baxi 105he instant hot water problem

[nigel]

3 year old boiler, the problem is that when I turn the hot water tap on it sometimes takes up to 20 mins before the water coming out of the tap is hot. During the time that the water comes out cold the boiler will not have fired. However, if when the tap is running cold I flick one of the other switches, sure as the pre heat, hot water/rad, or simply turn another hot water tap on in the same house then the water turns hot and the boiler will have fired.

I spoke to Baxi and they said that they would guarantee to fix the problem for £239 in VAT! I called out the engineer that had fitted the boiler and he took the front off the boiler then rang Baxi in my presence. Baxi told him to change the diverter valve which he says will cost around £150. Does this sound like a diverter valve problem? Do three year old boilers have these problems?

[Bob Minchin]

Motorised valves are not very reliable but are usually fixed by changing the motor unit. This should cost much less than you have been quoted, which sounds like the price to change the whole valve. Remove the motor having noted VERY carefully all the electrical connections. Make sure the valve can be moved manually - almost certain to be OK as your system can be provoked into action. Take the motor to a proper plumbers merchant/Heating suppliers (not B&Q or similar) and get a replacement.

Bob

[Heliotrope Smith]

Sounds more like a flow problem than faulty diverter vale to me. Not enough flow with only one tap open to fire up the boiler but ok with two taps open.

Only three years old then you probably still have the installation/service instructions that were left by the fitter.

There will be filters in the cold inlet that could be blocked. Also check if there is a flow switch that could be a bit sticky.

If you don't have the manual then you should be able to download one from the Baxi website.

[ARWadsworth]

From here

Adam

[nigel]

"ARWadsworth" wrote >>>

The engineers that fiited the boiler came round today. He took off the front of the boiler then took out his mobile phone and rang Baxi's helpline! He spent 5 seconds explaing the problem and the emphatic solution to the problem according to Baxi was to change the diverter valve. After 4.5 hours of work the guy has fitted a new diverter valve and left the house.

30 mins after he has gone the problem of the intermittant breaks in the supply of hot water is back! Now he has to come back again! Should'nt he have tried to diagnose the problem himself, or is that not the way its done these days?

[Andrew Gabriel]

The technology of modern boilers has gone racing past the abilities of probably the majority of gas fitters.

[AJH]

I know I've said this before but the British Gas scheme is well worth the monthly payment at such times. Their engineers also seem to be knowledgable enough to diagnose problems for themselves as of you would expect them to.