Boiler problem - who to call?

Wab0607

I'm at a loss with our boiler at the moment. It's been acting up a lot lately. Have had it serviced annually without too much ado. We have an oil boiler and a back boiler stove both of which are connected into a Horstmann 3 zone panel (upstairs, downstairs and water). There is a switch to turn it from boiler to stove which is essentially on for boiler and off for stove. There is a separate switch to turn the whole thing off which turns the panel screen blank. What we are finding is that when this second switch is in the on position the boiler will turn on completely on its own despite the panel zones being set to off. Came home today to find the boiler operating away for who knows how long and a house like a sauna. Also, occasionally, when the water only zone is activated by way of oil boiler the rads heat up as well. Had a plumber in to service the boiler in November and he reckons all is ok with that. Spoke to an electrician who said he had come across this a few times and changing the panel had solved it in these cases. Got the panel replaced just before Christmas at a cost of €160 but it is still happening.

Would anyone have any clue where the problem actually lies and who I need to call to sort it? I have no problem paying someone to get the issue resolved but I'll go bonkers if one more tradesman comes up with a plan to sort it and leaves me hanging again. Any recommendations would be hugely appreciated also - Cork area.

Wearb

Did the electrician come and look the system over before deciding to replace the panel? If so then get him back to fix what he was paid for.
On the other hand if he just told you that he had seen some systems with a faulty panel and you just went ahead replaced the panel, then you could hardly blame him.
Anyway now with panel (properly) replaced, it’s most likely a faulty zone valve or stat.

agusta

Wab0607 wrote: »

I'm at a loss with our boiler at the moment. It's been acting up a lot lately. Have had it serviced annually without too much ado. We have an oil boiler and a back boiler stove both of which are connected into a Horstmann 3 zone panel (upstairs, downstairs and water). There is a switch to turn it from boiler to stove which is essentially on for boiler and off for stove. There is a separate switch to turn the whole thing off which turns the panel screen blank. What we are finding is that when this second switch is in the on position the boiler will turn on completely on its own despite the panel zones being set to off. Came home today to find the boiler operating away for who knows how long and a house like a sauna. Also, occasionally, when the water only zone is activated by way of oil boiler the rads heat up as well. Had a plumber in to service the boiler in November and he reckons all is ok with that. Spoke to an electrician who said he had come across this a few times and changing the panel had solved it in these cases. Got the panel replaced just before Christmas at a cost of €160 but it is still happening.

Would anyone have any clue where the problem actually lies and who I need to call to sort it? I have no problem paying someone to get the issue resolved but I'll go bonkers if one more tradesman comes up with a plan to sort it and leaves me hanging again. Any recommendations would be hugely appreciated also - Cork area.

when the hot water zone only was turned on,you say the rads heated sometimes with this.Was this the upstairs or downstairs rads?

Wab0607

agusta wrote: »

when the hot water zone only was turned on,you say the rads heated sometimes with this.Was this the upstairs or downstairs rads?

Downstairs as far as I know but can't remember checking the upstairs