boiler concerns.... what do you think?

mirand

[FONT=&quot]I replaced my old boiler last year with a Vaillant combi Ecotec 837 which was working fine since installation end of June last year. [/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]I recently experienced a problem when the boiler stopped working twice displaying an error message F28 & F29. Resolved by re-setting the boiler. [/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]As the boiler still under warranty, I called Vaillant to check the cause. An engineer from Group Service attended (presume its Vaillant subcontractor company). [/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]After inspection, the engineer said he overhauled the fan and all should be ok but he served two warnings indicating that Vaillant will not be able to do anymore till these problems are rectified. [/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]His findings were: [/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]1. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]When the boiler was installed, the flue was fitted with two screws instead of four screws required by Vaillant. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]2. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Insufficient gas pressure as his reading indicate 15/16mb when boiler in high and that pressure should be 20mb minimum. [/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]His message, in short, that I should replace the gas pipes supplying the boiler in my house otherwise Vaillant will not be able to help anymore. [/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]I explained that pipes were changed when the boiler was installed to ensure sufficient gas supply to the boiler, but he insisted on his views.
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[FONT=&quot]To my question how come the boiler was working fine for a year if the supply was insufficient had no reply from him
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[FONT=&quot]Did you have similar experience? and what do people think? [/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]p.s. Got the original installer from the “RatedPeople.com” website, and I must admit, I thought he did a good and neat job.…[/FONT]

gas4you

Sounds to me that he is looking for excuses to get out of the Warranty, as he couldn't fault the boiler at the time of his visit. The fan will either work or it won't, you do not service a fan as such.

To get 20mbar inlet pressure at the gas valve test point you would need 23mbar at the boiler gas connection, as it is a well documented fact that these boilers lose 3mbar from the boiler connecting gas point to the gas valve inlet test point.

I would ask your installer to fit a test point on the gas pipe just where the gas pipe joins the meter tail and check what the inlet pressure is there.

Also, National Grid only have to supply a minimum of 19mbar working pressure at the meter test point, so with the maximum allowed pressure drop between the meter point and the boiler inlet of 1mbar, this will give 18mbar at the appliance, so then with the 3mbar drop internally on the boiler, you would only get 15mbar at the gas valve.

You could ask your installer to check the working pressure at the meter is at least 19mbar, or hopefully more than that, between 19mbar and 23mbar is the allowed range.

F28/29 can also be generated by a blocked condensate pipe, as well as a faulty gas valve/fan etc.

Another question to ask, is that if what the group service engineer has said is taken as gospel, why are Vaillant producing boilers that don't work within the minimum standards of the UK gas transporters supply pressures.

gas4you

Forgot to ask whether this is the original Ecotec Plus 837, or the New Ecotec Plus 2 837?

mirand

gas4you wrote: »

Forgot to ask whether this is the original Ecotec Plus 837, or the New Ecotec Plus 2 837?

Its the plus2. Thanks a million for your thorough reply, much appreciated

gas4you

In that case I would suspect the new gas valve. There have been many reported problems with them. Last thing I heard was that Vaillant were fitting the older type of gas valve back in under warranty, until they find out the cause of the problems with the new one.