Gas Boiler Stopped Working - No Central Heating

1013

Hi, Seasons Greetings to all.

Looking for some advice please - especially with the current weather!

Yesterday morning the heating (and hot water) was working fine. But yesterday evening it failed to start.

The normal sequence was pump on, followed by the gas boiler firing up etc.

At the moment nothing happens, the pump doesn't start, and consequently the boiler doesn't make any effort either.

The timeswitch does have power. Bypassing the timeswitch doesn't make any difference.

The reset switch on the boiler seems to be ok, but even if it had tripped, am I correct in thinking that the pump would start, initially anyway?

It's an old system, but not sure how old. The boiler is a Glow Worm, KFB 50 I think, (although the exact model number isn't very clear).

Any ideas of some options I could try?

Many thanks

Micky Dolenz

Is there a over heat stat on this boiler or a reset button?

1013

Yes, but I don't think it has tripped. It did trip some time ago due to overheat, but when that happened, I think the pump ran, but the boiler wouldn't start.

At the moment, nothing is happening with either the pump or boiler.

Micky Dolenz

Is the pump built into boiler/wired from boiler?

1013

The pump is separate, but it is wired into the boiler.

My only other thought is the pcb/brain of the boiler has given up - which given it's age could be possible, and probably makes it unrepairable...

What would you think?

cnocbui

Not a gas boiler, but we had an oil fired one and there were two trip switches. One on the burner and one on the boiler thermostat. A grey plastic box with a dial for setting the water temp. I would try reseting both, irrespective of how it behaved previously.

If you getting nothing then maybe the PCB as you said or one of the safety devices has kicked in shutting things down till the fault or defective part is dealt with(assuming there is no power at the pump & not a stuck pump), the boiler may have a limit stat thats separate to the resettable over heat and also it could have a low pressure switch fitted, i can't find any info on the net so I'm just guessing, is there enough water in the system, bleed highest rad to confirm or if a gauge is fitted is the reading right, if it's the over heat there is little you can do, a Rgii will have to go hands on to test it and replace if need be and same with PCB, the only then you could try is to switch mains off to the boiler to try a hard reset, some boilers will not fire after a shut down until this is done, good luck, Gary.

steamengine

Check the power supply fuse for the boiler. Some timers display when the power is off - can cause confusion. There should be FCU (switch + fuse) adjacent to the boiler.

In freezing conditions, a circulating pump may have frozen - hence blown fuse - or electronics can some times be affected, so bring the ambient temperature of the area surrounding the boiler up to normal.

1013

Thanks for all the replies.

No joy so far - fuse seems ok, have checked that there is power to the timeswitch.

Boiler is in the kitchen, and it's warm in there.

Can't tell if the pump is stuck or not (not too sure how to).

The overheat trip seems to be ok, and I can't see any other switch, unless I go opening more of the boiler, but that's beyond my knowledge.

Think I may have to go looking for a RGII to give me the bad news.

Thanks again though.

Micky Dolenz

If the boiler is warm, it may be the pump is stuck or failed. Havce you tried turning stat to max on boiler. If it fire's it is the pump.

If you put a screwdriver to the pump and your ear to the handle of the screwdriver you can hear what it's doing(like listening to next door with a glass;)), you can try turning the power on and off and if the pump is OK you will hear it turn, also you can unscrew the front of the pump to spin it, beware people have been known to drop the little cover under the floor boards with water peeing out, never happened to me of course, i now keep a spare one in me tool box, Gary.

1013

No joy - the pump isn't running at all. Max setting doesn't get the boiler going either.

It's as though there is no power getting to the pump or boiler, but the fuse is ok, and the timeswitch seems to be working also.


Thanks for the advice and suggestions anyway.

Micky Dolenz

is there 230v at pump?

If yes, have you tried Gary's suggestion of trying to free up the pump?

1013

1013 wrote: »

.
It's as though there is no power getting to the pump or boiler, .

240vac pump yes/no? (yes, pumped shagged, try freeing pump or fit new one

240vac boiler yes/no? no, bypass time clock or any other external controls, i never trust external controls, if your unsure of the testing of these electrical controls best get someone in, i hate to be the last person posting to you:) Gary

Also any heat on flow pipe leaving the boiler?

1013

No, there's no power at the pump - 240v. Boiler is also 240v.

By passing the timeswitch didn't have any effect either....

As the pump doesn't start, I presume for safety / design reasons the boiler won't make any effort to start.

With timeswitch on, the light on an external thermostat does come on, and it's wired into the boiler, so maybe part of the pcb has had it's day..... unfortunately an important part... :mad:

Are you sure the call for heat is coming back to the boiler, if there is a zone valve fitted they can effect the call for heat getting to the boiler, i would have a RGII (http://www.rgii.ie/) look at the first to check anything silly, depending on the condition of the boiler and with the rip off prices of parts i would think twice before any expensive parts, if your are going with a new PCB, then i would get it from across the water: http://www.boilersparesdirect.co.uk/, good luck, Gary.

as above.

1013

Update: RGII chap was around and sorted it! Some electronics, but not too bad in terms of €€

Thanks all for the advice and help.

1013

jonny_b1

Hi,I've been trying in vain to find the valve to re-fill my boiler due to low pressure.(a rad is leaking and need heat until we get it fixed) Been in the hot-press but only found red handled valves and another valve with a pressure gauge on it with a screw type tap on it.I read on boards about a 90 deg handle to turn to pressurize it but I cant find it.

I wondered about the valves under the boiler itself,could it be one of those?

Thanks for any help guys:)

jonny_b1

jonny_b1 wrote: »

Hi,I've been trying in vain to find the valve to re-fill my boiler due to low pressure.(a rad is leaking and need heat until we get it fixed) Been in the hot-press but only found red handled valves and another valve with a pressure gauge on it with a screw type tap on it.I read on boards about a 90 deg handle to turn to pressurize it but I cant find it.

I wondered about the valves under the boiler itself,could it be one of those?

Thanks for any help guys:)

Can someone help?

wiz569

Would really need to see it to be honest,as different installers fit the fill pipe in different ways sorry,
if you want me to take a look let me know.

Oh by the way I am a Plumber

jonny_b1

wiz569 wrote: »

Would really need to see it to be honest,as different installers fit the fill pipe in different ways sorry,
if you want me to take a look let me know.

Oh by the way I am a Plumber

THanks for the reply wiz,I finally gave that valve a turn,the one with the pressure guage,all be it very slowly and the pressure went up.We had heating back and plumber coming out today.

thanks again

wiz569

No problem,glad your sorted