Boiler not firing up. Firebird

vidapura

Super-Q 50/90 Firebird.

It being Easter weekend I doubt I'll get any boiler engineers till Tuesday... so if anyone could offer some help I'd appreciate it.

This morning the heating came on as usual round half six.
At some point I heard a clanking/scraping/gurgling noise...

Since then the heating won't come on when I try to set it to manual/24Hr or via the clock.

There is oil and there is power to the boiler.. Mains light is on.

I'm wondering if this is related to the outside tap I fitted yesterday... had the mains turned off for a good bit.. to get that work done...
The heating did come on yesterday evening, but I wasn't takin huge notice of it..

But, I'm not a plumber and only have half an idea of the ins and outs of the heating..

As far as I know its not a pressurised system.. I can't find a pressure gauge anyway..

So, if anyone can give me a place to start lookin I'd appreciate it. At this rate we'll be without heating for two pretty wintry days...

Thanks in advance..

vidapura

Actually... just got it to come back on...

Its been about two and a half hours since it was last on...

I was thinkin it might be overheated... and have cooled down sufficiently to allow it to start again...

Now when it came on.. after 2 mins it started to sound like a kettle boiling... so I ran around to the hotpress to see if the pump was operating and its not...

So .. I'm thinkin the pump not moving water is causing the boiler to overheat and switch itself off .. thermostat coming into play..

Sound right?


Thanks

Wearb

vidapura wrote: »

Actually... just got it to come back on...

Its been about two and a half hours since it was last on...

I was thinkin it might be overheated... and have cooled down sufficiently to allow it to start again...

Now when it came on.. after 2 mins it started to sound like a kettle boiling... so I ran around to the hotpress to see if the pump was operating and its not...

So .. I'm thinkin the pump not moving water is causing the boiler to overheat and switch itself off .. thermostat coming into play..

Sound right?


Thanks

Sounds about right. See if you can turn the center shaft of the pump from the flat screwdriver slot. It might just get it going until you can replace it.

jimf

if the pump is wired directly to the boiler make sure its turned on

ServiceGuy

Check the bottom switch on the front of the boiler is on ch/hw.

vidapura

Thanks Gents.
Making sure the pump is turned in is the same as making sure the switch is on ch/hw right?

Yah its on that...

I'll try turn the pump now...

vidapura

Ahh haa..

Flicked the HW - CH/HW switch over and back a few times just to check.. and lo and behold its burst to life...

Thanks Gents.

jimf

have seen this a few times might just be a loose connection

glad u got sorted

vidapura

Thanks again.. its a huge relief.. brass monkeys over here in Galway tonight..