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How do I recharge my Worcester Greenstar 28i Junior Combi?

I had the above Boiler fitted in July 07 with no problems. I noticed 2 off radiators were cold from halfway up, so I bled the air from them resulting in the pressure from the boiler dropping to 0. Through my homecare agreement, Scottish Gas recharged the boiler to 1.5 bar. However I was out when the engineer came so I couldn't ask him how to recharge for any future bleeding I might have to do. I have a key with a couple of O-rings on it which is inserted up from the bottom of the combi, but what is the actual procedure?
Alan Kinsman, December 2007
I have watched the youtube video which very clearly demonstrated the process. I'm very clear about the process now. However, I have problem inserting the key into the hole. I made sure to have the arrow lined up the open sign (not the lock sign), but the key just cannot be pushed up further into the hole - it only gets to the position where the second black ring on the key can just been seen. Is it that I didn't push up hard enough? Is it supposed to be very tight and you are supposed to use quite a bit strength?

Jo, October 2014
Thank you to Gordon and the other posters. I thought I had a major problem on my hands, but I found and used the white key and now all is fine.

Youtube link was most helpful:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUsBw1ZpiKY

David, January 2013
Thanks for the u-tube link. It showed my middle son how to do this straight away — far more quickly than I could. He's not mechanically un-savvy — he's a vet, but hadn't seen it done before & the house comes with his job.

Paul from Cambridge, December 2012
thank you Jess! video is brilliant for 30Si boiler

Steve, August 2012
Da DAaaaaa!

This shows you exactly what you need and exactly what to do. It takes all of 2 minutes!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUsBw1ZpiKY

jess, July 2012
Thank you so much to the person who offered the "procedure" for increasing the pressure on the boiler. I was at a loss, and didn;t want to call out a Gas Engineer.

I was so chuffed that I could solve the problem on my own. Thanks.

Lou, April 2012
Gordon C you're our hero!

The Berrys, January 2012
Thank you so much Gordon C this has worked straight away myself and my daughter where freezing!! A very thankful single mum

A. Ross, January 2012
Many thanks to everyone who gave an answer....I bought a Worcester Bosch boiler in December 2010 and guess what, yes the instructions fail to describe how the user should repressurise the system! I read the string, sorted boiler then called Bosch to ask them to sort their act out! I am amazed they are so poor on these sorts of issues. They could have a video on site to demo.

Phil, May 2011
Gordon

Many thanks for this, like many others here can't believe they don't put this in the user manual.

Ian H, March 2011
Fantastic advise i now have heating and hot water, after going through the user manual and various other websites clicked on this one and fixed the problem with the pressure right away, brilliant! thank you

Ruth, March 2011
Thanks Gordon,

I read all through the booklets I was given and couldn't find this info anywhere. Found this website and within 5 minutes I'd got the pressure back up to 1.5 and no more strange noises coming from the radiators!

Yvonne, February 2011
Gordon you're a babe!

A previously very cold house, February 2011
thanks to the all knowing Gordon....worked a treat cheers buddy.

lee Southern, February 2011
Thanks so much Gordon C. i put the white key in and turned it - nothing. I then tried your suggestion to also turn the small square white peg next to it and heard the angelic whoosh of water into the system - all works again - many thanks as it is the weekend and all helplines were closed. Thank God for the internet- thank God for Gordon.

Cameron, January 2011
under the boiler there is a white vavle turn it till your pressure gauge rises 1.5 and turn it off,reset all done

kim, December 2010
I can't get the key out either for fear of ripping the boiler off the wall...simple solution is to leave it in as I'm sure it will be used several times over the next few months!

Lee, December 2010
I can't get the key out either for fear of ripping the boiler off the wall...simple solution is to leave it in as I'm sure it will be used several times over the next few months!

Lee, December 2010
Thanks to Gordon C - worked a treat first time on our 30Si ! Lost pressure after bleeding a radiator. On the 30Si the key is found clipped to the plastic tray under the boiler pipework.

Andy Y, December 2010
Or where do I find the key please I have searched but still cannot see it

Aly, December 2010
Thanks for the answers. Saved our life as the snow was falling.

Matthew H, December 2010
Gordon C is my hero! Just moved into a house which had one of these boilers fitted before we moved in. Today I noticed the pressure was at 0, having had probs with cold tops of radiators. I've been trying bleeding air from radiators for the last week or so and the radiators were still cold at the top.
I knew these instructions were spot on the moment I found them but didn't have a clue what the key looked like. Found a picture on this website http://www.clickonbathrooms.co.uk/acatalog/77161922810_WORCESTER_28I_JUNIOR_HE_GREENSTAR_FILLING_LINK_ASSEMBLY.html
(or Google the phrase Greenstar Junior 28i Filling Link Key to find a pic)
and, sure enough, the white key was sitting next to the boiler on top of some of the external components associated with the boiler!

Susie, November 2010
Many thanks Gordon C.
Worked a treat first time!!

Matthew - Nantwich, November 2010
THanks to Gordon C. This worked on my 25i boiler.

Liz, September 2010
You do not have to see the padlock symbols. Find the big black, open bottomed pipe and the white square knob to the left of the pipe. Look at the tap you will see that the end pegs are at an angle to the flat handle part. Push the tap up into the black pipe firmly against the pressure of the o ring seals. You need to have the flat part of the key rotated at a diagonal for the end peg to locate. turn the key clockwise about a quarter turn. Gently... All this is plastic components.
Now undo the white square knob a small amount until you can hear the whoosh or hiss of water filling the system. Watch the dial and turn the white know off when you reach 1.5 bar.
Now turn the key back gently anticlockwise until you get a firm stop on the diagonal. Pull the key down and out of the black tube. It will be against a vacuum sealed by the o rings so you need to pull firmly but carefully. A few dops of water will come out with the key.

Putting the key back in the keep on the bottom access plate. Put the flat piece in the keep first and then gently ease back the other spring tab and slide the round end into place.

Baldyone Kenobi, September 2010
Same problem and Gordon C's answer at the foot of the page sorted it right out!

Many thanks Gordon C.

Mark -Tunbridge Wells, May 2010
The greenstar boiler 25si/30si i have did not have the key so i purchased one but i have removed the plastic cover at the base of the boiler but i can not find any padlock symbols or anywhere to put the key. I have a black tap underneath attached to on of the central heating pipes which is linked to a silver flexi pipe, unsure what the tap does though, any ideas?

coose, May 2010
Same problem, also solved quickly and easily by answer from Gorden C. Many Thanks.

Bob C, May 2010
Great, thanks for the advice.

I had the same problem last year, and an engineer talked me through the same procedure over the phone, but I had forgotten how to do it!! The problem occured last time when I bleed a radiator and this time when I turned the heating room thermastat off for the whole day.

The only problem now is I can't seem to get the key out, feels like it will break if I pull too hard???

Michelle, North London, April 2010
Three Cheers for Gordon C and nuls points for Worcester Bosch. Job done simply and quickly by following your instructions

Paul, March 2010
Thanks Gordon C. Not the easiest thing to find and for something as straightforward they like to make it complicated for us mere mortals ...

C, March 2010
Wow! thanks G. Was home alone with my baby and I had to recharge my boiler, as there was no heating. I didnt have a clue on how to solve the problem, until I read this. It's been most helpful.

ABIOLA, January 2010
Thanks very much Gordon C. This worked for me as well.

Peter C

Peter Conliffe, December 2009
I had the same problem - needed to recharge my system and not a clue how to do it! Found this result and the engineer phoned as I was trying it and confirmed that was how to do it while he talked me through....I would never have found that key!!! Thanks Alan Kinsman!

Barbara xx, December 2009
This worked thank you to all. It saved me a fortune:)

Tony, November 2009
Thanks Gordon, it also works on My 25Si. And yes, Worcester should have put it in the User Manual.
Bleeding a radiator shouldn't need an engineer to reset the pressure.

Rob, October 2009
Excellent tip Gordon C. Thank you.

Martin W, October 2009
Thanks for the info. I had an engineer in on another job and he told me virtually the same as you have Gordon. I have yet to do it myself if the need arises, and your trial and error saves me from getting wet!
Cheers.

Alan Kinsman, April 2008
By trial and error I discovered how to do it:

(NOTE - Be aware, the Key is a "stopper" to stop water from flooding out of the system when you charge it; the Key is not the actual tap)

1) Insert the key into the hole in the base of the boiler by lining up the arrows on the key with the "unlocked" padlock symbol (use a torch and you'll see the padlock symbols). You have to push it quite far up. Turn the Key to the "locked" position. (about 1/4 turn from the position you inserted it in)

2) You'll see a square plastic knob sitting beside where you stuck the key in. This square knob is the actual tap. Turn it slowly (I managed to use just my fingers to do this) and you'll hear the water charging in and see the pressure gauge start to rise.

3) When the pressure is correct (around 1.5 bars) turn the square knob off. Then turn the Key back to the "unlocked" position and remove it. You'll get a few drops of water come out with it but that's normal.

NOTE: Whatever you do, DO NOT turn the square knob without the Key inserted and in the "locked" position. If you try this (like I did) you will get a shed load of water come shooting out of that keyhole!!!!

Isn't it nice that they don't put any of this in the instructions!

Hope this helps.

Gordon C., March 2008
I haqve a similar problem with my 25Si/30Si boiler. I have an engineer coming to show me. As soon as I know I'll pass on what I have - if it is any good!

Gary, December 2007
link Click here to see other fixes for Worcester Greenstar.