fixmyplumbing

The majority of central heating systems have a drop in water pressure over time. Normally they are set to between 1 and 1.5 when the radiators are cold.  Worcester boilers have a unique way of filling that uses a plastic T shaped key in the bottom of the boiler. For people who don’t use it much it can be pretty hard to figure out.  This is a basic guide to filling up the boiler.

1. Check the pressure when the radiators are cold, the pointer will be between 1 and 0.

2. Take off the bottom cover. On modern Worcester boilers it slides forward. On older ones it clips off downwards.  The cover in the photo is a modern boiler.

3. Get the filling key out of the cover its supplied separately on older boilers and may be a bigger size. If the key is missing and there is no other method of filling your system a replacement key is available here. The hole it goes into can be on the left or right depending on the age of the boiler.

4. Line the arrow moulded into the body of the key upto the unlocked padlock moulded into the socket in the boiler.

5. Then push it in as far as it will go, its sometimes quite a tight fit so a bit of vaseline or soap on the black rubber o rings can help get it in far enough.  When its in as far as it will go turn it to the right so the arrow on the key is lined up with the locked padlock on the socket in the boiler.

6.  Now slowly turn the little square white knob to the left of the key. To open it turn it to the right until you can hear water flowing. Do this very slowly whilst keeping an eye on the pressure gauge. When it gets between 1 and 1.5 turn it back to the left  so the flow of water stops.

7.  That’s the pressure back to where it should be.  Now turn the key back to unlocked and pull it downwards and out.  You always get a little splash of water with the key as it comes out which is nothing to worry about. If it splashes then continues running/dripping the little white square knob might not be turned all the way off.  Put the key back in the cover and put the cover back on.  It generally hooks onto two runners either side then catches at the front.