Well the plumberer has been.
I talked him through the whole saga and at the end of it he said "Well I would have done the same as you and in the same order."
So I was quite chuffed.
Mind he wouldn't have got watter running out of pipes in an airing cupboard.
We agreed that the steps taken indicate the need for a new pump and a new motorised valve as the old ones are dodgy and noisy. and they don't owe us anything.
He also recommended a UPS Grundfos pump as I think has been recommended on here, without looking upthread.
I asked how much the parts would be and he gave me some figures. I then asked when he could do it. He looked quite surprised as he thought I would be doing it! So he'll be doing it in the next few days.
Don't begrudge the money, the system is so good it has cost us nearly nowt over the years in repairs and parts.
I asked him if he wanted to see the antique boiler, so he had a look and we chatted about it, the thermocouples and pump overrun stat.
Good chat. Decent bloke.
He also said, "Don't get rid of it"!!!
Hopefully this is the beginning of the end.
And from now on I will regard gate valves as useful only as fishing weights ...
... and I don't go fishing!!!
Have a nice evening all.