Help, I'm cold.

[Golaboots888]

Hello. I don't know much about central heating but ours has stopped working tonight.

It is an old fashioned system with a cylinder. There is a room stat, a stat on the boiler, and a cylinder stat.

I've turned all to the max to check it is not simply this. The pump runs for when I turn the stat up on the cylinder but it seems to only be pumping cold water as the pipes are cold each side.

I'll post a pic of the boiler soon, there is no indication whether the pilot light is running, but I've pressed the ignition button, which didnt have the satisfying click I was hoping for.

What should I do?

Many thanks.

Rob

 

[Softus]

What should I do?

1. Post the make and model of the boiler.
2. Borrow some fan heaters.

 

[seco services]

What should I do?

drink plenty then you won't feel the cold

 

[Golaboots888]

What should I do?

drink plenty then you won't feel the cold

Allready on that one! The model is a EP60B, no indication of the make I'm afraid. It is quite old.

 

[seco services]

glowworm

 

[Softus]

OK. Is the pilot alight?

 

[Golaboots888]

OK. Is the pilot alight?

There is nothing obvious. There is no window however so I'm not sure.

Any other ways to check?

 

[Softus]

Do you have the user instructions for the boiler?

 

[Golaboots888]

Do you have the user instructions for the boiler?

We don't have one, I think it is quite an old model.

 

[Softus]

Well, there's more to it than pressing the ignition button, because the gas valve will shut off the supply to the pilot if the heat from the flame isn't detected.

Is there a larger button near the ignition button that you press?
If so, hold this in and press the ignition until the pilot lights, then keep holding the button for another 30 seconds.

Turn the boiler thermostat to zero, or off, or minimum while you do this, then, if the pilot stays on, turn it back up again.

 

[Golaboots888]

I'll give that a go.

 

[Softus]

I'll give that a go.

Well, I'm not familiar with that boiler, but the only thing in that photo that looks like it might do what you need is that yellow cover with a concave surface.

Is it a cover for a button, or does it move when you press it? If the latter, can you hear a gentle hiss of gas?

 

[swbjackson]

It's a honeywell gas valve, 4700 C I think. Anyway to light the pilot push in and hold the yellow/green knob and push the igniter until it lights. Then hold in for 15-30 secs and release. If it goes out again there is a problem with the thermocouple, gas valve or pilot.

To extinguish the pilot push the button to the left and release.

Mike

 

[Golaboots888]

Well the pilot light is on. I took the cover off and can see the blue glow.


What should I be looking for now we know the pilot light is on?

 

[swbjackson]

Assuming that you're getting a live feed to the boiler you're now looking at faulty gas valve or boiler stat. Replacing the stat will require removing the combustion chamber cover and gas valve replacement means breaking into the gas line so it's time to call in a registered installer.

Mike