Vokera Boiler/Central Heating

[DebbieS]

Hi everyone,

I hope someone can advise what may be the cause of our CH problem. Heating did not come on on thursday am. Pilot fires up for around 5 seconds and switches back off again. Heating engineer arrived earlier today, thought it could because of the freezing temps, and talked about putting antifreeze in the system. He did manage to get the pilot light on full time, but only by running the hot water (which is fine). As soon as the flow or water temp is reduced, the pilot turns off. Got some heat going to the 2 closest radiators to the boiler, but no further. Spent 2 hrs going back and forward, and left me with a running hot water tap,and a promise to call tomorrow.
Another HE arrived in the last half hour (mix up with no return phone calls on their part) - said at first it might be a faulty ignition switch, then because the water is fine, said it might be the pump working at less than capacity. Advised me to turn water off, that that was a waste.
Both seemed fairly convinced of their diagnosis (2nd guy moreso), but has left me utterly confused what to do to get some heat in this house! It has been really cold over the last 2 weeks, but thawed significantly in the last couple of days...

Boiler is a Vokera 28e, around 10 years old. Never given any major problems...

Any and all advice appreciated, and thanks in advance for your help.
Debbie

 

[jackecole]

does HW work ok all of the time - boiler fires up and stays on ok?

I'd check pump first

 

[DebbieS]

Thanks for your speedy reply! Boiler and CH have both been very reliable. Radiators were bled recently, and boiler topped back up. Working fine until Thursday....

Pump could be the problem?

 

[jackecole]

try bleeding the pump first then.

Does HW work ok all of the time ?

 

[DebbieS]

Sorry - missed this first question. Yes, hot water is usually ok, too...

 

[jackecole]

I'd check the pump first then. If you drained down and re-filled, did you vent the pump?

 

[DebbieS]

Pump wasn't vented. (Can pass blame onto husband for this one...)

If it needs vented, can that be done, rather than a straight replacement?

 

[jackecole]

did the plumber/heating engineer that came check the pump ?

 

[DebbieS]

The second HE did - confirmed really quickly that it was running, but thought it might be running slow. How would this normally be checked?

To be fair to him, he was messed about by his office, and looked at our boiler as a courtesy - he was here and gone within about 5 mins, but thought that the pump was the most likely cause. Also because it was a flying visit, it maybe didn't click about the venting that might be required (or assumed we had done it ourselves). We did exchange numbers, so will call again tomorrow...

 

[DP]

Unless I am missing something in the replies above, there is no Vokera 28e in existance.

Reading in between the lines, boiler could be a Mynute 28e, in which case there is NO pilot- burner is ignited directly. If boiler is indeed a Mynute, hot water demand is from a cylinder so boiler does not 'know if heating is demanded or hot water needs to be heated.

There is (on the Mynute) no such thing as an 'ignition switch'

Jackcole wrote

does HW work ok all of the time - boiler fires up and stays on ok?

I'd check pump first

Jack how do you know what model of Vokera the OP has?

try bleeding the pump first then.

Most Vokera self purge. Never had to bleed the pump on system or combi Vokeras.

but thought it might be running slow. How would this normally be checked?

I would think just showing off. Unless he had instruments and knew what speed the pump needs to run at, I would say pure spculation to cover is lack of knowledge.

OP, could you post the boiler model as that would help a lot more. This will be found on boiler manual front page.

 

[Tibbot]

Unless I am missing something in the replies above, there is no Vokera 28e in existance.

There was the Maxin 28e, that was a combi but no PP, the 'e' stood for electronic. OP maybe confusing pilot with burner ignition.

 

[DebbieS]

Boiler is Maxin 28e. Hope this helps...

 

[DP]

Will look at the post later and respond.

 

[DebbieS]

Thanks, DP, and everyone else who has advised....

An update from the first guy to visit. Husband spoke to him to advise thaw/running warm water had not worked. He said he had vented the pump, and that there was nothing wrong with it. Also said he thought it could be our motherboard or pcb, and that it was outwith his area of expertise..

Any of the bigger names we're trying to call are all dealing solely with their "own" customers. Anyone recommend a knowledgeable and kindly heating engineer in the Lanarkshire area?!!!

Thanks again to all...
Debbie (praying for a thaw)

 

[DP]

Debbie, if hot water delivery is fine, then almost all the components in the boiler are working correctly. If the pump was indeed running a slower speed, you would not get stipulated hot water delivery.

If the 'igniton switch' was indeed kaput, you would not have hot water at the hot tap. Boiler burner, fan, ignition components, circuit board do not know wether the demand is for HW or CH- these components function for either demand to then exercise control to maintain safe operational temperature.

You say 2 radiators are heating OK. What is the temperature on the temperature gauge on the control panel when these radiators are heating. I suspect the pipe beyond the two radiators mentioned in your post are frozen, so no heat to other rads.


By the way, pump self purges- there is no need to vent it of air unless the dust cap has not been loosened.

If motherboard or PCB was defective, you would have no hot water and no heat to two radiators.

Lanarkshire is a big area.

Dan