Your help required ... Johnson & Starley Economaire 65 not heating

[Ray1000]

I wonder if anyone has any thoughts on this mystery.

A friend as a Johnson & Starley Economaire 65 which has stopped working on the heating side but still produces DHW.

Two Engineers have looked at it, the first fitted a new gas valve which didn’t make any difference then swopped a working part from the DHW side to the heating side to find it still didn’t work.

The second Engineer, while not finding the fault was of the opinion it could be something small but illusive.

The boiler was installed in 2013

She has been given a quote for the following ...

New Aquair S20 Warm Air Boiler

New Alpha Evoke 28NX Hot Water Boiler

Built In 24 Hour Time Control
Cold-Air Summer Switch
New Heating Pipes To Warm Air Heater
Update Compartment Ventilation
Supply & Fit New Wireless Room Thermostat
Install New 22mm Copper Gas Supply
Supply ET/System/Modairflow
Install Magnetic Filter & Scale Reducer
Install New Condensate Pipe To Discharge
Install New 4" Horizontal Flue Kit

Which would be an expensive remedy if it turned out to be something simple.

Thank you very much for your help.

 

[CountryFan]

I don’t work on warm air units (wau) but we’d need some more information please. I’m not au fait with these, but I don’t know why the gas valve was replaced. Anyway, do you know what happens in the sequence? Eg, is the heating turned on and no response or does it do a little more? I’d be checking the thermista-stat. Oh, and it’s Johnson Starley

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

Give Johnson and Starley a shout, they're still in business, and may be able to recommend an Engineer covering your area. [email protected]

 

[Ray1000]

Thank you CF, I've only got my version second hand ... I understand from the owner there is just a clicking sound when the heating is chosen ... presumably the ignitor failing to light the boiler. She also indicated the first person probably tried a replacement PCB along with the gas valve and swapping over the two items from one side to the other ... I assume after the "items" were swopped over the DHW still worked and the WAU didn't.

 

[Ray1000]

Thank you Hugh but it is one of the J&S Approved Engineers who came out first and provided the quote for a complete new system.
It was the same people who installed to existing one.
I don't think not knowing what the problem is, is a good reason for renewing it

 

[CountryFan]

I don't think not knowing what the problem is, is a good reason for renewing it

I Concur

 

[Ray1000]

One other thing the lady said was the Engineer mentioned - after everything else had failed - it could be a "cable problem"
Not sure what cable would be only for the heating side?

 

[CountryFan]

One other thing the lady said was the Engineer mentioned - after everything else had failed - it could be a "cable problem"
Not sure what cable would be only for the heating side?

Probably a harness of sorts or something. I suppose it depends on what has been tested.

 

[Ray1000]

Can I ask another Question on this subject ...

Q1. When installed to provide warm air CH and DHW ... Does a New Aquair S20 Warm Air Boiler and a New Alpha Evoke 28NX Hot Water Boiler rely on each other to work?
Q2. Will the Aquair S20 provide warm air heating even if the Alpha Evoke wasn't installed?
Q3. Will the Alpha Evoke provide DHW even if the Aquair S20 wasn't installed?

Thank you
Ray

 

[Ray1000]

I've found the answer on Google AI ... it says ...

Heating: The Aquair S20 relies entirely on the Alpha Evoke 28NX to provide hot water to heat the home.
Hot Water: The Alpha Evoke 28NX does not rely on the Aquair S20 to provide hot water to your taps.

Just out of interest ... you'll remember the 13 year old fully serviced Johnson & Starley Economaire 65 wouldn't fire up and no-one could identify why not.

Out of desperation the lady succumbed to having the two new boilers fitted today only to find the new one won't fire up either !!!

Since November last year she has had DHW but no heating - now she's got neither.

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

I think in this situation J&S, (or their Agents/Approved Installers), need to pull their fingers out and get the Lady some answers, if they, as the manufacturers cant sort it, then something is seriously amiss and they should bite the bullet now and make a sensible offer to get the Customer something sorted that works!

Or she'll go down the Legal route...

 

[Ray1000]

Thanks HJ ... I've said the same, while the old one has gone in the back of the van it needs taking to J&S to get to the bottom of what was wrong with it.
I'll let you know how she goes on with the new ones.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Since November last year she has had DHW but no heating - now she's got neither.

If it's the same J&S recommended company, then it reeks of incompetence., both in fixing the original heating system, and the new one.

 

[Ray1000]

Thanks Harry, it is the same J&S authorised engineers who fitted the original one. They have the rare combination of being very friendly, helpful, knowledgeable and unlucky at the same time.