Back Boiler not firing up

polkadot100

ormus yes, that's what I feared Owain, I will have nother last ditch attempt holding it in for a while...

Thanks all for your help

dander

My old Baxi back boiler developed a fault where it had very low gas pressure and couldn't stump up enough to supply both the gas fire and the boiler. There was a knob that made some kind of adustment between the two and if it was in the normal position I couldn't see the pilot light, but I could turn it so the pilot light would fire up enough to light the boiler and run it at a weak power. Might be worth checking this as a temporary measure.

Must be said though, when I had someone in to look at the boiler, he stuck a big red sticker on it and cut it off so it couldn't be used until it was repaired. So, for safety's sake, I'd get someone in to look at it sooner rather than later.

polkadot100

Oh dear, I hope it doesn't get condemned or we will be without boiler for the forseeable future (money v. tight).

Have someone coming tonight to take a look. Dander, is the knob you speak of easily accessible do you remember?

roger196

Usually dirty thermocouple or dirt on pilot light giving rise to poor flame not heating thermocouple enough. Otherwise thermocouple needs replacing. Boiler needs servicing. Do not diy this as unburnt gas can explode and burnt gas can give off lethal carbon monoxide if servicing not done correctly and safety checks not carried out.

dander

Don't worry, it wasn't condemned completely, just deemed unsafe until a repair was done and the part needed to be ordered. Just wanted to make the point that if you've got a fault it's better to be safe than sorry.

The model I had had a panel on the bottom of the gas fire which pulled off to reveal a few controls there. It was one of those bog standard style gas fires. Metal panel at the top, central strip where the flames appeared behind a wire cage and a bottom metal panel - it was that entire bottom bit that came off. There were only about 3 knobs in there, maybe less!

Owain_Moneysaver

Alternative operating suggestion:

Turn boiler stat (large white knob on white box inside gas fire base) to OFF. Turn on programmer/timeclock to call for heat. Push in grey knob and spark the sparker until pilot light heats. Still holding in the grey knob, turn the boiler stat on and turn up. Boiler burners should light within a few seconds, and this may be sufficient heat to let the thermocouple hold the gas supply on whilst you get some heating / hot water.

But it does need to get fixed, as the thermocouple/gas valve is a safety mechanism.

gas4you

Shouldn't be able to work like that. Main burner shouldn't ignite until button is released.

Main burner flame will not activate thermocouple.

BaldPlumber

Owain_Moneysaver wrote: »

Alternative operating suggestion:

Turn boiler stat (large white knob on white box inside gas fire base) to OFF. Turn on programmer/timeclock to call for heat. Push in grey knob and spark the sparker until pilot light heats. Still holding in the grey knob, turn the boiler stat on and turn up. Boiler burners should light within a few seconds, and this may be sufficient heat to let the thermocouple hold the gas supply on whilst you get some heating / hot water.

But it does need to get fixed, as the thermocouple/gas valve is a safety mechanism.

Completely wrong. If true, what on earth would be the point of having a safety device fitted? even if it did work, to suggest bypassing it is irresponsible in the extreme.