Hello,
This morning the boiler started making noises. When the fan starts spinning it makes a noise. I don't know how to describe it. A howl is the best I can describe it but that suggests it is loud and high pitched and it isn't exactly either of those. Once the fan has been spinning for a while, the noise seems to go away. Perhaps the fan expands as it gets hotter and that somehow stops the noise?
I can get to the back of the fan and I have sprayed some white grease onto the bit of the fan I can see but it doesn't seem to have had any effect. Where is the bearing that I need to lubricate? Is it at the "far end" of the fan, that would involve having to dismantle things to reach?
Are these known symptoms of a failing fan? I presume the grease has dried out with age? I know Geoff is recommended in these parts. Is it time to buy a new one from him?
I would like to get a new boiler one day but I currently have a combi and I would like to change it either to something with a cylinder, so that I have backup hot water, or possibly I might look into a heat bank. I would also like to move it to the other side of the kitchen. I was hoping I could re plumb the water bits, add the cylinder and header tank etc. myself, before buying a new boiler, to keep the costs of the replacement down. As it will take me months to get round to it, I was hoping to keep this boiler going for a bit longer.
My question is, how could I get a gas qualification, so that I would be able to do all of the replacement when the time comes? A quick google suggests I need a to start with an NVQ level 1, then do NVQ level 2, then NVQ level 3, and then spend several hours under the supervision of a plumber. That's great if you want to go into it professionally, but I think it would take too long and be too expensive for a DIYer.
Thanks, Stephen.