiler is firing up and pump running.
You may have a problem with motorised valve, air in primary circuit (bleed out)

[sherrardk]

Thanks for your answer - could you simplify it a bit (it's an old fashioned timer thing with a clock that goes around and you move the pins to where you want it to come on and go off and you can have hot water only or CH and hot water). We rent and the landlord is perfectly nice but a fuss pot - if I ring him, he'll want to travel up and he'll get his knickers in a twist about it all. Thank you.

[sherrardk]

Ps - I know that the system is on as the boiler is behind the gas fire in the living room so you can hear it. If the CH is off then the noise is really quite loud, if the CH is on then it is a lot quieter (personally, I think it might be on it's last legs).

[AlBags]

Ah .. So you have a back boiler then .. Baxi?
Those often work only by thermal syphon .. but may be connected in to pump. You need to check the pipework to see how the back boiler pipes are connected into the system at or near the HW Cylinder in airing cupboard? Check for a big valve with a silver box-type top on it. They can cause a problem if sticking or worn.
What's this noise coming from? Is it air gurgling or pump noise?

I'll check here again tomorrow.

[sherrardk]

Thanks again - the noise comes from the back boiler behind the gas fire. You can hear it firing up and settling down again but it is really noisy when the CH is off. (The gas fire is housed in the most hideous, huge, stone fire place you have ever seen - but that's another story.) Thanks for you help again.