Boiler Sparks but Does Not Light

PJB

HELP PLEASE!

Complete novice regarding this issue so please bear with me!

We have a Potterton Supr1ma and it has stopped firing up. I have followed instructions (reset, set thermostat high etc).

When it tries to fire up there is noise (fan i think) then the clicking, and i can see a spark but it does not fire up at all.

Been here over a year and never had an issue at all until the thermostat in the hall got a crack in the temperature dial and we had it to remove it last week and use the bolt to adjust it, not sure if this can affect the boiler lighting but it seems a coincidence!


Thanks

gas4you

Sounds a possible gas related issue and that will need a RGI in to check it over.

ormus

possible gas valve problem.
maybe the pump.
PCB. is most likely of the three.

1984ReturnsForReal_2

Switch the heating off & hot water on & see if it fires up.

If it doesn't its nothing to do with the thermostat.


It could be the thermostat inside the boiler for the fluid it pumps around.

PJB

Thanks guys.

Have had to call out Homeserve as have a policy with them , but the boiler is over 7 years old so i am a bit wary!

Any idea of costs for above repairs please?
Also the boiler was running 24/7 and went out, don't know if that may rule out any of the above.

PJB

Also we have a gas fire in the front room which has not been used in a fair while (over a year), it still fires up no problem but it hasn't been safety checked since we bought house in Oct 09. We have a carbon monoxide alarm and just wondered if it would be safe to use? Difficult question i know.

Fired it up last night and fine, bit of a burning smell from the dust i guess but no smell of gas.

Regarding the chimney being clear a mate suggested firing it up high and looking for the fumes (?) escaping from above the house.

Thanks again

PJB

andrew-b wrote: »

Get the gas fire serviced if you've never done so since you moved in. We paid about £30 at the same time as boiler servicing to have ours checked over.
Carbon monoxide alarms aren't an alternative to servicing...just a last line of defence so don't rely on them ...and make sure you replace them when they meet the expiry date (they don't last forever). Carbon monoxide is odourless ...you won't smell it, you might get headaches and feel nauseous..or at more moderate concentrations become dizzy and pass out..beyond that you might lose consciousness and die.

If the fire is burning with a yellow flame after all the dust has burnt off that would be a sign of incomplete combustion when carbon monoxide will be produced.

Get it serviced..which is basically a strip down of it and cleaning it out and putting it back together and they will do a smoke test to check the chimney is drawing good. Of course it might be fine but it's money well spent to ensure your safety.

Thanks for your advice, I was only intending to use it temporarily and very sparingly as hope that boiler will be fixed very soon.

The fire is not an issue now as i i had a rumage in the garage (got to sort that out!) and found anoil filled rad we used in old house as it had electric heaters which are rubbish! Thanks

PJB

1984ReturnsForReal wrote: »

Switch the heating off & hot water on & see if it fires up.

If it doesn't its nothing to do with the thermostat.

Thanks for that, still didn't fire up so not the thermostat.

gas4you

As I presume the 'clicking' is the boiler sparking then all the other safety devices have been proved, otherwise there would be no spark. Nothing to do with external controls.

IF it was the gas valve then it would be expensive, but as you have a Homeserve policy, I cannot see why you are worried about cost, as would this not be fully covered as a breakdown?

SPANIEL36

mine was gas vaive and cost me £220 last week

PJB

gas4you wrote: »

As I presume the 'clicking' is the boiler sparking then all the other safety devices have been proved, otherwise there would be no spark. NJothing to do with external controls.

IF it was the gas valve then it would be expensive, but as you have a Homeserve policy, I cannot see why you are worried about cost, as would this not be fully covered as a breakdown?

Thanks gas4you

Worried as boiler is over 7 yrs old and Homeserve only repair if economically viable, but i have no idea what the write off value of a boiler is!
If they write it off i will get £200 towards the cost of a new boiler, which i suspect is going to be alot more than £200!