I think electrical boiler problem?

JamesO

It's that time of year I'm checking the boiler works for winter and it doesn't. Or at least the programme/thermostat doesn't work. I could really do with not getting a plumber out, so I'm hoping it's a simple settings/electrical fix that someone here can ID. 

Taken pictures of everything I can see/open: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1CM0Rpm1iE5PDZ_X_lH5yQdrN6_xNndVY?usp=share_link 

Sorry this is long but I don't have the words to describe it better and I don't know what's going to be important for the diagnosis. 

I 'normally' just use the thermostat in the hall. Set it to defrost over the summer so it doesn't come on and leave the box in the cupboard on constant. Then this time of year set the thermo dial to 18 and it manages itself. This year we had the cold week at the start of the month so I figured I'd test it for winter and nothing. Even turned it up to 30 and no triggering in the boiler.

I guessed maybe the thermo had given up the ghost (still has a slow blinking light that it's always had so has power, just not triggering the boiler). Can't open it without maybe breaking it as it's been painted shut over the years but I thought I'd just try the programme setting this year anyway. That doesn't seem to work either. I know the time on the clock means it wouldn't come on when I took the picture, but it's been a few days of me trying different combinations of settings and nothing going. 

Only time it works (and the boiler does work/make the rads hot) is when I press the button on the box with the red light (nothing at all written on this box so not sure what it's telling me). That's then the pic with the red and green light and puts the boiler on constantly even if program is selected.

Hot water works on demand throughout. 

Albermarle

With these older style thermostats you can normally hear a definite click as you turn the dial past what is approx room temp. This is the stat turning the heating on and off as it passes a certain temperature. Does it do that?

JamesO

No, and I think it always used to - and the blinking light used to flash twice (out of sequence), so I figured it was communicating with the boiler. Now nothing when the dial is turned, just the regular blinking telling me it's got power. 

ThisIsWeird

You are flat, man. Almost certainly the batteries inside your dial room 'stat - a Honeywell Y6630D

It isn't communicating with your receiver - the Honeywell R660D

Grab yersel' a couple of Alkaline AA batteries, and watch this - follow it to the letter  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNOV603GXJg

JamesO

Aw man! Thanks. 

I seriously thought because the light was still blinking like always and that it's right next to the light switch that it was wired into the mains. 

I'll dig out some double a's and try to carefully pry it from the wall tomorrow. 

ThisIsWeird

Seemingly you press upwards on the underside of the case to release the clip.
A flashing light usually means it hasn't connected/is trying to connect. It should go steady when successful.
Fingers crossed.

JamesO

The problem was I needed to get a sharp knife and cut through a ton of paint. All sorted thanks mate, you saved me £60 for someone to do it for me. 

If a blinking light means low battery then it's been low for 5 years at least. When I got it open inside it even had the exact same batteries as in the video so they could even have been original.   

I need to get the heating sorted at some point (and lots of other jobs) but could do with it not being right now.