Disaster with a Baxi Combi 80e

[terrylee]

Hi
I've just moved into a new apt and it is fitted with a Baxi Combi 80e. Since I moved in 3 weeks ago there has been no hot water, well it would heat for a few minutes then run cold again. Basically no time for a shower at all! Brrr!! At this point the CH was working fine.
3 days ago the CH played up too and now I have no HW and the CH is veerrrryy slow to heat. Had it on for an hour and only got up to 40 (2nd red light) on the boiler. I have had the gas company in, they are trying to say the boiler is fine and that there is a blockage or leak in the main pipes, but the pressure is staying constant between (1 and 2.5) on the gauge so I don't see how that could be the case.
Anyone who has seen it is mystified! The flame also cuts out randomly and then kicks back in straight away. I'm not sure if its supposed to do this though as I don't have a manual for the boiler. I'd appreciate any help or advice on what to tell the engineers to look for, as the ones I've come across don't seem to know anything about these boilers!!
Thanks.

 

[Dan Robinson]

If its that bad then it seems an easy one to sort out when actually there,

But my orbital post was before I saw you were in Ireland and think Jul have a different boiler to the one I was thinking.


Will check when out of the bath, but sounds like a stuck diverter or guffed temp sensor.

 

[petertheplumber12]

That sounds very much like the secondary heat exchanger has become mostly blocked with sludge on the boiler primary side, you almost certainly need a new secondary heat exchanger, about £120 plus fitting, then get the system cleaned and a magnaclene fitted on the return pipe. magnaclene £90 plus fitting done at same time much cheaper to fit.javascript:emoticon('')

 

[ianmcd]

Edited for second thoughts

 

[jj4091]

This any help http://www.partsarena.com/baxi/System/DATA/Dx/DS1/installation/2288/I05-2288/I05-2288.htm . Doesn't the pressure stay constant on a sealed system unless you have a leak or top it up manually with the filler loop.

 

[gas112]

Only getting up to 40 suggests main sensor has gone . lefthand side on pipe coming out of heat exchanger. sits in dry pocket and cost around 12 quid takes 2 minutes to fit.
As for water going hot and cold plate heat exchanger will be scaled ,takes 5 minutes to remove , you can either descale it with brick acid (approx 20 minutes) or buy a new one at around £50.

 

[terrylee]

Thanks for the replies. Very much appreciated!
Have had the gas company out again today. They checked every inch of the boiler and say it isn't at fault. So it comes back to a blockage in the mains pipe. Has anyone heard of this happening? They think some dirt or something is blocking the pipe, therefore all the gas that should be getting into the boiler isn't getting there and causing the flame cutting out, the temp not rising etc.
The plumber is coming with a compressor tomorrow to try and blast it, if not the landlord has to lay a new pipe which could turn out to be very costly! Just want to know if we are finally figuring out what it wrong as this has been ongoing for 3 weeks with nobody seeming to know what the Hell is going on!!!
Thanks again!

 

[petertheplumber12]

Yes there could well be some dirt in the gas pipe, after it was just a tube of copper before the plumber used it and if there is grass around the property he may have dropped it and stuck some dirt in the end. which is now dried and loose.

 

[terrylee]

Thanks! It will hopefully be resolved soon. Anything else it could be if it's not the boiler or dirt in the pipe?

 

[gaswizzard]

Yes there could well be some dirt in the gas pipe, after it was just a tube of copper before the plumber used it and if there is grass around the property he may have dropped it and stuck some dirt in the end. which is now dried and loose.

 

[mfarrow]

If you turn the hot tap on and watch the boiler, at what point does the flame cut out? Does it carry on burning even when the temperature gets up to 40 degrees?

What did the last fitter say about the boiler gas pressure? Did they measure it as part of their "every inch" inspection?

 

[terrylee]

Thanks for the replies!
It's been fixed! There were lots of stones and dirt etc in the main pipe and they all blew out! Heat is back working and I've just had my first HOT shower in my new place! Let's hope it stays that way!
Cheers for the advice and responses