Boiler won't light in this weather

MDJO_2

Hi - our boiler won't light in this weather, (when it's a bit frosty but more specifically when the air is very still) - it did this last winter, and before christmas when we had the cold spell... but we could always manually relight the pilot manually. Not so this time. We can't get the pilot to light at all .. it sounds like the fan is turning and then there is a clicking when the pilot should light but its not firing up. An old colleague mentioned a similar problem to me and her gas engineer had said it is due to the outside air pressure (very still). Does anyone have any clues as how we could get it working again as both the central heating and all hot water comes off the boiler? Any advice much appreciated - many many thanks

MDJO_2

It's OK - I've sorted it with the innovative use of the hairdryer. The problem is definately related to the air pressure when it is very still (and cold) so I took my hairdryer outside and created some 'wind' next to the vent..and voila it lit! I now have a money saving solution ..although i can't imagine having to do this at 6am every morning ...I just need to work out how to keep the thing going at a low temp now

nmm

We had a similar problem with our boiler, turned out our's was due to a broken gas valve. Before it died completely we could get it to work by turning the hot tap on and off a few times. Good luck, hope you get it fixed quickly.

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Oops cross posted, glad its sorted, but thats a weird problem. I'd give the boiler manufacturer a call see if they have a solution to stop it from happening.

reactor_3

Yes I had some similar and I had to get a new (old second hand) gas valve.
My boiler went out and kept needing relighting which I had to keep doing, eventually
I could not light the gas at all.
That's something to bear in mind in this weather, but I guess you can keep going with the magic hairdryer but it may eventually not work at all, hard to say really.
My brother is a 'gasman' so I got a cheap one from him.
Anyway I expect the wind will pick up a bit

I think you need to get a professional in at the end of the day.

reactor_3

http://shop.ebay.co.uk/?_from=R40&_trksid=m38.l1313&_nkw=gas+valve&_sacat=See-All-Categories

Maybe of interest to see how much they are.