I have been struggling with intermittent lockout for the last two years on my boiler which is about 10 years old. Two (reasonably good) engineers have been involved but don't seem able to identify exactly what the cause is.
The boiler is serviced annually with new jets each time, the filters are cleaned, the pump has been replaced as the bearings were shot, the balanced flue has been disconnected and the air supply taken from the boiler room with good sized air duct through the wall, etc
At first the lockout would happen once or twice a month but it is now locking out virtually every day.
It is always the same: when switched on from cold the fan runs for about five seconds then, instead of firing, it continues to run for another 5 or so seconds and then locks out, followed by a huge stink of oil. (It only ever locks out from cold. If it does fire up then it will happily turn on and off with the boiler stat).
When I get the problem, the temporary solution is to press the reset button then, during the first 5 second period, to turn the boiler stat on and off about 6 times (to put a surge through the system) whilst at the same time hitting the burner assembly with my hand. This usually works!! If I don't do this it invariably will lock out again. If it doesn't cooperate then I leave it 24 hours when usually the "temporary starting solution" will work.
Surely someone else has had this specific problem and can advise which part is the problem. Both engineers use the approach of "we could try this bit, or that bit" which seems far too hit and miss.
Would really appreciate any ideas, otherwise I may just ditch the whole thing and buy a new boiler rather than spend an unknown amount trying to sort out an older one.
The boiler is serviced annually with new jets each time, the filters are cleaned, the pump has been replaced as the bearings were shot, the balanced flue has been disconnected and the air supply taken from the boiler room with good sized air duct through the wall, etc
At first the lockout would happen once or twice a month but it is now locking out virtually every day.
It is always the same: when switched on from cold the fan runs for about five seconds then, instead of firing, it continues to run for another 5 or so seconds and then locks out, followed by a huge stink of oil. (It only ever locks out from cold. If it does fire up then it will happily turn on and off with the boiler stat).
When I get the problem, the temporary solution is to press the reset button then, during the first 5 second period, to turn the boiler stat on and off about 6 times (to put a surge through the system) whilst at the same time hitting the burner assembly with my hand. This usually works!! If I don't do this it invariably will lock out again. If it doesn't cooperate then I leave it 24 hours when usually the "temporary starting solution" will work.
Surely someone else has had this specific problem and can advise which part is the problem. Both engineers use the approach of "we could try this bit, or that bit" which seems far too hit and miss.
Would really appreciate any ideas, otherwise I may just ditch the whole thing and buy a new boiler rather than spend an unknown amount trying to sort out an older one.
