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Post by Carole on Mar 27, 2013 6:50:30 GMT -5
Hi Mike I have just had my 11year old boiler serviced after it started making more noise than usual when running. The plumber said the noise was coming from the fan and sprayed some WD40 on it and it is now ok. However he also noticed a leak from the flow switch which he suggested had been happening for a while perhaps for up to a year. He looked in the manual to find the part number as he was going to order a new one but could not find a part number for it. I said that I would look on line to see if I could find out and came across your site. The flow switch is labelled as 17 in the diagram in the instruction manual on page 15. The system is running ok despite the leak and I am still getting hot water and central heating. Any advice would be appreciated. Many thanks Carole
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Post by Mike the Boilerman on Apr 5, 2013 2:52:07 GMT -5
Carole,
The flow switch is well known for leaking, and doesn't actually need replacing usually. The leak is where the 'O' ring sealing it in place degrades. I generally fix it by either fitting a new 'O' ring, or by using an additional fibre washer on top of it, and reassembling the existing flow switch.
It's well worth trying this first as a new flow switch costs around £85 plus VAT.
One further comment, the orientation of the flow switch when re-fitting is crucial for it to work. I've fixed many a Powermax simply by rotating the flow switch a little after an unaware plumber has repaired this leak and refitted it wrongly.
Mike
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Post by SNAF on Dec 24, 2013 9:00:53 GMT -5
Just want to say thanks for this info, have the same leak (v.hard water area) & was resigned to buying a new flow switch even though it's working fine. Don't suppose you know the size of 'O' ring required? I'd rather know before taking it apart only to find I can't get one easily.
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Post by john c on Feb 1, 2014 9:46:13 GMT -5
I have tried to stop my flow switch leaking but after fitting it back together the boiler wont fire up at all noticed in the above that the orientation is very important DOH which way up should it be fitted ?
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Post by northpole on Feb 3, 2014 10:33:58 GMT -5
john c, you have to look quite closely at the switch, but there should be an arrow marked on the casing, indicating the direction of water flow - normally on a Powermax 140/155x this is upwards.
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Post by Mike the Boilerman on Feb 8, 2014 6:31:33 GMT -5
Northpole is right, and there are two 'flats' on the flow switch where the cable enters. These need to be vertical, with the cable entering the plastic moulding in the lower position IIRC.
Mike
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Post by Andy F on Jun 29, 2014 10:00:30 GMT -5
Hi I have just replaced a flow switch(bought from a place in Reading who delivered cost £135. I have oriented the switch correctly . But the boiler does not fire up. I get hot water if I turn on the heating and the boiler lights. How can I test the switch to see if is working. And I have wired up the same as the old switch but I have substituted the grey wire on the new switch for the blue of the old. Is this correct? Would appreciate any help!
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marka
New Member
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Post by marka on Dec 28, 2014 9:40:51 GMT -5
I have tried to stop my flow switch leaking but after fitting it back together the boiler wont fire up at all noticed in the above that the orientation is very important DOH which way up should it be fitted ? hello there. I have a leaking flow switch and want to replace the o ring, but don't know how to isolate the water supply to the switch! as you have already done it, could you give me some advice please. cheers, mark armstrong ,hereford
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Post by Honoursword on Dec 29, 2014 13:43:28 GMT -5
I have tried to stop my flow switch leaking but after fitting it back together the boiler wont fire up at all noticed in the above that the orientation is very important DOH which way up should it be fitted ? hello there. I have a leaking flow switch and want to replace the o ring, but don't know how to isolate the water supply to the switch! as you have already done it, could you give me some advice please. cheers, mark armstrong ,hereford I have exactly the same problem with the Flow Switch on my Powermax 140 and just had a Swalec engineer out. He said replacing it is relatively easy and you don't need to buy a new switch. Simply turn off the hot and cold mains and then drain the tank by running the hot and cold taps until they are dry. Then unscrew the switch and put a new washer on or sealant to stop the leak. Rescrew it all up and then turn on the mains.
No idea if this will work and I am in two minds whether to just call out a plumber to do it. However I may give it a go tomorrow.
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marka
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Post by marka on Dec 30, 2014 6:26:06 GMT -5
Thank you very much for the advice,very much appreciated. I fixed it this morning in 30 mins! I was making a mountain out of a molehill. If I'd have known it was just a matter of turning of the mains water supply I'd have done it ages ago. I cleaned the thread, added ptfe tape and added a fibre washer and bobs your uncle, another thing off my mind! Thanks again and happy new year to you.
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Post by Honoursword on Jan 3, 2015 10:30:21 GMT -5
Thank you very much for the advice,very much appreciated. I fixed it this morning in 30 mins! I was making a mountain out of a molehill. If I'd have known it was just a matter of turning of the mains water supply I'd have done it ages ago. I cleaned the thread, added ptfe tape and added a fibre washer and bobs your uncle, another thing off my mind! Thanks again and happy new year to you. Great I am glad it worked. For some reason though with me the hot water taps switched off instantly when I turned off the mains. When I checked the boiler I can see water is still running through it. Does anyone know why this is? Is it because it is getting water from the cold water tank in the attic? If it is than how do I drain the boiler if I cannot do it by running the taps?
Thanks
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Post by Nicky on Sept 9, 2015 6:20:14 GMT -5
I came across this forum while searching for solution to the noise being made by the Range PowerMax Boiler in my flat.
Could anybody recommend any PowerMax Engineer who can look into that for me. I live in East London, Romford way.
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roxan
New Member
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Post by roxan on Sept 9, 2015 6:28:40 GMT -5
I have now registered member Roxan, no longer guest. Would be grateful for the feed back on the post below: I came across this forum while searching for solution to the noise being made by the Range PowerMax Boiler in my flat. Could anybody recommend any PowerMax Engineer who can look into that for me. I live in East London, Romford way. Read more: powermax-repairs.freeforums.net/thread/23/powermax-140-155x-flow-switch#ixzz3lEwFB0SO
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Post by LAK on Mar 23, 2017 14:04:53 GMT -5
Wish I'd seen this advice on flow switch earlier. Mine is leaking - and looks worse wince heating engineer has looked at it. They are adamant I need new flow switch. Your suggestion is great but not something I could do myself and think I'm unlikely to get an engineer out to do just that but they may have done it with the other work. Such an expensive part!
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andytw
New Member
Owner of 2 Powermax 140 boilers and fixer of programmers
Posts: 24
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Post by andytw on Mar 24, 2017 7:14:41 GMT -5
Wish I'd seen this advice on flow switch earlier. Mine is leaking - and looks worse wince heating engineer has looked at it. They are adamant I need new flow switch. Your suggestion is great but not something I could do myself and think I'm unlikely to get an engineer out to do just that but they may have done it with the other work. Such an expensive part! I have a couple of these boilers in let properties. The existing washers get very hard and do not seal properly. I have measured the old washers and sourced these www.ebay.co.uk/itm/322366209168 (4MM CROSS SECTION 28MM ID should the link not work) I will be fitting one at the weekend (along with a heat exchanger and blender valve)
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