Grant Vortex Combi 21e Constant Demand

[Mash]

Hi Folks, I'm new on here and this is my first post.

I have one of the Grant combis, and wish I'd never had it fitted :disappointed:

The latest one is no hot water :disappointed:

I've noticed over the last few weeks that the temperature of the hot seems to be hot to start with, and then cooling down, then sometimes it worked fine, then back to cooling down again.

We had the usual flow switch problem at the weekend, but fixed that by tapping it. then yesterday, we suddenly got the demand light on, and the pump and burner running lights on, even though the flow switch wasn't operating, no taps turned on, and no flow light was lit. The only way I could get them to turn off and the burner and pump to stop running was to turn off hot water. when they were running, we were getting no hot water when we turned tap on.

Does anyone have any ideas?

Thanks in advance, Mash

 

[Chalked]

Is it still under guarantee? If so get the manufacturer to sort it.

 

[Mash]

Is it still under guarantee? If so get the manufacturer to sort it.

Sadly no Chalked

Been in for about 4 years now, and can't even get hold of plumber who fitted it, think he's left the country. Have had a local firm back at least 5 times in last 2 years, to the tune of 200 quid a time

Thought I'd ask on here before I spend more money to see if there was something I could swap to fix it. Had the flow switch off and cleaned it, so at least that's not jamming now for a while.....

 

[Chalked]

If it keeps jamming, why not just replace it?

 

[SimonG]

I would suggest it needs somebody who knows what they are doing to have a look at it. A grand in 2 years!, seems to me you have either bought a lemon or somebody isn't getting to the root cause of the issues.

 

[SimonG]

I would be interested to hear just what you have had done and how much you were charged for each visit.

 

[Mash]

I'll dig out the receipts in the morning Simon. I think you may be right, it's a local firm who normally have a reasonable reputation, but they don't like Grant and don't really want the work
I'm already on my third flow switch, and second expansion bag

 

[Dotty]

Whereabouts roughly are you, Mash?

One of us might be nearby.

 

[SimonG]

I'll dig out the receipts in the morning Simon. I think you may be right, it's a local firm who normally have a reasonable reputation, but they don't like Grant and don't really want the work
I'm already on my third flow switch, and second expansion bag

I don't like Grants, but it doesn't mean my customers who have them get less of a service. Just from what you have said it sounds like the internal expansion vessel isn't big enough and should have had a secondary vessel fitted.

 

[Mash]

I don't like Grants, but it doesn't mean my customers who have them get less of a service. Just from what you have said it sounds like the internal expansion vessel isn't big enough and should have had a secondary vessel fitted.

Fair one Simon, and to be fair, I think he gives a good service, just that there's not a huge amount of Grant expertise in the organisation. Funnily enough, I was working away last year, and talking to a plumber there, he recommended a secondary vessel, but my local man said it didn't need it.

Croppie, i'm in Dorset, Cranborne to be precise, which is way out in the sticks, which also doesn't help. Got a name from one of my mates tonight, so going to give him a try tomorrow.

 

[BobbityBob]

What would a secondary expansion vessel have in connection with a constant demand? Very curious.

 

[Mash]

Update on this guys. Turned out that I was being really stupid, and it was just heating th stord water up to the required 82 degrees :rolleyes2:
Anyway so it worked all day yesterday and no problems, I even got a hot shower out of it. Then this morning walked in the utility room after my early morning dog walk, to hear a sudden wooshing noise took the lid off the boiler and got covered in water which was gushing out of the broken pressure switch :rolleyes2: Grant combis, what a nightmare
Got one ordered for delivery tomorrow now, and looking to the future, I've found a local guy that hates them, but knows what he is doing as he has a local housing association contract and looks after 90 of the buggers!
Thanks for all of your help and advice

 

[lame plumber]

I find it isnt the boiler but the quality of the install that makes a boiler last and be reliable, any boiler lumped in on a dirty system will fail, do it right and they work ok

 

[SimonG]

But them grant low pressure switches are absolute tat

 

[Mash]

But them grant low pressure switches are absolute tat

You're right there Simon, it appears to be made of bakerlite, either that or the het has made it really brittle. don't know why they couldn't have used metal :rolleyes2:

 

[SimonG]

You're right there Simon, it appears to be made of bakerlite, either that or the het has made it really brittle. don't know why they couldn't have used metal :rolleyes2:

£££££

 

[Mash]

Quick update on my Grant (think I should do a blog on this :grin. So, got it working after fitting the pressure switch, then last week the boiler stopped firing. Could hear it kicking in, but then dropping out, every few seconds when there was demand. That was the photocell in the burner, only £14(but a Riello part, not Grant). Then, as predicted, the flow switch I'd cleaned started sticking again, so bought a new one yesterday, £34 ! (Grant part) it's only a paddle switch !
So now, I need to fix the low temperature of the DHW, feel like I'm fighting a loosing battle :mad2:

 

[johnf]

Could not agree more Simon. Had two go on different boilers in December. Why not spend a few pounds more and make out of a more durable material such as brass? Money springs to mind!