VERY OLD style Back Boiler System - gone faulty

wannabe_a_mum

Hi guys..wonder if anyone can help me?

We have a back boiler system at home, where the water tank is located upstairs and there is a unit behind the gas fire in the front room (which is the boiler?). The boiler controls both our hot water and our central neating.
Nearly 2 weeks ago, the gas had to be turned off to enable a new hob to be fitted. This meant that the pilot switch on the boiler went off. Usually it comes back on...this time, it didn't!
So we have no hot water and no heating.......luckily shower's electric!
Anyway, we have a local person working on it, he has rplaced the theremo-cauld(??) and has also put in a new unit. Now the pilot comes on, but the boiler doesn't ignite in it's usual way (those who know waht I'm talking about should know what I mean hopefully!)
I'm really stuck!
We've had so much expense this year and really haven't got the time or money to switch to the combi boiler right now. What could we do now? What else could need doing????
There is an electric switch that triggers the boiler to light.....even that isn't triggering anything! The lights are coming on though on the electric switch.
Please help - it's causing no end of issues at home, not to mention clearing up the mess each day from when the gas fire is removed and put back.
We've had an awful 2 weeks, with everything and anything going wrong! Hubby's getting really grouchy and mother arrives tomorrow and I know she won't be able to cope with no heating. At the moment upstairs is like a freezer!!!!
Thanks in advance

Mrs7ones

you have my upmost sympathy.
Unfortunately, I can't offer any advice at all to you (very sorry).... but I can tell you that our very very old back boiler gave up the ghost in March and we have been without heating since. (we have an emersion (??) switch for hot water though).
We are forking out £2,000 next week for the removal of the back boiler etc, and fitting of a nice new combi boiler system.
My advice - don't mess about any longer, ditch the old boler and beg/steal/borrow the cash to get it replaced.

wannabe_a_mum

Mrs7ones wrote: »

you have my upmost sympathy.
Unfortunately, I can't offer any advice at all to you (very sorry).... but I can tell you that our very very old back boiler gave up the ghost in March and we have been without heating since. (we have an emersion (??) switch for hot water though).
We are forking out £2,000 next week for the removal of the back boiler etc, and fitting of a nice new combi boiler system.
My advice - don't mess about any longer, ditch the old boler and beg/steal/borrow the cash to get it replaced.

Thanks....I will try to get hubby to have a look for the immersion switch...that should be somewhere near the actual tank I think....

£2k...really??:eek:

Well I think it's a case of we'll have to do it!

Not sure whether there's any insurance cover for the boiler...I'll have to check!

Mrs7ones

I think replacing your boiler will save you money and heartache in the long run.
We could probably have got the job done cheaper, but we've gone for quite an expensive boiler with lots of power cos we live in a large victorian terraced villa that takes a lot of warming up!!
Ring round as see if you can get a feel for how much it would cost you - or try British Gas cos they have payment plans for paying monthly for replacement boilers.

eco-friendly_2

Anyway, we have a local person working on it, he has rplaced the thermo-couple(??) and has also put in a new unit.

Can't you get your local man back ?

[Deleted User]

I'm not sure if yours is the same as mine but if it is, you have get down on the floor (as if you are looking under the fire) pull off the metal bit at the very bottom which is held on by magnets so now messing with srews etc.. then look to the right you will see the thermostat contols with numbers on it, now look accross to the right & you will see a large button. Depress that and keep it held down. now where the thermostat control is - to the left & lower down you should be able to feel a small button press that a couple of times, your boiler should now be working.. If you have tried that then somehow your electrics to it have been messed with & i have no idea what you would have to do for that.
Hope this helps.

EliteHeat

This doesn't make too much sense.

If you had a gas hob fitted, then the installer has a legal responsibility to not only restart every gas appliance in the property, but also to ensure that they are safe to use.

You seem to be saying that you were left with no boiler after the hob installation, is this right?

As far as old back boilers are concerned, there are very few appliances that are easier to diagnose / fix than these. Anyone, and I mean anyone that takes more than 10 minutes to work out what the problem is with one of these should not be touching a gas appliance.

Anyway, just in case you get a plank/plonker/idiot/rogue trader around, here are some tips:-

1) Depending on the type of gas valve, there may be a switch that has off/start/on positions - check that this is on "on"

2) Is the boiler thermostat turned up? is there 230V here?

3) When there is a demand for heat, is 230V registering at the gas valve? - if not investigate why 'cos this is your problem

4) If there is 230V, check the gas valve outlet for a pressure rise with a manometer - momentary rise you have blocked injector, no rise the gas valve is not opening, sometimes gently tapping the valve will unstick it, but these are not serviceable items.

Obviously I do not mean that you or anyone else not Corgi registered should do these tests.

There is very little in these boilers to go wrong and it is difficult to understand why turning the gas off for a bit should cause you all of these problems. If the worst comes to the worst you will be able to get either a new or second hand gas valve for the boiler. This will be a great deal cheaper than getting a new boiler installed and whilst these things are by no means works of art, look how long it has lasted so far - very few combis will do that.

steve821

Good Day
What a mess, tell me "Did the Hob fitter purge the system of air and relight and check the B/B.
It could simply be air.
I am a gas service engineer
Steve

ormus

as a temp measure to get some heating, you can light it manually with those very long matches.
as been said, i would change the back boiler for a new combi type. we did this 2 yrs ago, the savings are remarkable. the old baxi bermuda was very inefficient.

remember you will prob need a new fire too. (although you can fit a fire at a later stage if money is tight).

eco-friendly_2

ormus wrote: »

as a temp measure to get some heating, you can light it manually with those very long matches.

KABOOM !!

Anyway, we have a local person working on it, he has rplaced the theremo-cauld(??) and has also put in a new unit. Now the pilot comes on,