Ideal Classic - should the pilot light only come on when the boiler is on?

blizeH

Hi guys,

We've got an old Ideal Classic boiler - if the heating isn't on there's no pilot light, however reading around it seems like it's standard on boilers for the pilot light to always be on.

I've searched for the manual online but cannot find any mention of whether the pilot light should always be on or not. As soon as the boiler fires up the blue light comes on no problem.

Does anyone else have this boiler please? Is your pilot light always on? Thanks!

blizeH

Sorry for clarification it's not that I turn the boiler off, just that the heating stops because of the thermostat. The boiler is still on, just not fired up.

*j*

I think you will find that the pilot light is only lit when the boiler is meant to be fired up...ie. when the main burner is required. The pilot light is off at all other times.

Does the ignition spark click repeatedly, trying to light the pilot?

If it does, then it is likely that te pilot jet is blocked. It's only a tiny aperture and it can easily be blocked by oily deposits from the gas supply.

The solution to a blocked pilot light is to remove it and clean it out with a strand of copper electrical wire and a wash in biological washing powder in a cup of hot water, or just a soak in some meths or white spirit.

Of course, you shouldn't be messing with the interior of the boiler!

Here is some info: http://idealboilers.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2013/08/156647_1.pdf

blizeH

Thank you! The pilot light comes on perfectly when the boiler is fired up, no clicking or any other problem, my girlfriend (and her parents) just thought it should be on 24/7 - will go put her mind at rest now

*j*

Pilot light on permanently is old tech - probably more than 20 years old.

It wasted oodles of gas over the years, but that was when gas was cheap.