Old Boiler not firing up
- Thread starter marb
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Changing the thermocouple does need to be done by a gas engineer as its a safety device associated with the gas combustion.
The same applies to fans, overheat stats, combustion chamber covers and everything directly connected to burning gas in the boiler.
You can measure the resistance of the gas valve solenoid and you can also measure the voltage across it when it should be operating.
Tony
I'm afraid these two statements are contradictory as you'll have had to remove the cover to get to the thermocouple, and doing that requires an RGI. Did you do all the necessary checks before refitting said cover? I doubt it, because you almost certainly don't know what they are.
Get an RGI in.
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Not been able to get my old boiler fired up for years, had to resort to getting hot by other means 
I have had a plumber round who is on recommendation from a friend. he seemed to think it shouldn't be a problem to fix though he needs to source the part and find out what is wrong. The other option is a conventional Baxi boiler where the current one is in the kitchen, remote timer and a radiator flush for around £1300 but we still are not able to pay that amount yet so will go for keeping it going longer. he didn't try and push for us to buy a new one. I asked about a combi but he said he prefers them. I think I will stick with this one as it's built much better than the new combis that only last a few years and seem to have no end of problems (from what we hear from friends and relatives experience)
It is tempting to loan the money but for a couple of hundred to get it fixed we will be saving more (including the inefficiency of it)
It is tempting to loan the money but for a couple of hundred to get it fixed we will be saving more (including the inefficiency of it)
E
expertgasman
Has your valve got 2 square buttons, one red and one white? If so, you use to be able to change the solenoid, I assume that you still can.
When trying to fire the boiler, you use to hear a click, but now you can't?
it may be a simple external power supply fault, first thing is to check for 240v across L & N on the valve.
I would avoid buying a valve yourself, at least iniy=tially. You need to hire a RGI. He should inspect the boiler BEFORE ordeering parts. On one hand you may not need a valve, but on the other he may find that there are serious rust holes in the lower combustion chamber, in which case he will ID it (disconnect), and your purchase would be wasted.
Phone an RGI and explain the situation, most of us can identify faults within 1 minute and 3 or 4 questions. We won't neccesarilly give you the answers free of charge though!
When trying to fire the boiler, you use to hear a click, but now you can't?
it may be a simple external power supply fault, first thing is to check for 240v across L & N on the valve.
I would avoid buying a valve yourself, at least iniy=tially. You need to hire a RGI. He should inspect the boiler BEFORE ordeering parts. On one hand you may not need a valve, but on the other he may find that there are serious rust holes in the lower combustion chamber, in which case he will ID it (disconnect), and your purchase would be wasted.
Phone an RGI and explain the situation, most of us can identify faults within 1 minute and 3 or 4 questions. We won't neccesarilly give you the answers free of charge though!
Very well said!
I certainly always charge to diagnose faults although I will sometimes give a budgetary price for the total repair over the phone based on my expectation of what may be wrong. When asked what I think is wrong, I answer that until I have visited and confirmed my diagnosis there is no point in my suggesting anything.
Unfortunately there is a proportion of people who think that RGIs are only there to give free fault diagnosis over the phone so that they can fix it themselves.
I even had one in London, my local area, who telephoned me at 1600hrs on a Sunday afternoon saying he had seen my details on this forum and that I gave people a free diagnosis. I told him that as a business we have to charge for our services.
I explained that we always charge to diagnose faults and offered to go to him within the hour. Surprise, surprise he declined! No apology for wasting my time either.
Tony
Thats a matter of opinion.
First an RGI has to come to diagnose the fault, then he has to source the part which is time consuming in your case and then he has to fit and adjust it.
We would charge a fee of £84 to diagnose the fault which would only leave £116 to pay for the new valve. Where can you get one at all for this boiler let alone at that price.
There are some RGIs who would say they can so something like supply and fit an obsolete part for £200 just to wind you up.
Most rare gas valves are about £240 if you can ever find one!
Tony
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