Central Heating Pump Packed Up?

First things first! Before you open the pump and start disconnecting wires, turn off the electricity and remove the plug from the socket. Next, and this is important; before disconnecting any wires - make a note of what goes where - labelling helps to this end. For access to the inside of the pump and the wiring, you will need a set of Allen keys. Now you may disconnect the wires.

Fully close the isolation valves located either side of the pump, using a pipe wrench or adjustable spanner. Make sure you have a few rags handy (and a bowl) to catch any residual water when you disconnect and remove the broken valve.

Holding the pump firmly in place, to avoid twisting and creasing of the pipe work; unscrew the union nuts that hold the pump in place with an adjustable spanner or pipe wrench ( anti-clockwise) Careful here…….nice and easy does it. When loosened off, remove the old pump.

When opening the new pump packaging, carefully set the plastic sealing washers to one side, but don’t misplace them! We don’t want any leaks. Next, seat the new pump in position and fit the washers into the union nuts.

Open the isolation valves and have a good look around the joints for any sign off leaking. Wait a few minutes, even if things seem to be ok. When we’re happy that everything is secure and leak-free, we can move on to the final stage.

Before reconnecting the wiring and re-sealing the new pump unit, make sure the inside of the pump (wiring) is dry and free from moisture.

The next thing we to need to do is check that the new pump is connected up properly and more importantly, that it’s safe! To do this, simply switch the central heating on, using either the timer switch, or at the programming unit. Because the heating’s been switched off for a while, you might need to turn up the thermostat to kick start it. Once the heating system appears to be working, check that the open safety vent pipe (located over and above the expansion and feed cistern) isn’t discharging water when the pump switches from start to stop. If this does happen, and everything else is in order, then seek informed advice. In the event you discover you have to add a lot of fresh water to top the cistern up, then you’ll need to bleed the air out of the system. This will help prevent corrosion, and extend the life of your new pump.