boiler burner problem

[pandaman]

I have a Glow Worm economy plus cinventional boiler, 19 years old in good nick (usually) serviced annually. I have a boiler and heating controls service contract. Last week I had to have the engineer out as the burners were not firing up just the click click click of the ignition. He said it needed a new air pressure switch and he ordered one and came to fit it yesterday morning and it seemed to have cured the problem. He fired it up quite a few times with some long gaps in between and it fired after about 4 clicks of the igniter.
Later in the afternoon when the hot water came on with the timer the problem appeared again with the igniter just clicking away, apart from once when it fired up okay. Have the engineer coming again tomorrow. Tried it a few times today on over riding and the burners lit each time after 4 to 10 clicks of igniter. I let it come on again withe timer for 25 minutes and monitored it closely. At first start up the burners started almost straight away but as it stopped and restarted over the 25 minutes it took between 4 and 90 seconds for the burners to light, some times it was 8 secs, them 20 secs and another was 53 seconds and twice 90 seconds.
Any one any ideas as to what could be going on here, the new switch only seems to have partially cured the problem.

 

[Dan Robinson]

Whatever the problem, you need to call an engineer in.

It might just need a THOROUGH servicing or another part could have failed.

As this is a gas issue you probably (and rightly) won't get much more information here.

 

[pandaman]

Thanks, engineer is calling again tomorrow, just thought another expert opinion might help him to diagnose the ongoing problem.

 

[DP]

If the air pressure switch were faulty, no clicking

Wonder if your man knows his way round your boiler and if it really was serviced!

 

[jeff the gasman]

Tell him ti clean the pilot injector with vinegar.
Jeff

 

[Agile]

Thanks, engineer is calling again tomorrow, just thought another expert opinion might help him to diagnose the ongoing problem.

You should expect him be an expert and know what to do!

Unfortunately, those who have to work for the boiler cover firms are usually at the lower end of the diagnostic skills scale.

But its a VERY simple problem! As DP has said, the pressure switch was NOT the fault and to us that indicates a less competent engineer.

Tony