Gas wall heater lighting

[endecotp]

Do you have a carbon monoxide alarm?

No.

GET ONE BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING ELSE.

Screwfix have one for only £12.

 

[jsampson45]

I didn't break anything. It may be that nothing can be done even taking the cover off. In that case the best advice to people must be not to buy this type of heater. And I have a gas fire in the fireplace whose pilot light sometimes refuses to stay lit. ISTM with modern gas heaters that we have been sold a pup.

 

[endecotp]

I didn't break anything.

In that case it was already broken.

I have a gas fire in the fireplace whose pilot light sometimes refuses to stay lit.

That’s another danger-sign.

Please get carbon monoxide alarms, one for each room.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Resuming - I blew at the pilot light through a straw and this cured the problem once, but not again.

The unit is room-sealed, and so blowing through a straw, unless the little window is broken, should do nothing at all.

Probably I need to get the cover off the heater somehow in order to clean the pilot light, or anything else.

There is no pilot light, the unit is either on, or off. Turning it on, it is lit by a piezo spark igniter - the sharp click as you turn it on. Most likely, you are not using it correctly....

The heater has, what is called, a flame-failure device - a thermocouple. The idea is - unless there is heat from a flame, holding the gas on, the gas is shut off. Your pushing on the button, defeats the flame failure device, long enough for the flame to establish, and satisfy the flame-failure device to hold the gas supply on.

Therefore, the lighting process is -

Push and hold the button down, whilst turning the knob, beyond the point where it clicks, and ignites the gas. Peep through the window to ensure it has lit, or repeat the 'click', until it does light. Give it a few seconds to establish a flame, before releasing the button, to rise, then set the heat level you want.

The instruction for lighting, and using are hear - https://www.wolseley.co.uk/wcsstore...ng.all/ti/on/Valor_Brazillia_Installation.pdf

Failing that... Do not remove the cover, you are not qualified to repair or service the unit - get a qualified gas service engineer to look at it..

 

[flameport]

What could I be doing wrong?

Dicking around with gas appliances when you have no idea what you are doing or what dangers you are creating.

Either get it repaired by someone who does know what they are doing, or turn the gas off and leave it off.

 

[jsampson45]

Probably best not to use the heater in that case. Thanks to all for your help. One thing I might do is get my house gas pressure checked.

 

[dilalio]

Probably best not to use the heater in that case. Thanks to all for your help. One thing I might do is get my house gas pressure checked.

Get someone gas safe (with fires) to diagnose the fault and service the appliance.

 

[gas112]

baxi / valor wall heaters are as basic as they come and probably one of the most reliable robust appliances out there that will last decades .In the past i have fitted several hundred of them they take minutes to diagnose and repair on the very very rare occasion they play up

 

[jsampson45]

baxi / valor wall heaters are as basic as they come and probably one of the most reliable robust appliances out there that will last decades .In the past i have fitted several hundred of them they take minutes to diagnose and repair on the very very rare occasion they play up

I was asking about one that does play up. The engineers that have attended have not been able to make it work for any length of time. And I have had a previous one replaced for the same reason. I am not sure what the purpose of your post is.

 

[gas112]

I was asking about one that does play up. The engineers that have attended have not been able to make it work for any length of time. And I have had a previous one replaced for the same reason. I am not sure what the purpose of your post is.

im telling you that blowing it with a straw to get it to light is impossible unless you have compromised a seal which you shouldnt be doing and its an absolute basic appliance to repair that no one should have any problem diagnosing what is wrong with it . It only has a handful of working parts on it so its not rocket science .

 

[jsampson45]

im telling you that blowing it with a straw to get it to light is impossible unless you have compromised a seal which you shouldnt be doing and its an absolute basic appliance to repair that no one should have any problem diagnosing what is wrong with it . It only has a handful of working parts on it so its not rocket science .

I got that about blowing, yes. I guess it's apparent effect was coincidence. You are welcome to your view on these heaters. As for me, I am not continuing to throw good money after bad.

 

[dilalio]

As for me, I am not continuing to throw good money after bad.

Sounds more like you're throwing it at the wrong people!

 

[dilalio]

One thing I might do is get my house gas pressure checked.

Why?

 

[jsampson45]

Why not?

 

[jj4091]

Why not?

"good money after bad"