Gas fire Help and advice on DIY.

Jafman

Hello forum users. My first post here I looked but could not find anything specific to my situation. Forgive me if this has been answered somewhere.

I recently had my gas fire serviced as it was not staying lit. The gas engineer replaced the thermocouple and now the fire stays lit. This is great however when he left he said that the ignitor ( the bit that creates the spark/piezo unit) still does not work and we will have to continue to light it with a lighter/matches. He said that should we decide to have that replaced also it would be better to replace the fire....

Now the thermocouple part he replaced costs around 40/50 quid online where as the ignitor unit costs under a tenner.

Is he trying to shaft me?

also should I decide to replace this myself what will this entail and should I do it.

the fire is a focal point fire FF110 and the fire control is a push and hold knob.

ive checked the HT lead is attached and that there is no shorting.

any help/opinions/advice greatly appreciated.

victor2

The igniter has nothing to do with the fire staying lit, or not.
Sounds like you have two problems and the more important one was fixed.

Sandybanks

It must be a special thermocouple as they usually cost around £15.
Is the ignition separate to the knob. That is you push and turn the knob and then push a button and it should go click repeatably until it lights? How good at DIY are you? Changing a thermocouple is not that different to doing the ignition. All the forums will tell you that this is the first thing to change if your gas appliance wont stay lit.
However, you have to remember the safety aspect. Maybe he didnt want to come back and do the job so told you that so you wont ask him. It costs him the same to go and fetch a cheap part, drive to your house and fit it and he can only charge you peanuts. Better to drive to someones house with a broken boiler that needs a £200 repair!
Have you got one of those battery powered spark lighters people buy for the gas cooker?

lemontart

no do not do it your self www.gassaferegister.co.uk

What price is your safety?

McKneff

Morrisons have an candle/ lighter on special offer for £2 at the moment.

Dont even think about doing anything yourself !!!!!!, you'll maybe blow the place up.:eek: