Problems with Glow-worm "Ultimate" boiler

ValiantSaint

Hello everyone.

I've been having a few problems with my boiler for a while now and I have decided to get an engineer out from Glow Worm themselves (fixed rate repair for £299 with gas certificate), as my Father-In-Law's "tame" plumber has mucked me about a fair bit, and after telling me that I might need a new boiler (and he could fit one for a grand) has put in a quote for £1900!

The main problem with the boiler, is that it takes ages to ignite (sometimes four minutes!) the plumber did clean it out, but it only helped for about two days, before playing up again.

It also has a very noisy fan. Are these faults expensive to fix? (or uneconomical?)

Do any of you think that I might get ripped off by Glow Worm? (Has anyone used them?)

Many thanks in advance

unclebulgaria

A bit late asking after you've requested a visit from Glowworm if I'm being honest.
If you can hear it trying to light, it will make a ticking noise and you may see the spark, then it could be a blocked pilot jet.
If you can't hear it ticking or see the ignition sparking then it could be the noisy fan isn't getting up to speed to satisfy the air pressure switch. The noisy fan will probably need replacing but can be temporarily fixed by lubricating the fan, when its off at the mains.

Crabman

If the fan is noisy, it could be on its way out. We had this problem with a Glow worm boiler. When the fan failed to work, the boiler didn't ignite.

A local gas engineer visited, sprayed a silicon spray on the spindle of the fan motor and it started to work again and wasn't noisy. It worked perfectly but we did get a replacement fan, think it was about £200 fitted.

Does the panel have any lights, because they usually flash in a certain sequence to indicate what the problem may be. You should ensure if they don't manage to get the boiler working, you will get the £299 back.

macman

FIL's mate or not, a 'plumber' is not qualified to work on, or competent to fault find on, any sort of gas appliance. As should be obvious when he said you 'might' need a new boiler. So get in a GSR RGI who knows your model and knows how to do diagnostics.