Boiler not working after "popping" noise

Phantomwheelspinner

Hi. I have an old Glow Worm boiler (I would guess it's at least 25 years old, but we've only been in the house 10 years). When I went upstairs to switch on our central heating this afternoon I heard quite a loud "pop". Neither the heating or hot water comes on now. The on/off light illuminates if you turn the switch on/off, but everything is completely silent (we normally hear the water pump working as it is pretty loud).

I've tried replacing the fuse, but no luck. I also tried using the emergency water immersion heater, but that doesn't seem to be not working either. Just for info, the water tank and on/off switch for the boiler and immersion heater is located upstairs in a bedroom, but the boiler itself is situated downstairs in the kitchen. The pilot light on the boiler is fine, but we've certainly got no chance of any getting any hot water. Any thoughts or advice please? Thanks, Chris

fwor

Lots of things it ~could~ be but I'd guess pump failure?

Probably a good opportunity to change it out for a condensing boiler - they are so more efficient than your existing one, it will pay for itself in just a few years.

Browntoa

or possibly the main circuit board, last time mine went pop it was beacuse the main heat exchanger was leaking water onto it....was time for a new boiler

Phantomwheelspinner

Sorry - I gave some wrong info, the hot water does work (the boiler fires up and pump comes on) but when the heating is turned on, nothing happens!

penrhyn

Have you turned the room stat up sufficiently for the heating to fire up?

Phantomwheelspinner

Yes, the room stat is turned up to maximum.

fwor

Quite likely an electrically-controlled valve (or the circuitry that drives it) has failed.

Phantomwheelspinner

That's great, thanks very much for the info, much appreciated.