Worcester Danesmoor 20/25 permanently locked out

[brian62c]

My oil boiler started locking out intermittently a while ago but would always run again after the reset (orange lit soft plastic) button was pressed.
It gradually got worse - locking out more frequently - but would always fire up again with a reset.
We had the boiler serviced by an unknown quantity - who we were not impressed with (poor customer facing skills, to say the least) - in the hope that would settle things down, as it had not been done for a couple of years. Unfortunately, our previous chap's phone number had gone out of service and we couldn't trace him.
Since the service, the boiler has been on permanent lockout, i.e. when you press the reset button, the pre-firing 'whooshing' sound happens for about 15 seconds, then it goes straight to lockout, without the satisfying 'whump' of it firing up.
I have downloaded a copy of the user manual and have had a look at the photo cell but can't see what to clean really. It's just a thin plastic tube with a tiny glass thing in the end of it and what looks like a couple of minute bits of solder or something at the end of the glass bit. I did give it a wipe but it has made no difference.
My question is, is there a logical set order of things to check, starting with the cheapest, so I can replace bits one by one and discover the fault through a process of elimination? Or is there a 'most likely' thing to replace first?

 

[Agile]

I am sorry you had it serviced by someone who you were not happy with and that it seems to have created a fault. The normal thing is to call him back. I dont see why he left if it wan not working?

If it does not go through the start sequence then the photocell is unlikely to be the fault.

The only advice is to train to become an OFTEC registered technician if you want to repair oil boilers!

Or find a local competent engineer by personal recommendation from neighbours etc.

Tony

 

[brian62c]

I'm sorry too Tony that I seem to have offended you by wanting to try my best efforts to solve the problem without costing a significant amount of money when I could possibly fix it for far less.
I thought that was kind of the point of these forums and indeed the site (clue in the title - DIY?).
Appreciate engineers need to make a living but times are tight for all of us. Don't see why I shouldn't wield an Allen key and spanner and order a part online if that's all that's required. Have successfully done it before in other spheres.
Thanks anyway for the note about the photocell.
There is no way I would have the blokes who last serviced it back in my house, I'm afraid. I'd rather pay again.
I am fairly sure I'm going to have to find a recommendation from somewhere and get a qualified person in but your sarcasm was not really what I was looking for.

 

[sherbert]

I'm sorry too Tony that I seem to have offended you by wanting to try my best efforts to solve the problem without costing a significant amount of money when I could possibly fix it for far less.
I thought that was kind of the point of these forums and indeed the site (clue in the title - DIY?).
Appreciate engineers need to make a living but times are tight for all of us. Don't see why I shouldn't wield an Allen key and spanner and order a part online if that's all that's required. Have successfully done it before in other spheres.
Thanks anyway for the note about the photocell.
There is no way I would have the blokes who last serviced it back in my house, I'm afraid. I'd rather pay again.
I am fairly sure I'm going to have to find a recommendation from somewhere and get a qualified person in but your sarcasm was not really what I was looking for.

Ok here goes

Chanage the photocell ..... if that does not work try the PCB .......... if thats not working try the burner .......... then if still no luck check the oil filter and perhaps have a go at the fire valve

Then If its still not going ( O, by the way ..... if you change the burner then you will need to set the burner up but any fool with a spanner and allen key can have a go) kick it!!

Or ............. go on OFTEC website and call someone that maybe is also accredated to your boiler

 

[Terrywookfit]

I'm sorry too Tony that I seem to have offended you by wanting to try my best efforts to solve the problem without costing a significant amount of money when I could possibly fix it for far less.
I thought that was kind of the point of these forums and indeed the site (clue in the title - DIY?).
Appreciate engineers need to make a living but times are tight for all of us. Don't see why I shouldn't wield an Allen key and spanner and order a part online if that's all that's required. Have successfully done it before in other spheres.
Thanks anyway for the note about the photocell.
There is no way I would have the blokes who last serviced it back in my house, I'm afraid. I'd rather pay again.
I am fairly sure I'm going to have to find a recommendation from somewhere and get a qualified person in but your sarcasm was not really what I was looking for.

Ok here goes

Chanage the photocell ..... if that does not work try the PCB .......... if thats not working try the burner .......... then if still no luck check the oil filter and perhaps have a go at the fire valve

Then If its still not going ( O, by the way ..... if you change the burner then you will need to set the burner up but any fool with a spanner and allen key can have a go) kick it!!

Or ............. go on OFTEC website and call someone that maybe is also accredated to your boiler

Finding some one from the Oftec website is no guarantee of competence.

It simply means that they have paid £1600.00 for 5 years registration and have proved they are capable of reading and writing.
There is no requirement to be Oftec reg for servicing and repairs.

 

[Burnerman]

The fact that your burner is making a whooshing sound does indicate to a degree that the motor is spinning, turning the fan and the oil pump too.
As nothing happens afterwards, then either the ignition spark has gone AWOL or the oil pump isn't allowing pressurised kero to reach the burner nozzle.
The pump has an internal valve, operated by a solenoid coil on the side of the pump, and these are definitely a weak spot.
A sort of test is to pop the burner out of its hole and check inside for liquid fuel......if there is fuel then there could be an ignition problem, but if there isn't any fuel then its possibly the pump or its drive dog, valve or solenoid coil.
There's a sort of logic there somewhere
John

 

[sherbert]

I'm sorry too Tony that I seem to have offended you by wanting to try my best efforts to solve the problem without costing a significant amount of money when I could possibly fix it for far less.
I thought that was kind of the point of these forums and indeed the site (clue in the title - DIY?).
Appreciate engineers need to make a living but times are tight for all of us. Don't see why I shouldn't wield an Allen key and spanner and order a part online if that's all that's required. Have successfully done it before in other spheres.
Thanks anyway for the note about the photocell.
There is no way I would have the blokes who last serviced it back in my house, I'm afraid. I'd rather pay again.
I am fairly sure I'm going to have to find a recommendation from somewhere and get a qualified person in but your sarcasm was not really what I was looking for.

Ok here goes

Chanage the photocell ..... if that does not work try the PCB .......... if thats not working try the burner .......... then if still no luck check the oil filter and perhaps have a go at the fire valve

Then If its still not going ( O, by the way ..... if you change the burner then you will need to set the burner up but any fool with a spanner and allen key can have a go) kick it!!

Or ............. go on OFTEC website and call someone that maybe is also accredated to your boiler

Finding some one from the Oftec website is no guarantee of competence.

It simply means that they have paid £1600.00 for 5 years registration and have proved they are capable of reading and writing.
There is no requirement to be Oftec reg for servicing and repairs.

Very similiar to Gas (un)safe then ??

 

[Terrywookfit]

Unfortunately Yes!!

 

[simb82]

Switch off all electrical supplys...remove burner to check weather the blast tube at the 'business end' of burner is dry and not wet with fuel...disconect photocell from under the controlbox, (thing with orange re-set light, held on by a single screw). photocell wires will be the two lower ones, reverse controlbox for diagram.
refit box and try again, if fires then locks out after 3-5 seconds you need a new 'cell'.

 

[cozzmic]

Me, I would check that I have oil first and the fire valve has not tripped or any valve off then look at the burner.

 

[simb82]

true, one should not assume the obvious has been checked lol

 

[Boilerman2]

Looks like this thread is gonna run and run!!

Whilst I appreciate the need to save money - I am only a Combustion Engineer and am not that wealthy so I too need to try and save ££££
HOWEVER there are things that I will not tinker with my Car & Vans, (I know nothing about tem, My Washing Machine, Microwave or Fridge, when I have problem with any of these it is time to call a Specialist Engineer,
Painting & Decorating - I am happy to have a go BUT you have to know your limits
Tinkering with any Combustion Appliance with a Spanner an Allen key can lead to disaster!! belive me I see more than enough boilers that have been DIY'd !!

 

[oilhead]

Burnerman is right, but if you have to have a go, then now you have got the service manual, follow its fault finding chart. It is in a logical sequence, and will eventually to the faulty item. You will however need some basic items to test the units such as electrical meters and pressure test equipment.

 

[Danoil]

I'm sorry too Tony that I seem to have offended you by wanting to try my best efforts to solve the problem without costing a significant amount of money when I could possibly fix it for far less.
I thought that was kind of the point of these forums and indeed the site (clue in the title - DIY?).
Appreciate engineers need to make a living but times are tight for all of us. Don't see why I shouldn't wield an Allen key and spanner and order a part online if that's all that's required. Have successfully done it before in other spheres.
Thanks anyway for the note about the photocell.
There is no way I would have the blokes who last serviced it back in my house, I'm afraid. I'd rather pay again.
I am fairly sure I'm going to have to find a recommendation from somewhere and get a qualified person in but your sarcasm was not really what I was looking for.

Ok here goes

Chanage the photocell ..... if that does not work try the PCB .......... if thats not working try the burner .......... then if still no luck check the oil filter and perhaps have a go at the fire valve

Then If its still not going ( O, by the way ..... if you change the burner then you will need to set the burner up but any fool with a spanner and allen key can have a go) kick it!!

Or ............. go on OFTEC website and call someone that maybe is also accredated to your boiler

Finding some one from the Oftec website is no guarantee of competence.

It simply means that they have paid £1600.00 for 5 years registration and have proved they are capable of reading and writing.
There is no requirement to be Oftec reg for servicing and repairs.

Actually although you dont have to be OFTEC registered to service/repair oil fired equipment you do have to be "a competant person" which means being trained in how they work and how to work on them. Loads of places offer these courses and issue certificates which then can be used as proof of competence to get registered with OFTEC if you then wish. Hence why when you do your OFTEC course you have a practical and written examination by an approved boby (mine was through EOGB this time). This then allows you to apply to OFTEC to register with them.
Being able to wield an allen key does not a boiler engineer make!

 

[brian62c]

Thanks all for your comments and advice. I note some of you have latched on to my 'Allen key and spanner' comment - and I fully appreciate that I am not and will never be a competent boiler engineer. I also understand that in calling out an engineer, you're paying for his/her (diversity trained, see!) knowledge and experience, not just the number of minutes spent doing the job.
What I have learned from this is that I do need an engineer and it's not something I can do myself. I too know my limits - whether it's with cars, decorating or whatever - but I do like to have a try at fixing simple-ish problems, which I think is where forums such as these come in, providing appropriate and sometimes invaluable guidance and advice.
All the best chaps - even Tony. I'm off to help boost the economy and get my house warm again.

Brian