Hot water running very slowly - Alde system - advice please

brissle
brissle Club Member Posts: 56
First Comment
in Caravans #1

I would be grateful for any advice.

We have a S4 Bailey Vigo (2020)

The system had been drained down for the winter, but we are now out in the van and find that hot water is running very slowly. Cold water comes out of sink and basin taps at a good rate with the pump running steadily. But hot water comes out at a slow rate with the pump "hunting" all the time.

I've unscrewed and cleaned the tap filters but as cold is running fine it couldn't have been that anyway.

I suspected an airlock and have drained and re-filled the system, but no change.

Can anyone suggest a solution?

Thanks

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Answers

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,744
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    #3

    Sounds like some sort of blockage. Have you ever descaled the hot water system?

  • Simon100
    Simon100 Club Member Posts: 669
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    #4

    Do you have a pressure valve in the system that needs to be adjusted to balance the flow?

    I can remember turning a little white knurled knob on top of an assembly in older vans, to make the flow better and stop the hunting, but not sure it that is relevent in your 2020 van.

  • Freddy55
    Freddy55 Club Member Posts: 1,864
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    edited February 11 #5

    Yes, it could be a blockage, but it seems to me it’s more likely that you have an air lock on the hot water side, possibly the boiler. Does the pump still run when the hot tap is shut? You will probably have to listen carefully. If it still runs, best bet is to open and shut the hot tap until it clears, hopefully. Hope this helps.

  • brissle
    brissle Club Member Posts: 56
    First Comment
    #6

    Thank you everyone.

    I agree it does sound like a blockage of some sort but I can't puzzle out what, where or why.

    No, it has never occured to me to de-scale the hot water system. In 40 years of caravanning that's not something I've ever needed to do.

    Good idea about checking if there's a pressure valve - I'll look in the handbook tomorrow.

    The pump shuts off immediately when we close the cold water tap, but continues to "hunt" (run on and off) for about 20 - 30 seconds when we close the hot tap.

    Thanks for all thoughts.

  • Gillway
    Gillway Club Member Posts: 26
    First Comment
    #7

    Would be worth phoning Alde as they’ve always been very helpful when we’ve had any issues 👍

  • Navigateur
    Navigateur Club Member Posts: 3,890
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    #8

    Perhaps one of the hot pipes has become kinked during the lay-up?

  • brissle
    brissle Club Member Posts: 56
    First Comment
    #9

    I'll check for kinks.

    I think the idea of phoning Alde is good. I'll give them a call.

    Thanks again

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