Baxi Solo 3 doesn't light

[Gareth79]

Hiya, there have been several threads on this boiler so I am hoping for some suggestions reassurance.

I have just bought a house which has been empty since at least May, and I can't get the boiler to start.

- Boiler appears to be a couple of years old, last serviced in January this year.
- All controls are calling for heat
- Boiler light is on (flickers a little)
- Fan light comes on, the fan is definitely working and pressure sensor pipes are free.
- Pilot light comes on, and the electrode sparks.
- I can hear a solid clunk which I assume is the pilot valve solenoid.

I have removed the electrode and cleaned the end with no change.

The main (meter) gas valve is on, the appliance cock is on, however the gas cooker fitting (which is between the main valve and boiler) has been capped so I assume the valve has been off at some point.

I have read that if there is air in the pipes it might take some time for this to work through, I have left it for around 30 minutes in total turning it off to "rest" a few times. Is this long enough or might it need longer?

I am due to get a cooker in the next week or so, hopefully running this might purge most of the air anyway?

There are a multitude of other possibilities I have read about, a blocked pilot jet seems likely, although it was only serviced in January and used for no more than 5 months.

Cheers,

Gareth

 

[ollski]

sounds like the main gas valve solenoid, have you run a multimeter over it to check if it is powered up?

 

[Gareth79]

Do you mean the main, or pilot? The pilot doesn't even light so I wouldn't think the state of the main one would matter? I haven't taken a meter to the house yet but will check for power and the resistance(s). There is a clunk just before (or after, can't remember) the pilot sparks so it does sound ok.

edit: Stopped off and ran some more tests - the pilot solenoid is getting power, and reads 1.5k ohm across the contacts (when disconnected) which has been mentioned as a correct reading. The main valve does not have any power, which I would expect if the pilot hasn't ignited. It reads 5k ohm across the contacts. I'll be picking up an oven this weekend so that might help draw any air out if that is the problem.

 

[Gareth79]

Late follow-up here for the benefit of readers, and anybody finding this via. a search engine.

Symptoms were everything loked ok except the pilot didn't light.

Solution: Engineer checked pressures all ok, then cleaned pilot injector. Final solution - gave the valve a tap and it worked! Seems not being run for 6 months caused it to seize slightly. Ran the various flue reading etc. to check everything else was ok - so pretty much a service really.

 

[Agile]

Thanks for posting the fix! So many dont bother.

Nice too to hear that you had a competent engineer who did not rush into changing the gas valve!

Tony