Condensing Boiler - switching off

[Chris Fayle]

I need to regenerate my megaflo - my wife reports occassional dripping in the tun dish.
Our boiler is in the garage and it operating on frost protection most of the time at the moment. Usually, the system closes down by turning off the boiler and then the pump (I assume to make sure that hot water is distributed around the system, rather than sitting in the boiler). Is it OK (ie not detrimental to the life of the system) just to kill the power to the boiler and the pump so that I can go through the process of regenerating the megaflo?

Thanks

 

[Riley]

It won’t cause drama if it happens once but o wouldn’t make a habit of it

 

[Chris Fayle]

That's the point that wifey and I agree on. We know that it will happen with power cuts, but want to look after the boiler (Worcester greenstar) in the hope that it will see us out.
I presume that turning it off at the time switch won't stop the frost protection

 

[Riley]

One would hope not. Depends how it’s been wired. If you turn it of at the switched fuse spur that’s best

 

[chris watkins]

You don't need to stop the boiler to recharge the bubble in the Megaflo !!!
The heating water goes round a coil inside the cylinder it is no effected by what is happening in the heating system.

 

[chris watkins]

Just go ahead turn the incoming mains water off, open a lower hot tap wait until the water stops then open the T&P hold it open until the water stops coming out the tap/T&P or (air going in) , It can take 15 - 20mins if there is no or little air left in the top.
You are allowed to change wrists

 

[Chris Fayle]

You don't need to stop the boiler to recharge the bubble in the Megaflo !!!
The heating water goes round a coil inside the cylinder it is no effected by what is happening in the heating system.

I didn't want to have the coil full of hot water with no water in the megaflo to absorb it. As I understand it, the regeneration process email ties the megaflo before refilling it. This leaves the coils full of hot water heating air.
I assume that, as long as the controller is set to heating only then no water will get past the motor valve.

 

[chris watkins]

You will not be able to drain down further than the T&P anyway (not unless you are going to put a hose on it.
Even if it was drained completely running heating water around the coil will not harm it in any way.

 

[chris watkins]

If you are at all worried then turn off the hot water on your programmer that will close the zone valve on the heat water to the coil in the cylinder. (no more heating of the Megaflo)

 

[Best]

The coil in the cylinder is no different really than the pipes of a heating system.
You don’t need to drain the Megaflo fully to replenish the air gap.
Just drain it until the safety valve on cylinder (T&P valve) allows air in when turned.

 

[Chuck]

It can take 15 - 20mins if there is no or little air left in the top.
You are allowed to change wrists

If you don't have strong fingers and thick skin it can help to wear a glove for holding the valve open. It's got a fairly strong spring.

If you hate waste as much as me, do it just before someone wants a bath so you can save and use some of the run-off hot water instead of putting it straight down the drain.

 

[Best]

Just go ahead turn the incoming mains water off, open a lower hot tap wait until the water stops then open the T&P hold it open until the water stops coming out the tap/T&P or (air going in) , It can take 15 - 20mins if there is no or little air left in the top.
You are allowed to change wrists

Sorry, I must have missed your above post and also posted saying same about opening the T&P valve.