It's clearly the time of year for stuff to die. My CH pump decided to move on from this world yesterday.
Replaced faulty component (capacitor) and re-installed after trip to Screwfix for new seals.
Now the gate valves leak. Back to Screwfix.
New gate valves installed. All seems good until I return to the boiler 20 minutes later to discover it swimming in an inch of grotty water.
Eventually track the leak down to one of the air vents on the top. Grant-specific, not in stock anywhere easily accessible and of course the installer stole the emergency sealing caps when he fitted it in 2009.
With some significant abuse from molgrips and Stilsons I managed to get the air vent off with the intention of sticking a temporary cap on. But no, despite being made by an Italian company it's a 5/8" fitting.
At this point I resorted to flushing it out in the sink with a fairly toxic cleaner and boiling water. A load of debris came out of the air vent and so far (touch wood etc) it's back together and not dribbling water.
House seems warmer too since I get the distinct impression that this is the first time the heating loop has been changed since it was built. Knocked the pump speed down to 2 and it's working pretty much as the manual suggests with a 20-25C temperature split between flow and return.
The water that drained out was the same colour and consistency of the oil that comes out of an old diesel engine.
I can also advise against bothering to purchase "Home Emergency" cover from your insurance company. It wasn't very much but it turns out that they have exactly one guy in the whole country who does oil boilers, and tentatively booked me in for Wednesday.
Always important to be reminded how much I hate plumbing. At least oil boilers are simple if you pull the burner out.
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