Ideal Boiler Concord RS Series 2A - GC 41 399 28

[chrisgtl]

First post here so apologies if I miss anything obvious out.


My mum has just been widowed by my father who was the expert in this kind of thing. Basically mothers boiler is old, I believe 1970's for this model?

She likes the boiler and the fact it has needed only 2 new thermocouples since they moved into the house in 1979 (boiler was already installed).


The boiler is controlled by an external thermostat located one floor up (landing from front door). Boiler is located in what was the old cellar before the cellar was converted into living space.

The water tank is in the attic.

Cellar (boiler) > 1st floor (thermostat) > 2nd floor (immersion heater tank) > Attic (cold water tank).

All floors have at least 3 radiators apart from the attic.



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Now, and this is where the problem is. When it is windy outside the pilot goes plonk, and for those of you who are aware of these boilers they can be tricky to re-light. For my mother I feel she won't be able to do this, so I have learnt from her local gas engineer how to do it.

Did it for the first time last night and got it going first time, I hear the trick is to get the observation window back in place quickly after getting the pilot lit. Now, the observation window is a mess, splits, cracked, wobbly etc. It has been coated or covered with something that is holding it together (not sure what was used here). Can we get a new window for it? Does anyone have the dimensions for it? I don't want to move it again in fear it will crumble between my fingers.

Also, I see a split here from people who like these old boilers and people who say they are plain dangerous. I can presuade my mum to get a new boiler if needed but if I was to fix the observation window would the boiler be as safe as a new boiler?

I have put a carbon monoxide alarm in the sealed room where the boiler is located and it constantly reads 0 ppm (digital one).


One thing I don't understand is how does the boiler know when to turn the gas off when the pilot goes out? I presume it doesn't keep spewing out gas from the unlit pilot?



Thanks in advance for reading

 

[45yearsagasman]

Those old girls used to have glowcoil ignition for the pilot. They were converted to piezo ignition which was a bit hit and miss. I'm pretty sure the glass is obsolete as are the surrounding gaskets. Someone may be able to make some gaskets and a piece of heat resistant glass can be obtained from a glass specialist. I fear that this boiler has come to the end of its life. When a pilot goes out the gas is shut off by the gas valve and should prevent any gas getting to the main and pilot burners. If you can get someone to fix it, and give it a good service, there is no reason why it wouldn't be safe to use.

 

[Madrab]

I'd have a look around at other sight glass for other boilers, a lot of these were very similar in size/thickness and a suitable replacement could probably be found/supplied, they come in kit form, glass, plate, 2 fireproof gaskets and fixing nuts but the engineer would probably sort that.
The gas valve knows the pilot has gone out by the thermocouple. If it doesn't register heat, the gas valve closes down sealing off the supply. The engineer may also be able to look at the flue termination to see if that is causing the pilot to be 'blown out'.

 

[chrisgtl]

Thanks for the replies.

One thing I have noted is the size of the outside vent. It is massive!! Probably 40cm x 40cm with a solid end panel and vented sides.


I am trying to track down a replacement viewing window/gasket kit. If you come across anything let me know...

Cheers