Pilot light on gas boiler went out

Zaph · 15-10-2011 03:43PM #1

I put the heating on a while ago but noticed the radiators weren't heating up. I then noticed that I couldn't hear any sound from the gas boiler (it's in the garage outside). When I checked the pilot light had gone out, so I turned it off and back on again and it seems to be working fine. This has never happened before, so I'm wondering a) is it dangerous or something I should be worried about?; and b) what could have caused it. The boiler is an Ideal Classic and was serviced last winter.

Joey the lips · 15-10-2011 03:54PM

Its not unusual to have to reset the gas poilot light every now and again. This is usually done by turning the nob to R and holding it there for a couple of seconds.

However if this continues it can be early signs of a PCB problem.

perhaps an RGII installer on this site will give you a better idea.

Zaph · 15-10-2011 04:15PM

Cheers Joey. Forgive my ignorance, but what's PCB?

Joey the lips · 15-10-2011 05:20PM

Zaph wrote: »

Cheers Joey. Forgive my ignorance, but what's PCB?

Printed circuit board. I dont mind you asking. The unfortunate thing is the little buggers are expensive to replace so i am wishing that is not your problem

Thanks

GASMANN · 15-10-2011 05:29PM

hi zaph,
i wouldnt worry too much about it as it may be a one off, if its something that becomes a regular occurance have an rgi look at it. ideal classics are a good boiler and parts are on the shelf in most suppliers. most decent rgi's who work in boiler maintanece specifically will carry ideal classic parts in their vans as their quite common, so you shouldnt be stuck if the boiler were to break down.

DGOBS · 15-10-2011 07:01PM

Joey, this may not be a PCB at all!!

Pilot injector partially block, venturi needs cleaning, and 20 other possible issues, circulation, low water, sludge..etc, etc

Not JUST a pcb!

Micky Dolenz · 15-10-2011 07:39PM

Zaph,

what type of Classic is it. It will have letters and numbers after it's name.

Joey the lips · 15-10-2011 09:07PM

Joey the lips wrote: »

Its not unusual to have to reset the gas poilot light every now and again. This is usually done by turning the nob to R and holding it there for a couple of seconds.

However if this continues it can be early signs of a PCB problem.

perhaps an RGII installer on this site will give you a better idea.

DGOBS wrote: »

Joey, this may not be a PCB at all!!

Pilot injector partially block, venturi needs cleaning, and 20 other possible issues, circulation, low water, sludge..etc, etc

Not JUST a pcb!

Thats why i said wait on a rgii person.

Thanks for the advice

Zaph · 16-10-2011 12:22AM

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

Zaph,

what type of Classic is it. It will have letters and numbers after it's name.

It's an SE15 FF.

The pilot light's gone out again and this time I can't get it re-started. Looks like I'm going to have to give my heating guy a call.

warmglow · 16-10-2011 01:10PM

Joey the lips wrote: »

Its not unusual to have to reset the gas poilot light every now and again. This is usually done by turning the nob to R and holding it there for a couple of seconds.

However if this continues it can be early signs of a PCB problem.

perhaps an RGII installer on this site will give you a better idea.

hi joey , you have made the first mistake in gas appliance fault finding . assumption.
there is a flow chart at the back of the service manual , if you are unfamiliar with the sequence of events in this boiler , this chart should then be your first port of call, but only as a guide .
if a repairer offers the pcb as an immediate cause without performing function tests , don't let him near your boiler . common excuse with inexperienced repairers .

Red Alert · 16-10-2011 01:12PM

Is this a permanent pilot boiler? If so, you might have flue or ventilation problem. Your thermocouple could also just be knackered, or slightly out of alignment.

Zaph · 16-10-2011 01:18PM

Thanks for all the advice folks, hopefully I'll be able to get my heating guy out tomorrow. He's pretty good about calling around quickly.

Red Alert wrote: »

Is this a permanent pilot boiler? If so, you might have flue or ventilation problem. Your thermocouple could also just be knackered, or slightly out of alignment.

That's like some technical jargon conversation in Star Trek to me, the only bit I understood was knackered.

Micky Dolenz · 16-10-2011 01:32PM

When you turn it on, does it make any sound?

Who wants to start a book on what the problem is? :P

Zaph · 16-10-2011 01:37PM

Just tried it again there and it's working again, but it did that for a while yesterday before stopping so I'll keep an eye on it.

I'll have a fiver on it being a faulty thingy please Micky.

Zaph · 16-10-2011 01:47PM

Well that didn't last long, it's gone out again. :mad:

Micky Dolenz · 16-10-2011 01:50PM

My money is on a pump problem. Have you used it much over the last while?. The pump may just be stuck. The boiler fires and comes up to temp quickly as the water isn't moving.

If it's a jammed pump, it's an easy and quick fix. All that it needed is a flat head screw driver.

GASMANN · 16-10-2011 02:53PM

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

When you turn it on, does it make any sound?

Who wants to start a book on what the problem is? :P

you could fill a book with some of the sh1te suggestions people are offering

DGOBS · 16-10-2011 04:02PM

Have had many a blocked pilot on classics (although usually fan issues!)

Vinegar is a good trick

Zaph · 18-10-2011 05:42PM

Anyone have any money on the solenoid in the gas pump? That's what it turned out to be. All sorted now and I have heat again.

Pilot light on gas boiler went out

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