Ferroli FF77... Knackered??!!??

[Scooby_Drew]

Hi guys,

Newbie here so be gentle...

Had a few probs with the above combi boiler...

Firstly the HW and CH kept failing to come on when either a tap was on or the CH switched on. A good firm slap generally got it going and it was fine... however today it wouldn't stay on when slapped.
It is something that happened a couple of times before... usually when the CH was switched back on after summer.

Now...

I've had the electric off for another job and accidentally knocked the pilot light off. Now I can't get it back on and am completely without HW!!!

Can't get an engineer to it tonight... besides which, it's pretty warm here and I won't really need hot water until weekend, as both me and the missus can shower at work. I'm loathed to pay through the eyes and nose for an engineer to come and tell me that I need a new boiler as so many have said to me! (A friend can fit me a Worcester or Potterton... which I will get done when I replace the kitchen, as it needs moving).



In the meantime, is there any simple way to get the pilot to light (i've followed the instructions to the letter)??

 

[Scooby_Drew]

Should mention that when it happened before, a good slap cured it for the rest of winter!

Also, the CH pressure is fine... I've tried it at every pressure from 1 bar to 3 bar and am now on 1.5 as per instructions!

 

[gas4you]

Could be several things that react to a slap! Fan, aps, gas valve, pcb relay. Can you here the fan going? I think this boiler may have a slow speed fan cycle for the pilot light to work. If so could be the fan knackered as it won't relight.

 

[Agile]

What can I tell you that you dont know?

The boiler is about 15 years old and not a terribly good boiler when it was new.

You have clearly not had it regularly serviced and now the pilot light will not relight!

Pilot lights work on gas and that means you would need a CORGI.

Not all CORGIs will just come and say you need a new boiler. As long as you explain the you just want the pilot light repaired before he comes it should not be a big job.

We would charge £84 in the London area as we have a fixed price regardless of whats wrong but you might find a local engineer who will sort it out for £30-£40 for you.

Tony

 

[Scooby_Drew]

Looks like I'm lashing out for a new boiler then... smashing!


There's no clicking when I press the pilot light ignition.

The fan seems to be kicking in about 20 seconds after the pump starts up for the CH.

 

[Agile]

It might just need an ignition spark generator!

Tony

 

[Scooby_Drew]

Maybe... but surely that's not the cause of the failure in the first place?

New boiler on the way ASAP...

 

[Agile]

"""I've had the electric off for another job and accidentally knocked the pilot light off."""

Its your words that you knocked it off !!!

Are you changing your story now?

All I see is that you knocked it off and cannot relight it because the spark generator is not working!

Tony

 

[Scooby_Drew]

Tony, you seem very keen to trip me up on matters concerning my boiler. I understand that you take your job very seriously, but I am no idiot.

I am not changing my "story" at all... I have no reason to change my "story" as I am a grown man with nobody to answer to but myself.

My point was that the pilot went out when I switched off the electricity.

The boiler was ALREADY playing up before that and now it won't work at all. Previous to me turning off the electricity, the pilot light had remained lit for a good while without problem (at least since christmas, when I had a gas fire fitted).

 

[gas4you]

Could be several things that react to a slap! Fan, aps, gas valve, pcb relay. Can you here the fan going? I think this boiler may have a slow speed fan cycle for the pilot light to work. If so could be the fan knackered as it won't relight.

I still wonder if the fan is at fault not allowing the pilot to light. Nobody has confirmed this or rejected it yet.

If you want a new boiler get one. You know what you want to do, how much you want to spend, the customer is always right (well nearly always ) You will also probably save around 20% off your heating bill.

 

[Scooby_Drew]

The fan does seem to start...

When I follow the sequence to start it, (switch CH to "always on", put thermostat on full, then press ignition knob after 20 seconds), there is a hum when the water pump starts for the CH, then a different hum when the fan appears to start.

I know I need a new boiler, but could do with scraping another couple of months out of this one, as if I decide to stay in the house, I'll be moving the boiler to the other side of the kitchen and putting a new kitchen in. I don't want to have to have a new boiler fitted twice!

I've tried a few CORGIs and none can come any time in the next day or so, and I'm not paying an emergency charge as we're not desperate (no kids, access to shower elsewhere etc). Besides which, I'm currently skint!

 

[Scooby_Drew]

Well, so much for new parts, a possible new boiler or any other expensive remedy...

A ferroli engineer has just left having done about an hours work on it... tested it all, checked the PCB and then cleaned it all out... the fan was just full of crap!

Fires up instantly, piping hot water, heating works better than ever.

He only charged me the call out rate, so Ferroli didn't even get a cut! (I was recommended him anyway, so never involved Ferroli).

Checked it all over and said it looks like new inside, despite never having been serviced.

Absolutely made up...

Feel like I've found £1500!!!

I wonder what percentage of other heating engineers would have been so honest and not even charge me for a service (given that nobody suggested that it might just need a clean)???

Anyway, thanks for the advice fellas...

 

[gas4you]

I did post twice about possible fan fault, and my call out is the same as a service so yes that is all I would have charged a customer

 

[Scooby_Drew]

Apologies, I didn't realise you guys called dirty a fault...

 

[Rob]

Apologies, I didn't realise you guys called dirty a fault...

Well when it stops something from working id say its faulty

Unfortunatley we are unable to see the condition of your boiler and assume that your responsible enough to keep things in good condition which this is not.