Alde boiler - how to refil the system model 2928433

[Lorlorz]

HI, can anyone help!!?? We have an Alde boiler the system is 2928433. We had to remove one of our radiators but we do not know where the refill / top up is. Our plumber is not familiar with the boat (a pinder 58ft) Any advice or suggestions?

Thanks

[alias]

HI, can anyone help!!?? We have an Alde boiler the system is 2928433. We had to remove one of our radiators but we do not know where the refill / top up is. Our plumber is not familiar with the boat (a pinder 58ft) Any advice or suggestions?

Thanks

The manual may help: http://www.alde.co.uk/downloads/alde_2923-2928_service.pdf

[bizzard]

HI, can anyone help!!?? We have an Alde boiler the system is 2928433. We had to remove one of our radiators but we do not know where the refill / top up is. Our plumber is not familiar with the boat (a pinder 58ft) Any advice or suggestions?

Thanks

Sounds like the old Alde Comfort model, tall and skinny? If so the header tank is right at the top. To top up disconnect the two wires from the pump motor,''remember which terminals they go on or the pump will run in reverse'', and then unscrew and withdraw upwards the complete pump and impeller. You can then fill up the system and bleed it after refitting the pump and firing up. Topping up by withdrawing the pump a little way and then securing again, you may have to do this several times until air is out and the level remains stable. Don't forget antifreeze in the heating system. You may have an extra little header tank leading into the one with the pump in it, in which case top it up from that one.

To do this remove the units front panel. The PDF file indicates the header-expansion tank with the pump screwed into the top.

Edited January 9, 2017 by bizzard

[Tony Brooks]

Depending upon location it may be easier to set up a large bucket on the roof filled with an antifreeze mixture with a syphon hose. Lead hose through window/door to heater header tank and fit some kind of clip/clamp or tap. Do as Biz said to get access to the filler but I very carefully leave the motor hooked up but still connected.

 

It is now far easier as a two man job. One to bleed the system and one to keep the header tank topped up so start the syphon and control the flow into the tank.

 

The header tank is very small so very frequent topping up is required, easier with a syphon.

 

Not Alde do/did sell an electric "filling pump" but any small electrical pump would do instead of a syphon.

 

Edited January 10, 2017 by Tony Brooks

[cuthound]

I used to find a clean and empty beer bottle was ideal for topping up the header tank on an Alde Comfort.

[Dave Payne]

I use my goose neck kettle, works a treat.

[dor]

Try and mix the antifreeze with the water well before it goes in. The pump is not very powerful, and the radiators rely on a very slight difference in density to circulate the water internally. The different density of the antifreeze can mean that whilst the water is circulating round the pipes, it doesn't circulate inside the radiator (this is assuming the normal setup of in and out connections at the bottom).