Ideal Classic FF250 running but no flame

[jweaver]

Before anyone says anything, I am not going to be fixing this myself.. I will have a go at fixing anything but not gas... But I am just curious for your advice.

I came home last night and the house was up to temp but I started to notice it getting cold...

This isn't uncommon as I have an ongoing issue with the midposition valve (fitting a replacement this week), but this was different.. The boiler was running and all appeared normal.. But it was certainly getting colder.

A few hours later I checked again and the boiler was still running, but when I felt the pipes they were warm... It was at this point I looked in the inspection window and found no flame.

If I listen carefully the igniter is clicking but it never fires..

I then found if I switch it off for a while and then back on, it fires and I get a roaring flame.. But just when I think its looking good, the flames die down and go out.. And the igniter just sits the clicking.

Having watched it for 24 hours its clear that ever so often it fires.. And this is confirmed as the rads are warm to the touch.

It looks like it gets into a cycle where it cools to a point where gas starts to flow and then it fires until it warms up.

So does this sound like a solenoid/valve issue? Or something else?

The reason I am asking this now, is that I had an engineer booked, but "they are running late" and no-one wants to come this evening as its Halloween... So I am stuck until tomorrow.. And now its time to dig out my old oil filled radiator and some bar fires to get a bit of heat in the house.. And guess I will have to reconnect my immersion heater too for some hot water.

Does anyone have any thoughts as to the likely cause based on the symptoms above?

Thanks in advance

Jon

 

[lightning]

Can’t tell you much due to rules on here, best wait for gas engineer to pay you a visit.

 

[ianmcd]

The good news is you have a very reliable and simple boiler so diagnosis should be easy enough, but as already advised we are not allowed to give advice on gas work and this most certainly will be

 

[jweaver]

Cheers both.. Point is understood.

Engineer came out.. And diagnosed the gas valve at fault.. To be honest, he didn't spend enough time or do enough tests to PROVE this.. But I do agree with his logic..

They are coming back tomorrow and in total is going to cost just over £300 which made me gulp.. For anything else, I would find cheap parts and do it myself, but not gas...

But its got me thinking.. I am also about to change the mid-position valve and whilst I am at it the pump.. .So thats another £100.. I am starting to think this money would have been better spent on a new boiler, as I am sure I could get that fitted for less than £2K.. And it would have been nice to loose the hot water and header tanks in the process.

My Classic is around 20 years old.. Whats the long term prognosis.. With a new valve should it give me years more service.. Or do people generally start to look to replace it?

Jon

Edit: I have started to look at this another way... The fan was replaced a few years back... The valve will now be new.. And I have a spare PCB incase that fails.. I also have brand new diverter and pump.. So effectively, the system is almost brand new.. Its not the most efficient system for sure, and it takes up a lot of space.. but I guess there is no reason why it could give me another few years of service.

 

[ianmcd]

yes I guessed it was the gas valve and at £300 they are not ripping you off the valves are expensive, and as said a very reliable boiler will keep going for many years yet

 

[jweaver]

yes I guessed it was the gas valve and at £300 they are not ripping you off the valves are expensive, and as said a very reliable boiler will keep going for many years yet

Agreed.. no suggestion of being ripped off.. It is what it is and I know its expensive.. I am just thinking that this is perhaps £300 towards a new boiler.. But then again, if it works and gives me years more service, its a small price to pay.

Thanks for your help.. Fingers crossed he will do the job tomorrow and it will fix it.. Then I can crack on with replacing the pump and diverter and hopefully this winter will be trouble free.

 

[Nosnibor]

Exactly the same symptoms, I paid for a new Valve £300 plus fitting. It wasn't the valve at all it was the pcb.

 

[ianmcd]

Exactly the same symptoms, I paid for a new Valve £300 plus fitting. It wasn't the valve at all it was the pcb.

Well your engineer should have checked before he/she changed the gas valve , an experienced engineer would be able to check which part it was in about ten minutes