CENTRAL HEATING PROBLEMS

[icemaiden]

My boiler is an IDEAL CLASSIC FF370 and is in the garage. I have two water tanks in the loft (one small, one karge) and the hot water cylinder in a cupboard on my landing.

The hot water is working fine. I have not had my heating on since around April so have not noticed any problems before now. It was working fine the last time it was used.

My problem appears to be that the pilot light is not lit! I have followed the instructions inside the boiler door and it does not re-light.
The `overheat thermostat re-set button' does not seem to be a button!!! it looks like a brown plasic grub screw screwed into a small falt brass nut and does not press in?? Am i looking at the wrong thing?
Is that the re-set button and how on earth do you `press it in' ?

I can hear a humming noise (pretty quiet) which i assume is the fan - so that seems to be working.

I have bled the pump - however, when i open the screw the water only dribbles out and does not pour out which i would have expected if the pump was working properly??

The actuator has three positions H,W and M and appears to be stuck on H although yesterday evening it was on M?? (it is labelled the mid point actuator and is located on a tee - the branch of which goes to the inlet on the pump. Historically this actuator has made some peculiar noises and was quite loud.

I recently had one of the bathrooms tiled and the plumber removed the toilet and sink. The sink had no isolating valves so the water supply to my property was off for a while - could this have caused the problem??

Any ideas as to what i should be checking or looking at before i `get a man in'

Any help would be appreciated.

The whole system is only 6 years old.

 

[kevplumb]

oh reset is on the right side of the control panel airc

 

[icemaiden]

Thanks - it doesnt look like a button though?? and doesnt press in??
So have not been able to reset.....
Have conatcted a plumber probably for the best lol

Just thought it was worth a try asking here.

Thanks anyway

 

[D_Hailsham]

The User Manual may help.

 

[icemaiden]

Thanks once again - i had downloaded the user manual but it didnt really tell me much more than the info inside the actual boiler.
I have taked some photos of the area the manual tells me the `re-set' button is and uploaded them on here (not sure how you would access them as this is the first time i ahve used this site!!

Maybe i'm being out and out dopey....??

Pics - In my profile the album called re-set button...

I really am starting to feel like the icemaiden now.... after being out in the rain for hours thanks to my pick up breaking down and coming home to no heating ....its just not my day

 

[icemaiden]

A bit of fast typing above!!! i meant to say taken some photos...lol..im not illiterate as well as being a central heating dummy!!

 

[D_Hailsham]

after being out in the rain for hours thanks to my pick up breaking down

I think you might like to rephrase that!

That's the reset button. Could be stuck in.

 

[icemaiden]

Lol....

Pity the `pick up' is a navara and not a plumber!!!

Back to the reset button...i have pushed it but it doesnt move...i have the imprint on the end of my finger to prove it.

I take it that if it wont push in it doesnt need re-setting?

 

[D_Hailsham]

Back to the reset button...i have pushed it but it doesnt move...i have the imprint on the end of my finger to prove it.

I take it that if it wont push in it doesn't need re-setting?

It looks as if the button is already in as it seems to be flush with the end of the threaded part. Presumably it pops out if there is a fault.

 

[icemaiden]

Thanks again!!!

Will prob turn out to be something else on the boiler or system anyway!!

 

[Beerlover]

Hi icemaiden, reading your original post, you mention a humming and assume the fan is ok. I suspect that you fan has seized and will need replacing. To check you'd need to remove the casing (RGI job). If you can reach the flue outside place your hand over it and see if you can feel it blowing.

 

[icemaiden]

Just thought i would update on what the problem turned out to be!!! cos now its fixed...yipee!!!

The casing was taken off the boiler (which is located in the garage) the first thing we did was hoover it as there were some dead moths and quite a bit of dust.

Checked the thermostat re-set button - it had not popped out.

Tried the ignite sequence - turned off, turned setting to highest stting and turn back on...sounded like the boiler was trying but no pilot light.

Next checked the fan - it was sticking a bit so we rotated it and it ran ok...still no pilot light....

Then we checked the pressure...hmmm.. there is a white hose which had come off...re-attached that and hey presto...the pilot light lit and everthing hunky dory...

I think the theory is that due to underuse the fan may have got a bit of dust / debris in it. Had been working intermittently and caused a build up of back pressure which popped off the hose to the bit (technical term) that equalises the pressure!!!

Anyway, now my only gripe is my house is now way too warm...lol.. adn i need to change my log in name

Just need to get my pick up fixed and things are as they should be

Thanks to all those who gave advice ( and cheek!!)