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Original poster

need quick advice on why the boiler is playing up - no heating/HW at the moment!

38 replies

likeatonneofbricks · 05/03/2012 23:28

I'm in rented at the moment and the landlord is away (joy!) and of course something has gone wrong. The boiler was swithced off for a few hours today and I can't get it working again. It's Worcester but not very new model (no separate HW controls). When i try to turn CH on, it starts making firing up but then the red reset light flashes. I've tried dozen of times now, with turning the tap on and also just various CH regimes (timed. untimed) - nothing! This happened couple of times recently when it was off for few days and once - for half a day. After a dozen attempts it did go on then - but today it's dismal! been trying all eve! One of the pipes underneath got strong condensation before, but no so bad today, though there was some, I did try to dry that with hairdryere and just a papercloth - it's not so bad, but still nothing. argh! really don't want to shell out on a plumber as lamdlors is away until end of week. Any advice? PigletJohn maybe?

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Original poster
likeatonneofbricks · 05/03/2012 23:30

should read 'tried dozenS of times', not just a dozen!

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BaldricksTurnip · 05/03/2012 23:33

Is there a reset button on the front of the boiler that needs pushing in before it will fire? Also, it's possible that the condensation you see is where the condensate pipe has not been insulated properly so freezes in cold temperatures causing the boiler to 'lock out' then require resetting.

annalouiseh · 05/03/2012 23:34

could be the pressure gauge - dependant where you are if will need to be about 1.5-2
will be able to see it in the boiler and open the valve untill around that pressure then try again

Original poster
likeatonneofbricks · 05/03/2012 23:45

Baldrick, yes, there is reset button and I've been trying to switch it onn and off all eve but to no avail. It does sound like condensation as it always happens when it's colder and this is an outside wall. So what do I do?? resetting doesn't seem to work.
anna, pressure gauge red arrow is btewen 1 and 2, but black arrow below two - how to open the valce, it's just a round dial under plastic cover.

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Original poster
likeatonneofbricks · 05/03/2012 23:48

I switch off the flashing red reset and then turn on hw or ch, after which it goes on flashing again - maybe i should be holding the button continuosly when pressing 'on'?

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annalouiseh · 05/03/2012 23:54

there will be a red or black kind of thumb pull like the washing machine isolution

view this - www.heating-parts.co.uk/product.asp?prd=288328

or even just a screw head to turn.

follow the pipe from the clock to the isolution

just make sure the boiler is off.

we wake sometimes and ours has just stopped doing hot water so i kick my dh up there to sort it

PigletJohn · 06/03/2012 00:00

if the moving pressure gauge needle is between 1 and 2, it should be OK. Do you know what the pressure usually is? One of the needles can be adjusted to indicate the "proper" pressure and the other needle indicates "actual" pressure. You can't, and don't need to, open the pressure gauge. The repressurising is done by a (usually) silver braided hose with a valve on (usually) both ends that will (usually) need a tool to turn on. If you don't know how to do it, and don't know that it is necessary, dont do it. Overpressurising will cause the Pressure Relief Valve to open, squirting dirty water over the outside wall. One a PRV has opened, it will (usually) never reseal correctly, and will leak and drip for ever, or until a new one is fitted.

I presume it does not have a pilot light that you can (usually) see burning blue through a little glass window?

Is it a combi boiler or have you got a hot water cylinder?

What is the model name/number?

Original poster
likeatonneofbricks · 06/03/2012 00:00

is the boiler off when reset is off andmakes no sound - or I need to have the fuse off altogether? would this help with condensation as i think it's not the pressure? as i say red arrow is between 1 and 2. or does the back one matter?

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PigletJohn · 06/03/2012 00:01

Why was it turned off, and how?

Does water come out of the hot and cold taps?

Original poster
likeatonneofbricks · 06/03/2012 00:04

PJ! worcester 28i Junior combi boiler, can usually see pilot light but now only reset flashing light when i try to turn things on.
I won't fiddle with any pipes as it's not even my boiler and no instruments here (rented flat).
as i say it happened couple of times recently when temp outside dropped but managed to fire it up again. Not now though.

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Original poster
likeatonneofbricks · 06/03/2012 00:06

there aer only mixer taps here, water comes out. It was off for the day so that CH is not on when I'm out - I used to do it in the last couple of months for few hrs and it was fine, but this happened first when i was away few days and it was colder than usual. I think it's condensation but what do it about it?

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Original poster
likeatonneofbricks · 06/03/2012 00:07

how - just put on 'off' at ch control panel (no HW controls though)

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PigletJohn · 06/03/2012 00:07

OK

you say it has usually got a pilot light that you can see.

This is important.

Is the pilot light usually on all the time?

Is there a large push-button that says something like "push to ignite" on or by it?

PigletJohn · 06/03/2012 00:09

(by "pilot light" I mean a small blue gas flame)

Original poster
likeatonneofbricks · 06/03/2012 00:11

would it help to run cold water for a long time in the kitchen where boiler is, to warm up the pipes just by movement? the water is icy though.

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PigletJohn · 06/03/2012 00:12

no.

Original poster
likeatonneofbricks · 06/03/2012 00:14

I suppose you can't see pilot - you can normally see a round red light (on and off) when it works, and normally comes on when you turn it on (it's steady) - it produces ignition sound then. Can't see blue light - by this light there is gas sign (little picture) but no button to press. The reset is larger oval button and has '!' next to it, that's what is flashing.

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Original poster
likeatonneofbricks · 06/03/2012 00:15

yes, exactly that one! I read instructions but no idea what's the reason out of many (it does mention condensation) or what to do.

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Original poster
likeatonneofbricks · 06/03/2012 00:16

not surprised it was discontinued, ha!

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PigletJohn · 06/03/2012 00:17

is the fault light flashing slowly (once per second) or fast (five times per second)?

what is the boiler thermostat knob turned to?

Does water come out of the hot taps when you turn them on?

have you got a gas cooker or other way of verifying that you have gas? have you got a prepayment meter?

Original poster
likeatonneofbricks · 06/03/2012 00:19

five times
water comes out but all taps are mixers.
I DO have gas just checked.
thermostat as usual, nearly on max (no numbers there)

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PigletJohn · 06/03/2012 00:24

for fast flashing, turn off the electrical supply to the boiler at the plug or switch on the wall. Look at the boiler to verify it is dead and has stopped flashing. Then you can turn the electricity back on (if it was me I would give it ten seconds off to make sure it resets)

(The reset button is used for slow flashing, which you say you have not got)

Original poster
likeatonneofbricks · 06/03/2012 00:26

should i turn off the fuse? I can't see the plug for boiler it 's all built in units. tries the nearest but no.

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Original poster
likeatonneofbricks · 06/03/2012 00:27

*tried

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