Baxi Maxi Combi WM playing up, advice appreciated

[Goldsacs]

I have a Baxi combi boiler (the maxi combi wm) that is about 3 years old. Recently it has started acting up. The majority of the time the boiler works without issue for both hot water and central heating, however recently the boiler seems to have issues with both.

What happens is that during a 10 to 15 minute shower the hot water starts to run out (normally provides enough water to shower indefinitely) so I go to see what the boiler is doing. Generally it has the DHW light on and I can hear a pump (or something in the background which is not as loud as when it is actually heating water) and that’s all.
Occasionally the main burner will ignite for a short time (10 sec perhaps) and then it will shut off and we are back to the sound of the pump.
Occasionally you hear it try to switch on a number of times in a row i.e. I hear a number of relays clicking as it would when it is going to ignite and then almost immediately one off click and it can repeat this sequence a few times and it definitely not the sound of the ignition clicking here.
Other times it can have this relay sound and the louder sounding pumping noise that you hear before the main burner ignites starts up and then I get the big off relay sound again.
If I leave it, eventually things seem to start working again, but you know this is the sort of thing that is only going to get worse.

So I guess what I need to know is, does it sound like it just needs a service? (as it has not been serviced in the last three years)
If it is a servicing issue, any idea how much this normally is?
If not, what are you thoughts on potential issues and how much something like that would generally cost to put right in terms of parts?

Your thoughts and advice are appreciated and rest assure I ain’t going near the thing in terms of trying to fix it

 

[Agile]

Well I think you have identified the problem yourself that it has not been serviced.

Now you have the problem that anyone coming SHOULD be told about the problem and that it would normally be treated as a repair rather than a service.

The problem is actually quite a simple one but requires a CORGI registered engineer.

Prices vary across the country and between different firms. In London we charge £84 plus parts for a repair and £55 for a routine service.

Tony Glazier

 

[Goldsacs]

Thanks for the quick reply, I thought it might be the case that it needed serviced. After watching it closely this morning, I think on the whole it is generally working, just slowly. Its taking ages for the water to heat up for the DHW and because of this the CH is not going on for ages till the hotwater reserve has heated up completely.
I'll get a corgi engineer in to sort it and service it and explain to my wife that yes it really does need serviced every year or two

 

[ChrisR]

Not exactly sure what Agile is saying between the lines here. Yes If you'd had it serviced it would have narrowed the options on the problem's cause. But your problem is possibly due to sludge - NOT covered by a service , and often more than £84 to fix.

Did you mean something else Ag?

 

[Goldsacs]

After some consideration, cleaning seems to be the sensible action. The DHW is heating up, but it is taking its time and that time seems to be increasing. This kinda suggests to me (someone not of a plumbing background) that something is gunked up and is getting worse.

One thing I'd like to know (which may be better in a new post) is just how often a combi boiler really needs serviced?

 

[kevplumb]

PostPosted: Tue Oct 18, 2005 7:41 am Post Subject: [/quote]