Boiler overheating

[Buzz Baby]

We have an Autotrail Cheyenne 840, and last winter we had a winter shut down and drain down done by Marquis. We had never had a problem with the heating or hot water before this was done, but now every time that we put on the heating or hot water the boiler gets so hot that we can smell the wood of the bed frame above it starting to scorch. The only cure is to not have the boiler on at all. Can anyone suggest what may be the problem?

 

[two]

What heating system do you have?
Do you have hot water?

It could be that the dump valve has been left open, but I'd expect you to notice that (one way or another).

 

[138go]

So what did they shut down and drain down. Normally we just open the taps and let the water out. Have they drained down the Alde Heating system as well. Normally this has antifreeze in it so you just check the level. What did you actually pay them to do. The boiler should work without water in the system. It is not going to work without circulating fluid in the Alde System.

 

[Buzz Baby]

What heating system do you have?
Do you have hot water?

It could be that the dump valve has been left open, but I'd expect you to notice that (one way or another).

Thank you for responding, and Good Morning to you. Our MH is 2006 and we have a Truma heating system. I'm not sure of the exact model, but it is a blown air system and has two dials side by side. I don't have the paperwork with me as I am not in the van at the moment. The hot water is ok but not much of it.

 

[jezport]

The truma of that age did have a recall years back. they do create quite a hot plasticky smell when on hot water only.
If the wood was scorching, has the plastic lid on the boiler melted/warped?
Have you purged all the air out by running all hot taps? The boiler may still have air at the top preventing the thermostat shutting down.

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[Buzz Baby]

So what did they shut down and drain down. Normally we just open the taps and let the water out. Have they drained down the Alde Heating system as well. Normally this has antifreeze in it so you just check the level. What did you actually pay them to do. The boiler should work without water in the system. It is not going to work without circulating fluid in the Alde System.

Good Morning. Thank you for responding. We don't have an Alde system, we are a 2006 model, so only the Truma blown air system. We have checked the dump valve, and it is closed. It wasn't easy to find because it is hidden in a little wooden box in the rear locker. When we bought it from Marquis it was towards the end of the year and being absolutely new to owning we took it in to have it prepared for winter. It cost a lot of money for them to do it and we realise now that we really don't need to pay for what they did. As far as we can tell they just drained the water system and left the dump valve open. I honestly can't tell you what else they did.

 

[Buzz Baby]

The truma of that age did have a recall years back. they do create quite a hot plasticky smell when on hot water only.
If the wood was scorching, has the plastic lid on the boiler melted/warped?

The truma of that age did have a recall years back. they do create quite a hot plasticky smell when on hot water only.
If the wood was scorching, has the plastic lid on the boiler melted/warped?
Have you purged all the air out by running all hot taps? The boiler may still have air at the top preventing the thermostat shutting down.

Good morning and thank you for responding. The lid on the boiler seems to be unharmed, although I have to admit that I hadn't realised it was plastic, so will now have a closer look at it to make sure of its condition. We did purge the air when we put it on, and then I did it again when we started getting the smell of scorching, but no more air came through. If the recall had been done would it have had some kind of paperwork about it? The previous owner has been meticulous in saving every document relating to the vehicle, so I could have a look to see if it's there.

 

[jezport]

Dont know about paperwork,
First of all try all hot taps to be sure all air is out. Run a minute each, but make sure you have enough water not to suck more air in.
Then put heating on water only 40deg and check the following
Is the water heating light going out when the water is hot?
Is the water coming out of the taps excessively hot?

Failing all that, if you want to pop over to Leeds I will have a look, I used to have a 2005 truma in my last van so know what it should do, how hot the cabinet should be etc.

 

[gus-lopez]

Dont know about paperwork,
First of all try all hot taps to be sure all air is out. Run a minute each, but make sure you have enough water not to suck more air in.
Then put heating on water only 40deg and check the following
Is the water heating light going out when the water is hot?
Is the water coming out of the taps excessively hot?

Failing all that, if you want to pop over to Leeds I will have a look, I used to have a 2005 truma in my last van so know what it should do, how hot the cabinet should be etc.

Nice one. Can't get a better offer than this.

 

[138go]

Dont know about paperwork,
First of all try all hot taps to be sure all air is out. Run a minute each, but make sure you have enough water not to suck more air in.
Then put heating on water only 40deg and check the following
Is the water heating light going out when the water is hot?
Is the water coming out of the taps excessively hot?

Failing all that, if you want to pop over to Leeds I will have a look, I used to have a 2005 truma in my last van so know what it should do, how hot the cabinet should be etc.

What a kind offer ..

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[138go]

Unfortunately some Dealers see us as CASH COWS and like to make NEW Owners think that they MUST do what they say and pay for it. No point in Winterising a MH they need to be used. We were out a couple of times in January and been out beginning of this month for a week. Surprised they didn't tell you that only they are allowed to fill it with water.

 

[two]

When you say "not much hot water", does that mean not much flow or not very hot?
If not much flow, try running the (hot) taps for longer. hot should flow as fast as the cold.

Having paid a dealer, I'd lean on them a little more to get assistance. On the other hand, you may soon feel that they've given their 'best' and there's little point in 'flogging a dead horse'.

I do hope you get this sorted. You should be about to embark on a lot of FUN. Don't give up! Keep coming back, I'm sure we'll get you there eventually.

 

[Buzz Baby]

Unfortunately some Dealers see us as CASH COWS and like to make NEW Owners think that they MUST do what they say and pay for it. No point in Winterising a MH they need to be used. We were out a couple of times in January and been out beginning of this month for a week. Surprised they didn't tell you that only they are allowed to fill it with water.

LOL!! I know enough now that I won't be letting them do it again. Also learned not to let them valet it either, having told us DO NOT USE a pressure washer to clean it, they did exactly that and charged me £125 for the privilege. Bare face cheek if you ask me. It wasn't even a particularly good job. Voting with my feet this time, and buying a longer ladder

 

[Buzz Baby]

@two
Thank you for the reply. We get hot water, flow rate is ok, but it soon seems to run out. Two sinks full is about all we get. Certainly not enough for a shower. I'm going to try and bleed the system again just to make sure we haven't got an airlock. The dealer has looked at it when it first happened, and pronounced it perfectly safe and nothing wrong with it at all, but I can't agree with them that a scorching mattress is normal.

 

[Buzz Baby]

Dont know about paperwork,
First of all try all hot taps to be sure all air is out. Run a minute each, but make sure you have enough water not to suck more air in.
Then put heating on water only 40deg and check the following
Is the water heating light going out when the water is hot?
Is the water coming out of the taps excessively hot?

Failing all that, if you want to pop over to Leeds I will have a look, I used to have a 2005 truma in my last van so know what it should do, how hot the cabinet should be etc.

Sorry not to have replied before now. The hot water doesn't seem to be excessively hot, and the problem seems to be mainly when we have the heating on, or put the water on the 60* setting. I haven't looked to see if the lights are going out. I will check that out. Thank you so much for the offer to have a look at it, I am immensely grateful for all the support.

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[jezport]

Sorry not to have replied before now. The hot water doesn't seem to be excessively hot, and the problem seems to be mainly when we have the heating on, or put the water on the 60* setting. I haven't looked to see if the lights are going out. I will check that out. Thank you so much for the offer to have a look at it, I am immensely grateful for all the support.

We found our boiler of the same age seemed to smell worse when on 60 deg water and no blown air.
The 40deg setting doesnt seem very warm is normal unless the blown air is running then it gets hotter the longer the blown air is firing.

I really couldnt say more without seeing and smelling it.

You could check the flue is clear and no spiders nests or anything are causing the smell.

 

[Buzz Baby]

@jezport
OMG!! Why did I not think about the flue? That is such a good point, and it has never crossed my mind. I shall go to check tomorrow. Thank you so much!

 

[peterc10]

@two
Thank you for the reply. We get hot water, flow rate is ok, but it soon seems to run out. Two sinks full is about all we get. Certainly not enough for a shower. I'm going to try and bleed the system again just to make sure we haven't got an airlock. The dealer has looked at it when it first happened, and pronounced it perfectly safe and nothing wrong with it at all, but I can't agree with them that a scorching mattress is normal.

The boiler does not hold a lot of water, 10 litres at most. When mixed with cold it is more than enough, as long as you switch off after getting wet, then soap up and then switch back on to rinse off.

 

[Lenny HB]

We get hot water, flow rate is ok, but it soon seems to run out. Two sinks full is about all we get. Certainly not enough for a shower.

Sounds about right it's only a 10 Lt boiler.

 

[Buzz Baby]

@peterc10
Thank you for that. It does confirm that the volume of hot water is about right. We are off travelling next week so we'll be trying out all the suggestions we have received so far, and hopefully get it sorted.