Gas boiler pilot light keeps going out.

[FinallyHere]

Last Wednesday, we woke up to a cold house and learned how to relit the gas boiler.

Since then, it has gone out three more times but easily been relit.

Now, I managed to get the pilot light lit a couple of times but it goes out again as soon as I release the 'ignition' button.

We have British Gas cover but am reluctant to call them as I don't want to have to replace this boiler with a condensing one. Well, not yet anyway, extension planned in a few months so would rather not change it now.

Any suggestions @pigletjohn.

I've asked our usual handyman for suggestions on gas trained people. No luck so far.

When this happened to my boiler last year it was because a spider had nested in there 🕷🕸

There’s a narrow pole (2 or 3 mm) that usually sits just inside the pilot light flame which can go faulty. When it does the symptoms are just like you say, think it’s called a thermocouple. It may just need a clean with sandpaper or wire wool.

pilot lights are not often seen these days

I agree that most likely it needs a new thermocouple.

It is a cheap and simple part. They only have a life of a few years. Any qualified gasman can fit it.

When ours did this, we got it serviced - a damn good hoovering seemed to do the trick and it's not let us down in the last 10 yrs...it is however being replaced tomorrow with a "modern" system boiler which I doubt will last the 20 yrs this one has, or the 35yrs my parents boiler lasted
I'll be quite sad to see it go. 😥

@PigletJohn does this mean my new boiler won't have a pilot light?? How will I know it's alive in a morning without it's friendly glow?

Thank you lovely people and @PigletJohn

Delighted to say that our contacts have successfully provided a gas registered person who has agreed to visit us (with a replacement thermocouple ) on Tuesday.

Shall get out the thermals until then.