Stuck gas valve knob

[faddy74]

Trying to relight a back boiler Glow Worm Majorca 346 that's not been used for a couple of years. The knob on the gas valve - that has to be turned from "ON" to "PILOT" then pressed to relight it - appears to be stuck at the "ON" position. Any suggestions please? Brute force?

 

[stem]

Have you tried pushing it in slightly before turning it?

 

[faddy74]

Have you tried pushing it in slightly before turning it?

Yep.

 

[muggles]

If it's not been used for a couple of years I'd very strongly advise that you get it fully serviced and safety checked by a gas engineer familiar with back boilers before you use it. Not doing so could result in a large amount of carbon monoxide entering your home, resulting in you pushing up daisies fairly quickly

 

[faddy74]

If it's not been used for a couple of years I'd very strongly advise that you get it fully serviced and safety checked by a gas engineer familiar with back boilers before you use it. Not doing so could result in a large amount of carbon monoxide entering your home, resulting in you pushing up daisies fairly quickly

I understand the risks of neglecting boiler servicing, but are they actually greater when a boiler's been unused?

 

[ollski]

On back boilers yes because the chimney is constantly pulling air and dust through the appliance filter.

 

[Agile]

Because they are not room sealed, any change in combustion charactistics are potentially dangerous.

Blocked chimneys being particularly dangerous.

 

[Mikefromlondon]

true, how do you know a pigeon may have tripped in and blocked it, and may be Santa might have got stuck in as well if you didn't see him come thrue to drop your xmas prezzies! You never know whats inside.

 

[Agile]

In my opinion there are so many dangerous possibilities they should need a gas check by law each year.

That happens for rented properties but not for owner occupiers!

A friend of mine has an old gas Ascot water heater in his bathroom and will lie in his bath telling me he is watching the blue flame!

Tony

 

[nauseous]

In my opinion there are so many dangerous possibilities they should need a gas check by law each year.

That happens for rented properties but not for owner occupiers!

A friend of mine has an old gas Ascot water heater in his bathroom and will lie in his bath telling me he is watching the blue flame!

Tony

Watching his blue flame!....Phew, thought you was gonna say something else then!

 

[Agile]

Just the blue flame in his open flued Ascot water heater which must be at least 40 years old.

I expect it is one of the old round ones!

 

[DaveHerns]

The round one with the swivelling spout? Think we had one of those up to 1965 when we moved .

 

[muggles]

I understand the risks of neglecting boiler servicing, but are they actually greater when a boiler's been unused?

Hmm now let's see...
The flue could be blocked with sticks/cobwebs/dead birds
The flue could have come apart
The burner and air filter will almost certainly be full of dust/cobwebs/spiders/flies
The burner could be damaged
The gas valve could be sticky
The diaphragms inside the gas valve could be perished
The thermostat might not work properly

Is that enough to be going on with?