Thorn M Boiler - Problem maintaining the pilot flame alight

Joined
22 Jan 2006
Messages
3
Reaction score
0
Location
Somerset
Country
United Kingdom
We have a Thorn M Gas Fired Boiler ( I suspect the boiler should be about 20 years old ) The boiler works perfectly in almost every way - except the pilot flame goes off every 2 to 3 days (normally during the night) and I then have to re-ignite the pilot flame. The pilot flame does ignite again and the boiler will then work fine but I know the pilot flame will go off again in a few days. I have been reading the forum about thermocouples, gas valve / magnet , dirty pilot jet and a new pilot head & spring.....? Does the above sound like a common problem ? will I need a service ? or should I specify pilot trouble ? Thank you for any help - much appreciated - Dave & Nicole
 
Sponsored Links
The Thorn M boiler is a basic heating boiler. chance's are it just wants a service and a new TC the pilot could do with cleaning it might not be heating the TC all the time :LOL:
 
Thank you - at least it doesn't sound like this ol ' boiler needs open heart surgery - what approximately could I expect to pay for a service, new TC :?:
 
Replacement thermocouple is first consideration cheap & economical possible solution. If not a success a new pilot with spring required and because of flame retention slot importance in pilot tip, which do congeal with age, and make pilot stability poor and suseptible to minor changes. Because difficult to clean without upsetting additional spring retention setting, replacement is a sensible option. Poss 20 quid. It is imperative that the pilot flame is clean, blue and robust and normally can sound fierce, it should then engulf the thermocouple. This cannot normally be positively observed through the sight glass easily. I have spent hours trying to restore old pilot heads and minutes solving the problem with a new t/c and pilot.
Also consider seal on pilot sight glass aperture, especially on balance flue versions. Pilot can be extiguished by through draft. Only other point which is unlikely if pilot lasts a couple of days would be vitiation caused by blocked heat exchanger because of need for servicing.
Standard service cost likey to be approx 70 pounds + parts.

Good Luck

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I forgot to mention my final solution would have to be a new gas valve but these need setting up to the boiler gas pressure requirements on the data plate. The reason for a new gas valve complete being the magnetic unit in the valve which accepts the thermocouple emf generated by the pilot flame are susceptible to progressive failure on this model of Honeywell gas valve. The unit used to be available as a spare years ago but tighter regulations now make it illegal for safety reasons to tamper with the seals in the gas valve. The gas valve complete is now sensibly priced in comparison to years ago when it was dearer than it is now.
 
Sponsored Links
Thank you indeed for a comprehensive / professional response to my boiler problem - David & Nicole
 
Your gratifying reply is much appreciated, only hope that it means your problem is now resolved.


Cheers Conundrums.
 
Since the pilot light is such an important consideration in keeping any gas fired appliance operating, I thought I would explain how a gas valve works so that people with gas fired boilers and furnaces would know how to diagnose a problem with the boiler or furnace not firing up or the pilot light going out.

The following applies to gas valves in North America, but I expect the principles of operation would be similar in Europe since safety is the primary consideration.

Also, I'm a handyman, not a heating contractor. If anyone reading this sees anything in the following explanation isn't exactly correct, would they please correct me so that everyone reading this will be sure to get the correct information.

Basically, inside a typical gas valve you will find of two valves plumbed in series, both of which are operated by electromagnets.

The small tube that leads to the pilot light is connected between those two electrically operated valves.

The electrical voltage generated at the pilot light is used to hold the first valve (often called the "safety valve") open. So, as long as the pilot light is burning, then enough voltage is being produced to energize the electromagnet holding the safety valve open so that the gas can flow through that safety valve and then up the tube going to the pilot light.

The second valve is the valve that allows the gas to flow to the main burner trays of the boiler, furnace or hot water heater.

On a boiler or furnace where electrical power is needed to operate a circulating pump or blower anyhow, then normally a transformer in the boiler or furnace will provide low voltage to operate the electromagnet for the second valve in the gas valve (often called the "main valve"). In North America, this "main valve" electromagnet will operate on 24 volts AC. Boilers and furnaces will have a THERMOCOUPLE sitting in the pilot light that generates a few millivolts to operate the electromagnet that opens the safety valve.

On hot water heaters which don't require electrical power to operate a pump or blower, then instead of a thermocouple, you'll have a "THERMOPILE" sitting in the pilot light. A thermopile is just a whole bunch of thermocouples all connected in series to generate a much higher voltage from the same pilot flame than a thermocouple would. Hot water heaters will use the 1 volt (approximately) that a thermopile produces to power the electromagnets of both the safety and main valves inside the gas valve.

Now, gradually, over time, the voltage generated by a thermocouple or thermopile sitting in a pilot light will decline. Once it gets to the point where that voltage is no longer sufficient to power the electromagnet holding the safety valve open, then the safety valve will close, stopping the flow of gas to the pilot light. In that case, no gas can flow to the main valve going to the burner trays either.

However, if the pilot light is burning, but the gas valve isn't opening, then on a hot water heater it would indicate that the gas valve needs to be replaced, probably because or an open circuit in the second electromagnet. However, before replacing that gas valve, check for continuity across the thermostat on the hot water heater. It could be that the thermostat is not making the circuit to the electromagnet of the main valve so that the main valve isn't getting the power it needs to open.

On a boiler or furnace, where that second electromagnet is operated by power from a low voltage transformer, check to see if there's voltage in the wires going to the gas valve. If not, then the problem is in the controls on the boiler or furnace (or the power to the boiler or furnace being turned off altogether at the wall switch). In any event, the problem is that the gas valve isn't getting the voltage it needs to open from the control circuits on the boiler or furnace, not that the gas valve is faulty.

If there is voltage in the wires going to the gas valve, and the gas valve still isn't opening, then the problem is probably a bad gas valve.

But, in most cases, if the pilot light goes out, it's probably just an old thermocouple or thermopile that needs replacing.

Also, thermocouples and thermopiles generate their voltage at the end that sits in the flame, and the length of the wire between the pilot light and the gas valve doesn't really matter. So, you can replace a 24 inch long thermocouple or thermopile with a 60 inch long thermocouple or thermopile; the gas valve will still get virtually the same voltage. It's no different than using a short extension cord or a long one in that respect.

If you have a pilot light on your hot water heater, boiler or furnace, it's always a good idea to have a spare thermocouple or thermopile around in case the pilot light goes out. Most of the time the reason why a pilot light goes out is just due to an old thermocouple or thermopile, so most of the time you can fix the problem yourself by replacing the thermocouple or thermopile, but there can be other reasons like the crossdrafts that were mentioned by another poster.
 

DIYnot Local

Staff member

If you need to find a tradesperson to get your job done, please try our local search below, or if you are doing it yourself you can find suppliers local to you.

Select the supplier or trade you require, enter your location to begin your search.


Are you a trade or supplier? You can create your listing free at DIYnot Local

 
Back
Top