Help with failed Potterton Powermax HE

Avoriaz

Hi, last year we bought a 2004/5 built house with a Potterton Powermax HE boiler with integrated 150 litre hot water tank like the one on the right.


It was working when we left home yesterday morning for an overnight trip. I switched off the CH and HW before we left as the Friday forecast was for fairly warm weather and the house heats up very quickly.

We got back at 5:00 this afternoon, switched on the CH but the boiler will not fire up on either CH, HW or both settings. The hall thermostat is turned up and the water in the tank is cool.

It was displaying error code A 01 and the “lock out” light was illuminated.

The Fault Finding Guide in the manual says:

Reset & check with a page full of a flow diagram of gas pressure tests.

The next page lists:

A 01 Action/Remedy

Check gas supply and gas valve operation. Clean or replace ionisation probe and lead.

Further Actions

Check fan and spark operation. Check flue for blockage.



All of that is clearly way beyond my DIY skills and I wouldn’t tamper with gas anyway.



I have checked that the house gas supply is working and it is.

I have switched the boiler off at the mains, waited a few minutes and switched back on again a few times but each time it refuses to fire up and reverts to A 01.



Any advice or suggestions on who the best person or company to contact to get in to investigate and fix this? We are near Chichester in West Sussex.

Any idea of likely costs? I presume I am looking at hundreds rather than tens of pounds.

I plan to leave it to Monday so I don’t incur emergency or weekend rates etc. We can cope till next week as it isn’t that cold and we have a gas fire in the living room plus a few electric heaters. There is just my wife and I and we can go to our health club for a daily shower and use a kettle for a basin wash.

Thanks.

diable

Have you tried the ignition switch to light the gas to get it to power up as my boiler sometimes on windy days plays up.

Avoriaz

Thanks but it doesn't have a user accessible ignition switch as far as I am aware.

It is a modern fully sealed and automatic unit. It is installed in a small boiler room/ cupboard in the centre of the first floor surrounded by the landing, bathroom and bedrooms. It is away from any external wall. Air is drawn in and burnt gases expelled via two long flues that go up into the loft space, traverse the loft and exit via the roof.

I doubt if even a strong wind would affect it.

Johnandabby

I had the same model in my previous house. Had 2 independent plumbers decline to service it as it's more complicated (and poorly designed) than a standard boiler. I ended up using Heateam (the manufacturer's service arm) for the first service - they knew exactly what they were doing, but wanted full payment when booking, and charged 2 times a standard plumber's rate plus VAT!! After this I went door-to-door around my neighbours until someone recommended a local plumber who had done theirs.

Typically these boilers were used in large estates, so could be that all of your neighbours have the same boiler. Why not try and ask your neighbours who they use for services? Or ring up a list of local plumbers and quote the boiler reference - I can guarantee that any plumber who knows the unit will instantly say 'Oh that one', as it has a reputation in the industry.

Looks like the error code is a catch all, so worth getting someone out to look at it rather than poking around yourself in my opinion.

Avoriaz

Thanks, I think all my neighbours do have this model of boiler. I did see one in pieces outside another house a few months ago, presumably being scrapped and replaced.

The development of about 100 houses was built in 2004/5 by Bryant Homes and Taylor Woodrow.

I have read on the internet that this boiler is a bit of a dog.

Fortunately the weather is reasonably mild for the next few days so I will check with neighbours over the weekend and try and find someone on Monday.

Hopefully I can get it fixed before Christmas as we have family staying.

If it proves too expensive to repair any suggestions of a sensible replacement?

We have a 4 bedroom detached house. We would like to retain the stored water mains pressure system rather than having a combination boiler.

Don't worry, I won't be trying to fix it myself. I know my limitations.

Thanks

garethgas

A common problem with these boilers is the ignition/ionisation probes becoming distorted.
Unfortunately, all of the possible faults will need an RGI to repair it.

Avoriaz

An update:

I decided to try switching it back on again a few minutes ago.

It still showed A 01 and lockout so I pressed reset again and this time it fired up.

I have left it running to heat up the water and the radiators.

I will get a qualified person to look at it and service it next week if possible.

Thanks for the advice. :beer:

southcoastrgi

They seemed to be a fav of the major house builders everything combined in one unit, the burner is at the top & fires down (so at least you don't have to scramble around on your back trying to work), I would imagine the air inlet terminates in the loft (not outside) check that there isn't any insulation near it that could be drawn into the boiler (it should have a cage on it but stuff can still get in there) also make sure you haven't covered over the vents in the soffit with extra insulation as the loft needs to be vented

Avoriaz

Thanks.

From memory the air inlet does indeed terminate in the loft space. Only one of the two flue pipes goes outside via the roof.

I haven't been up there for months so I will check it for possible blockages.

I've not yet done anything to the loft so it is as it was when we bought it last year. I will check that there is sufficient ventilation with no vent blockages.

Anyway the boiler appears to be working normally again. Hopefully that will last.

I will get it inspected and serviced as soon as I can get someone in to do the work.

Is Southampton to Fishbourne, just to the west of Chichester, a bit far for you?

Thanks again.