Fixed frozen pump, but no hot water

FlCracker

We have a gravity system with a circulating pump heated by a stanley solid fuel stove or the kerosene boiler. The pump was completely frozen and the ice cracked the housing on it. We ran completely out or cold water first, then hot water and didn't know if there was sufficient water in the rads, so we went for a few days with no heat at all. We fixed the pump today and both tanks in the attic are full. We turned on the boiler, got the circulating pump going and now have heat, but the water is a problem. We have cold water at some taps but not others and no water and any of the hot taps. I think the water we are getting from the cold taps comes off the main, before the line gets to the tank in the attic. So, i don't think we are getting any water from the tank. We are guessing that we have air in the line but cannot find any valves to bleed the lines. Any advice would be appreciated. We are new to ireland and new to boilers as well. Where we come from, air conditioning is the priority so this gravity system is completely new to us.

Pete67

If you have a mixer tap at the bath, put your hand tightly over the outlet to seal it, and open both hot and cold taps together for a minute. The difference in pressure from the cold tap may be enough to displace air in the hot lines back up the vent or into the tank. If it's not a mixer at the bathtub then you can do the same thing with a short length of hose and appropriate tap connectors. Alternatively you can use a hose from any cold tap to any hot tap, open both briefly at the same time.

FlCracker

Thanks so much! We didn't have either hot or cold at the tub mixer, but we unhooked the washing machine, hooked the cold to the hot and voila'!

Pete67

Good thinking re the washing machine - I'd never thought of that, but as they say, you learn something new every day. Glad it worked out for you and welcome to Ireland!

Pete.