We are a small family business in the world of domestic central heating.
Since 1970 when George Staszak was one of the first who became a CORGI reg. gas installer in Bedford and retired 45 years later.
In March 2002 Mr Combi Training was opened over 5000 attended George's master class in over 20 years,
George retired in September 2022.
A regular guest on local BBC radio and contributed on BBC 'Watchdog' program helping to solve problems, noisy boilers, cold rads, save money also where installers and electricians got some instant advice.
Our You Tube " How to" videos are are posted regularly designed to help solve issues hints and tips to lower the fuel bills for endusers and installers
We have available 2 books and Apps on our web site www.mrcombi.com or app store to help and make a difference.
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Without a doubt it is an excellent app, it helps me a lot.
and how do you feel in an era of 'Smart TRV's' - eg the HIVE / Honeywell digital ones
What about Sentinel X1000?
2:47 Shame I can't see numbers 4 to 9 as they're covered by a thumbnail for the next video. 🤦♂
Hi, Jaffa, we all live and learn, thanks for the comment, George 🤩
Short circuit test... Shouldn't the reading be over 20 ohms 🤔 If under 20 ohms, then there may be a fault on a component...like fan or Pump 🤔😉
Hi 33, thanks for asking, over because we have to have a HIGH resistance to stop fuses blowing, 100 Ohms is the standard value that we work to. It should be O.L. (over 1 million) but some firms don't use the PCB the same way. Hope that helps, George 🤩👍
@@mrcombiBedford thankyou
If it's that good no more heating engineers
Hi Nick, thanks for comment, because of a shortage of engineers who get richer and richer this will only get worse for customers. No one wants to do this job, shame. all the best, George 😍
Hertz.....I don't understand either
Hi Dickie, thanks for asking, Hz is not just used as a radio or TV frequency but it's the best way to measure a pump / fan or anything that moves. I found Vaillant publish lots of data in Hz. A pump can be 2K revs but we can't measure revs. but we can in Hz. which is 100% accurate. Most will use Ohms and volts which is OK but Hz is faster and more accurate . Hope the helps, take care George 🤩👍
This is a horrible idea.
Hi Derick, thanks for your comment, take care George 👍
13kw not enough for a house ? Enlighten me please ?
Hi Michael, just going to have lunch, a mid Poz. valve has a gap of about 18mm to the heating side, that only allows 13kw of rads, its recommended only 10kw because the big double K rads at the front of the house will not reach max temp 75C the result will be the boiler stays on much longer and high fuel bills. Remember it's the boiler RETURN stat that switches OFF the boiler. It's better to over size the rads with a LOWER return temp. use my "Heat loss App" and you will amazed at how many rooms have under sized rads 22mm Zone valve can have about 20kw of rads recommended max 18 better to split the system to 2 or more zones to lessen the boiler stress and much cheaper to run. Thanks for asking, Marmite crumpets are go! 🤩👍
I still love your videos George 🙏🏻
Thank you, I wanted a Knighthood should have baked a cake😘
😂
When you are mentioning gas pipe sizes, I think you will find it’s 35mm and not 34mm 👍🏻
Hi Paul, thank you very much I did not notice the error, take care, George 🤩👍
You apps mite be great but the videos still don’t play
They will do soon as all the bugs and updates are done next week, take care, George, 😄👌
Very informative
Hi Martin, thanks for feed back, all the best, George 🤩👍
Thank you Sir
Thanks for liking, take care, George 🤩
Mr Combi, great channel with sound information thanks. Can you help me with a solar thermal tank project. I have a Valiant Ecotec which is a cracking boiler, I am fitting a thermal solar tank. Now some boilers can take the preheated water in and top the temp up and others can't. A blend valve to limit the input temperature is suggested on some installations. Now can I feed my boiler from the tank or can I tie into the hot water pipes via a diverter that favours the solar if hot enough. Thanks for any info and thanks for you straightforward presentation.. Best.
Dear Woffy, Thanks for the kind words, not an expert in that field I would go to Vaillant for advice. Don't like air source or EV's I would never take any advice about heating or cars from a politician. All the best, George 🤩👍
Hi I have just bought the fault finding app from Apple app store and none of the videos play. How can I get a refund please. I have try emailing you from the app and the email was returned saying couldn’t find address
Is the fault finding book the same as the fault finding app because I use a tablet when I’m out on the job. Plus a few people have commented on the videos not working on the app has this now been fixed. Great content by the way
Thanks for the question, the book has a lot more information we always advice have both books and all the APPs. if you are an installer or breakdown engineer. The APP has 21 "How to" chapters the book has flow charts, No ignition and so on. The 2 video APPs are being updated hope to be finished in a couple of weeks, (the icons are amazing) Don't download until done, the other 6 will be next. All the best George Staszak 🤩👍
I love tea but unfortunately 99.9% of my customers tea goes back down their sinks...
As I said, don't drink in every house🤩👍
I wish you showed how to replace that old thermostat to the new o, and if we have to connect the same wiring, 2 live 1 neutral plus sensor.
Dear Gixxer, thanks for asking, I cannot show you how to wire a digital stat because each firm has different terminals, you would not change to the same type, 2L +N, all digital. have COM and SW.Live same goes for Open Therm. some will be 230vAC or 24vDC or Volt Free it depends on the one you buy, as in other Vids. if your boiler has O.T. that's the lowest running cost after that VF then 24vDC avoid 230vAC. hope that explains. Our Wiring book and APP has more info. take care, George Staszak 👍
I didn't know how to run a business despite having so many talents. I did also failed.!
Dear Kuldi, thanks for your comment, all the best, 🤩👍
Your video is very nice.🥰🥰🥰
Hi MD thank you very much for your comment 🤩
Where to get more information sir?
Hi Saulis, thanks for asking, I will be making more Vids. this month just Subscribe and click Notifications and enjoy, take care, George 😇👍
Interesting, as usual, I would like to know more. 🧐🤔
Dear Alex, thanks for asking, I will be making more Vids. this month just Subscribe and click Notifications and enjoy, take care, George
Hi George. Just sidetracking slightly but I have a customer who upgraded their Landis & Gyr roomstat to an RF EPH stat but didn't want the old stat removed. The installer set the old stat to max and told them not to use it but use new RF stat. This is correct as far as I'm aware but I think they have been moving stat probably due to habit. So, going to link wires behind stat just wanted to confirm which ones to link out. Thanks
Dear Gas NW, Thanks for asking, yes you are correct the old stat MUST be disconnected, I understand they don't want to remove the old one before decorating. Power OFF and remove the wires from the boiler end and make safe (don't cut them OFF, someone may want to reconnect them later). Hope that helps, George Staszak 🤩👍
@@mrcombiBedford Hi George. Many thanks for the information. Its an old heat only boiler so will I need to put a link back in on the boiler end so that the EPH twin channel programmer controls the switch live to the boiler? Thanks
@@gasservenw1369 Glad to help, it's only the feed to the old stat that needs removing at the boiler end as you say.👍
I feel my radiator nearest the boiler get slightly warm when running a hot bath. Is this normal for a combi? I think it's done it since I moved in 12 years ago
I think I replied earlier, but its the diverter letting by. thanks for asking, George
@@mrcombiBedford Thanks. Do you know if I should be worried, like maybe it's about to fail and I should get looked at or just carry on?
that's vaillant off my list then. my ideal has a preheat button which you press once and it puts preheat mode on - none of this press triangle square and x, hold left joystick down, count to ten, turn round and touch your toes nonsense.
Tinnitus, have had this for fifty years and it is my annoying friend !. Very important you don't focus on it, accept that it is there and get on with life. Mr Combi has given some good suggestions and I use these techniques to keep the tubes clear. The Eustachian tube is normally closed but opens when we swallow, yawn or chew. This allows air to get into the middle ear and any mucus to get out. This keeps the air pressure equal on either side of the eardrum. Having equal air pressure on each side of the eardrum - and the middle ear free of mucus - helps the eardrum to vibrate. This vibration is needed for us to hear properly. My analysis of some forms of. Tinnitus can be the reproduction of a tone which you have had long exposure to including something like a computer fan, for example you hear a constant tone in a space from something, the brain counters that like noise cancelling earphones and turns down the gain for that frequency. When you leave the space the brain no longer hears the tone and but is still cancelling the tone but as it is not there you hear what the brain is producing. Don't Focus on it and do speak with your Doctor about your hearing. Good luck I am taking my friend for a walk..... Good advice Mr Combi
Well done . Best explanation so far
Dear Sajid, thank you very mush for the kind words, take care, George Staszak 🤩👍
Any luck with the apps videos as yet ? Mines has been off line for a few months now. I even tried re-purchasing them with no luck
Hi John, thanks for your patients the APPs are moving up the system to finale build, I will email all when ready to re load, regards, George staszak
Hi what causes gas rate to be too high and over what manufacturer states
Hi Jez thanks for asking, its the gas valve, after a few years it get out of settings and often does not close promptly thus sues more gas. sometimes it just shuts down, dead. Often it's replaced with a different model same as PCBs, that's why I say after 4 years check the firm for updates. take care, George Staszak 🤩
@@mrcombiBedfordHi George, I’ve literally been noticing this issue with Ideal Combi2 boilers. Mainly with the C24 model which when running gas rate checks seem to be sometimes about 3KW - 4KW overgassed. Maybe they have a gas valve issue with this model as these are relatively new. Also would a faulty PCB cause a higher gas rate?Thanks, Dan.
@@DanielGreen_690 Morning Daniel, not the PCB, 1st. call the firm to report the issue feed back is vital to them and ask for guidance. I think just reset the GV come back after two weeks and retest / replace or it's OK. Many thanks for asking and have others had this common problem? Please leave a comment below, take care, George Staszak 🥰👍
This video is a life saver! I’m usually pretty good at figuring out stuff but I could not figure out how to set my heating timer to once a day! Thank you so much! ☺️
Many thanks for comment, glad to help, take care, George 🤩👍
I WISH I HAD SEEN THIS VIDEO A LONG TIME AGO , THANKYOU FOR YOUR VALUABLE INFORMATION !!!* :)
Dear Colin, thanks for the kind words, never too late, Polski saying, we learn all our lives and die stupid, take care, George Staszak 🤩
@@mrcombiBedford cheers man :)
"In my wife's house" 🤣. So true...
Hi Richard, that's 2 of us, take care, George 🤩👍
10.20am, good video, very informative. Question How do you work out the size of an expansion vessel. For instance a system with 17 radiators, mostly large, 3 zones, to 50 kw, commercial boiler, no expansion vessel present. Ray Majrowski. REM plumbing and heating. Thanks.
Hi Raymond, thanks for asking, The best place for advice is the boiler firm, officially we add all the water content of the rads, pipe and boiler, good luck. As its commercial which is not my world, I would expect between 20/30 ltr. would do, better over size than under. take care, George Staszak 🤩👍
Ideal sell their own - for our Heat Only Boiler with S Plan Plus its over £500 for the Controls & 2 Zone Extension Kit - just ridiculous!
Thanks for tell me, that is an offer to avoid, that is nearly the price of a boiler, this video came just in time. Take Care George Staszak 🤩👍
Thank you
Dear Jonny, thank you for the kind comment, all the best, George Staszak 🤩👍
Yr information is clear n prompt and trust me your a very good teacher in explaining thanks
Thank you very much for the lovely comment, all the best George Staszak 😍👍
Thanks for this helpful video but in the places (8 mins 35 seconds onwards) where you talk about the blue wire, we can't see the wiring mistake you are referring to in the video and the discussion about the blue wire is not clear. Could you please show the wiring of the old thermostat that has been done incorrectly and the new correct way for a digital thermostat. I have just installed a digital one(Siemens RDH100) and I used only the yellow and red cable because those were used in the old Honeywell I was replacing. The blue wire was already cut off but not sleeved or taped up. I replaced the Honeywell because I was suspicious that it was not turning the heating off in time. So potentially overshooting and strangely it was also not turning on the heating early enough either.
Dear AR, thanks for asking, I have lots of drawings in other vids APPs and book, that shows what you are asking. The old 230vAC room stat has to have 3 wires, the neutral we don't need in digital stats so we make it safe and use the other two as they are Com and SW.L. Hope that helps, George 👍
@@mrcombiBedford Thank you very much George. I managed to get the thermostat installed using the 2 wires. I am experiencing that under the stairs location problem though. Even in June, the temperature under the stairs is dropping to 18 degrees, causing the heating to turn on. I think I need to configure it for a 2 degree differential so that it only switches the heating on when there is a 2 degrees difference. Thanks again.
Thanks for asking the blue wire is with the black wire that’s wrong All the blue wires should be together and never with others Hope that explains George
شكرا جزيلا لك
Dear Mjido, please translate to English, all the best, George
Hi George, If you don’t mind me asking, how come you don’t the in-person courses anymore? Could you recommend where I could go? I’ve just finished my MLP and while your books and apps are very helpful, I need some hands on experience. Many thanks
Dear Met, Thanks for your email, I have retired from training after 20 years to concentrate on KZread videos, www.youtube.com/@mrcombiBedford/videos where I can reach more installers. Please subscribe to us and watch the Vids. They are made for you. We also have a load of APPs plus 2 book, for you or anyone in the heating industry. If you need “hands on” training then go to the firms, compulsory Baxi, Worcester Bosch, Vaillant plus my favourite is Intergas. For controls Drayton + (KZread vids) + Honeywell Home. Takes Care George Staszak😍👍 Mr Combi Our APPs are all one price £4.99 no vat www.mrcombi.com/apps/ Apple iOS download: apps.apple.com/gb/developer/m... Google Play download: play.google.com/store/search?... BOOKS: www.mrcombi.com/shop/
@@mrcombiBedford Hi George. Many thanks for getting back to me. I’ve got the apps and have just ordered the books. I will hopefully be attending the manufacturers courses as you have advised once my ACS comes through. Drayton and Honeywell only do online from what I’ve seen. Many thanks
@@IncredibleMet Unfortunately that's the norm, it is very expensive to invite 12+ engineers and feed them etc. and a lots just don't turn up because the cost is too low. One firm told me of the 12 booked 3 came, a lot of food was wasted plus 2 Reps hotel bills. This is why they stopped. Take care, George
@@mrcombiBedford Hi George, I’m having issues with the apps. I’ve emailed the app support email. Would appreciate it if that can get sorted quickly so I can start learning! Many thanks
@@IncredibleMet Dear Met, We are still trying to find which code has been deleted, We have a plan B and I will get in get in touch. Thanks for waiting Sales 👍
Thank you very much, for a very kind explanation.
Dear Muwafak, thanks for the kind words, glad to help, take care, George Staszak 🤩👍
Hi, my hot water pump is constantly on even though the hot water and CH is off. I changed the motorised valve but the issue remains. Any idea? Thank you
Dear kr173sh, Thanks for asking, who told you to change the diverter and how did you test it? If the pump runs in HW the stat is still calling, see my videos on HW and Diverter faults and how to test parts. 🤩👍
@@mrcombiBedford the plumber said the micro switch was sticking and to change the valve. It worked for 2 weeks but can to square one.
Very good, excellent, now call him back to fix it, he is very good👍@@kr173sh
@@mrcombiBedford should the water pump be on when you turn on hot water on the tap? (with the central heating off )
@@aixalexander5257 Hi Aix, I am not understanding your question "water pump" combies do not have water pumps. 🤔
how about, pump makes litteraly 0 noise? and still not working, not even the pipe hot water aint working which i supose does not relly on pump... wtf is wrong with that stupid thing... It starts burning, it starts heating water, then you can hear the switch and immediately shuts it down, and the 'sand clock' diode keeps blinking
Hi Nikola, Pumps and heating systems must NOT be tested in HW mode only in Heating, because it tests the diverter valve has moved and many boilers do not use the pump in HW. If the heating is OK then the FLOW pipe gets hotter, if not either call a breakdown engineer or factory Tech. Dept. All the best, George Staszak 👍
Is that Frank Bruno’s voice dubbed over ?
No it's really me.🤩
Hello! Can anyone help me with my issue? Namely, from some reason, heating is not working, and I tried to check the pump, by unscrewing the cap as in this video (to try to start it manually by screwing the inside screw), but when I removed the cap on the pump, water started to come out in the stream. I closed it quickly, as pressure started to go down. Is it normal thing? Do I need to ignore the water stream and to try quickly to unscrew the screw inside the pump to check if it is jammed?
Hi Milan, thanks for asking, as the video shows that screw is only for venting, not for spinning the propeller. There are many reasons why the heating is OFF, programer / room stat fault, stuck in HW mode, pump Ohms test, best call a factory training engineer, regards George 🤩👍
Thanks George for prompt reply!
The pressure in the system was too low, and I did notice that. And once, it stopped to work. I added water in the system and increased the pressure, but it still does not heat...
That's one fault found, now you need to check the rest of the list in my last reply. George @@milanmitic5865
I also checked the pump now. I hear that it works (at least I think that was the sound). When I increased the speed of the pump (on the button), I could hear that the speed was changed. I think that pump is ok. Room thermostat is also ok, I checked. What could be next on the checklist? Sorry, I did not understand the abreviations you listed in your message...
Hello there, I have the same set up that you show with the Honeywell thermostat with the wheel and the ST9100C. I want to replace with a smart system, if I choose the Honeywell T6 Wired smart, I need to put the thermostat with the display instead of the one with the wheel and the receiver box instead of the ST9100C module correct? Thank you for your answer.
Hi Stefano, thanks for asking, No the wheel is too old, replace with Drayton RF 902 2 channel about £117 from Toolstation, this will save you money and easy to use Take care, George Staszak, next week I will have a video on changing rubbish Combi controls system to to RF901 single channel, just what you need except one channel. 🤩👍
We were always taught to test both Solenoid Coils separately George. Where can you buy your wee Test Board mate? Thanks for sharing luv👍👍
Dear Fibre, this is true but Tech. Dept. will always quote (and we test) pins 1 to 5 to see if open circuit then no need to test each one. take care George Staszak 🤩👍
Do the same rules apply if you have a diesal oil system boiler with a 14 litre internal expansion vessel using in conjunction with a 300ltr unvented cylinder for both CH & DHW?
Hi Patrick, Thanks for asking, the boiler and cylinder has nothing to do with the EV. It's the total of water in the rads plus pipes. E.G. If the system (rads + pipes) has 50 ltrs. at 1 bar pressure, we know water above 50C WILL expand by around 4% = 52 ltrs. and the pressure WILL go up 1.5 or more, danger! The installer HAS to fit an external 12-16 ltrs vessel to stop the rise, often NOT done and fit a external AUTO by pass also often not done. The result: The pump will make sludge, noisy boiler, often breakdown, short life. It's basic installation requirements as I said too many installers will ignore Codes of Practice because breakdowns make money. Hope that helps, George Staszak. 🤩👍
We're quite happy with our thermostat in the hall, when we're active during the day we use it to switch the heating on and off depending what we're doing, it would be a nuisance having to go into the sitting room (and we'd have to take outdoor shoes off). In the evening the hall thermostat sits at 12-13 and the living room is just right. If it gets too hot in the sitting room we go into the hall and turn it down. Can't see your problem with thermostats in halls really.
Dear Andrew, Thanks for the comment, as you see on the box, the firm calls it a ROOM stat, install instructions show a LOUNGE, not a hall. Please ask your installer why they ignored this and canceled your guarantee. As we sit in the lounge for 5 hours most of us want the stat there not in a cold hall. As you point out that 247 your system overheats and you over pay, most people find that expensive. Hope that helps, George Staszak. 👍😍
Well it never overheats George as we have it set between 12 and 15, and it goes off overnight on the timer at nine pm until 8 am anyway, tbh our heating is hardly ever on ;) If we want the living room to be, say 18, we just set the thermostat in the hall to about 15, works fine. We have to go into the hall to go to the loo or whatever anyway so it's zero inconvenience to adjust it. If someone had put our stat in the living room I'd move it to the hall ;))
I pass on the message from the controls firms, very glad you happy with your controls, take care, george @@andrewcannon3195
Hi mr combi, thanks for the upload +the logic of the pumping over question for you if i may could there be other underlining issues i.e blocked cold feed split coil etc or by extending the vent pipe would resolve the issue any help is most grateful take care thankyou
Hi Harry, thanks for asking, no it would not solve that problem and changing the cold feed makes the system fill much faster with less air in the water.🤩👍
@@mrcombiBedford thanks for the reply so basically because the f+e tank is within the 5 metre head of the pump the vent pipe requires to be extended in order to prevent pump overrun Thanks
Pumping over i meant to say
My first message was miss interpreted what I meant was could the pumping over be due to blocked cold feed or pump setting too high or split coil, faulty cylinder thermostat etc etc could any of these faults cause it to pump over Thanks