Potterton 16/22 not even trying to come on. Boring Q I Know!

[julie-mids]

Pilot light is not even attempting to light.

I had a fault last year where it clicked at least, but would not activate/fire up and so bought a part in the end (with the help of many sites and my local plumbers merchants and my dad fixed it so thought that was sorted.

I also had a seperate heating fault (non boiler) that I also got sorted twice and cost me a rudy fortune.

Now my boiler comes on fine, and I can hear a fan going but the pilot doesn't even attempt to click.

My boiler is not that old, probably ten years max and has no reset button so am assuming yet another part has gone.

I know it's a bad idea for a woman to try and fix things on a boiler (I have read the FAQ's!) so am going to get someone in to have a look, but I would really appreciate some back up advice so as I know what it might be.

For example, I initially thought it must be the control unit, but if it comes on in all other respects it couldn't be the main control unit could it?

Any insight or experience would be appreciated.

Julie

 

[ollski]

If its a netaheat 16/22 its more like 20 years old and a dangerous boiler to strip down if you don't know what you are doing. The most common fault I see with the symtoms you describe is the gas valve, but it could also be the pcb or even the air pressure switch.

 

[julie-mids]

Thanks for this,

I've only lived here for 7 years and they said they only had the heating system in a couple of years!

That could explain a lot then. To be honest I've had the front cover off and just been switching it on and off and feel a bit whezzy and there is defo no gas smell coming off it so maybe it is the gas valve.

If it's seriously 20 years old though, then maybe it's time not to spend any more on it (with labour etc) and just accept yet another 'fippin' expense of owning a house!

 

[chrishutt]

Sounds like it might be the spark generator. I've had to replace these a couple of times.

As spares they cost about £70 I think, but changing them doesn't involve opening sealed casing, so you might consider DIY if you can confirm that this is the faulty part. (Being a woman does not necessarily make you incompetent!)

If the spark generator has failed, you will not hear the clicking noise of sparks attempting to light the pilot. Yet the connections to the generator will be live. This really needs checking by someone competent with a multimeter.

 

[Agile]

It sounds as if she has already had the case off which is worrying as its a positive presure boiler and potentially hazardous.

I have never had to change a spark generator on this model OR had a fault on the first stage of the gas valve. Air switches, fans and electrical faults as well as the thermostats and of course the mercury switch!


Tony Glazier

 

[julie-mids]

well I had a guy out that has a big advert in the yellow pages but I dare not ask him for his Corgi thingy cos that would be like me saying I didn;t trust him.

He has said it is the air switch but also that the pipes are blocked.. to be honest I couldn;t have cared less at this stage cos I just want my heating back on in time for the winter, but more so I just want a bloke I can trust to do an honest job at a reasonable rate. I am not a skinflint here and appreciate that a genuine plumber has had to train for X amount of years and can justifiably charge X amount per hour.

He blew down one of the pipes and it did get my polit light 'trying' to kick in again so I heard the click I did the last time this happened.

He has quoted me £560 plus vat to replace the airswitch... clean out the pipes, replace a timer box that didn't work and also replace a water tank that is leaking.

What do you guys think at this?

Is this what Corgi registered would charge?

 

[Slugbabydotcom]

Wouldnt do any harm to get another couple of quotes. www.corgi-gas-safety.com will point you to local installers.Remember that not all installers are good at boiler diagnostics. You can check the details of the guy in the yellow pages here too.