F1 error - Boiler needing repair or just bothersome? - moral dilema

Chill

My husband and I have sold our house and are due to move out in a weeks time. We have a moral dilemma as to whether to get the boiler repair man in, but would first like to know if anyone has had a similar situation.

We have a glowworm boiler model 30ci, and every winter on the few coldest days it doesn't start automatically. It gives an F1 error, and after a couple of tries lights fine and works perfectly until another particularly cold day. This seemed to happen on about 5 days each winter over the last few years. A bit bothersome, but to us it wasn't worth paying lots of money to get repaired.

However this year, it's only November, and it's already happened 6 times. While we don't want to leave a broken boiler for the new owners, we're not sure how broken it actually is. Last year we had the repair man in, but as we couldn't replicate the error (it only happens in the early morning, not during the day), he couldn't tell us what was wrong with it. So, I'm not even sure if we spent the money to get someone in they'd be all that much help.

Has anyone had this problem before? Any ideas?

Thanks!!

Chill

darktrader

Can't help you with the fault, I'm afraid. Can help you with the Moral Dilemma.

There is no dilemma. You know you want to do "the right thing." So, get it fixed. If the regular "Boiler Repair Man" can't do it, get someone else in.

That's fair, moral and you will never be troubled by your conscience. :beer:

EliteHeat

It is a flame failure problem.

Assuming that you have a gas supply and the boiler fires up the flame failure detection should operate within 7 seconds or so and shut the boiler down.

Usual remedy is a replacement PCB and/or flame sensor - whichever is most expensive

It will not fix itself and can only get worse.

adaze

Honestly? I would leave it, the boiler works (to some extent). Perhaps if you have loads of money and don't mind shelling out a couple of hundred (?) quid you could get it fixed, but in my position at the moment I wouldn't. BTW if they were concientious buyers they would get all of the systems (CH, elecs etc..) checked before completing, thats what we did and we had a boiler that had to be condemned!

Chill

Thanks for your responses guys. We have decided to do the right thing and get the boiler repaired. I found out Glow Worm have a fixed fee of £215 which covers most parts, labour and vat, so at least there is a cap on how much it will cost. While you're right, Adaze, it is their responsibility to have everything checked if they want to make sure it's all working, I guess in my mind there's an element of 'do unto others'.

pauled1666

i have the same problem, mine is sparking and the fan is coming on but it is coming up with the f1 fault code as if there is no gas, i'm thinking it may be the either the water flow sensor or the water pressure switch

EliteHeat

pauled1666 wrote: »

i have the same problem, mine is sparking and the fan is coming on but it is coming up with the f1 fault code as if there is no gas, i'm thinking it may be the either the water flow sensor or the water pressure switch

Well you're thinking wrong and would be better off paying someone qualified to fix your boiler.

Josepina

Our combi boiler also has this error occasionally but in addition it also keeps losing water pressure. When the pressure goes under 1 bar we top up the system. We are hoping to get new boiler some time next year and are hoping that it will be ok until then

MDJO_2

Hi - i have the same problem - happens on only the coldest days ; or rather i've monitored now for two winters and it's on the very cold still days, where there tends to be no wind. Anecdotally, i heard it's something to do with the air pressure outside; and this tends to fit the pattern. It seems to be that the air pressure is heavy and the pilot won't light cos it cant vent it properly (thats just my opinion) I can sometimes solve it by creating some wind outside the near the flue pipe - i have been known to use a hair dryer to create a localised wind - has done the trick before now (although it seems to have given up the ghost completely today - again very still wind - so getting a gas fitter out tomorrow to have a look over it)