Problem with combi boiler

daffodil

Hi
My Myson midas combi boiler is 7yrs old and I have had no problems with it until now. The pilot light went out and I cant get it re-lit. Ive followed the instructions but no joy. The pilot light will light and stay on until I stop pressing the grey push in button on the control panel.
I'm not sure how I should proceed. If I could get the front panel off I could get a closer look at the pilot light - it may only need cleaning, but I dont know how to get the panel off, I've tried all ways to get it off.
If I call out british gas I will be charged a flat fee of £156 which includes e
verything regardless of the cause of the problem.
Do independant heating engineers charge more tham this? I know I called out a plumber one weekend and he charged me £70 just for tightening a bolt under my bath!
I would be more than happy to fix it myself if anyone can advise.:cool:

tightbarsteward

Try the manufacturers direct. They may have plumbers local to you who work for them. For example my Vailiant boiler was knackered, I rang them & they sent a plumber from a town 40 miles away. It needed 2 new parts. He fitted them & I was then billed by Vailiant direct for about £160 which I didn't think was that bad as the parts alone were £100 on the internet.

espresso

daffodil wrote: »

The pilot light will light and stay on until I stop pressing the grey push in button on the control panel.

Sounds like the thermocouple. Sometimes the nut on the end of the capillary where it mates with the gas valve need tightening, or it may need completely replacing.

ariba10

espresso wrote: »

Sounds like the thermocouple. Sometimes the nut on the end of the capillary where it mates with the gas valve need tightening, or it may need completely replacing.

Not a too difficult or expensive job for a competent D I Y er

daffodil

Thanks for all your suggestions.
Ive managed to take off the front cover and gained access to the pilot light and have cleaned it - it was pretty dirty. I think I may have made it worse because now the pilot light wont always light.
I really dont know what I'm doing, Im not at all used to messing with boilers.
What Ive done is Ive called out a British Gas engineer to be on the safe side. The young man I spoke to said that instead of paying for the repair now which would be £156, I could pay £26 per month for the next 12 months and I would be covered for any further problems - no way I thought! Once the repair is done and Ive paid for it I will be paying £8 per month to have my boiler covered. It isnt as young as it used to be and it is likely it will break down again.
Thanks again

espresso

daffodil wrote: »

What Ive done is Ive called out a British Gas engineer to be on the safe side. The young man I spoke to said that instead of paying for the repair now which would be £156, I could pay £26 per month for the next 12 months and I would be covered for any further problems - no way I thought! Once the repair is done and Ive paid for it I will be paying £8 per month to have my boiler covered. It isnt as young as it used to be and it is likely it will break down again.
Thanks again

So you think that paying £156 for this repair is reasonable? Why involve BG at all?