strange boiler problem

butterfingers

Hi,

This is a bit of a long shot, but I've got this odd boiler problem which
I'm hoping someone here might have an idea about, as I've had Bord
Gais out 3 times so far and they don't know whats wrong.

The boiler is a Ferroli Tempra 18, nearly new, in very good condition.
Once the boiler is running it works fine, the problem is with the first start
from cold.

What happens is when I first try to start it is that it sounds like the
fan/pump comes on, followed by the burners. This lasts for about 10 secs
then the burners shut off, and about 10 secs later they restart again (the
fan/pump is running the whole time). This seems to be its normal start up
cycle.

The problem is that when the burners come on for the second time after
about 5-10 secs they shut off and the boiler warning light comes on (but
the fan/pump keeps going). If I wait about 20 secs and hit the reset button
then the boiler does a complete restart going through the same cycle as
before but this time when the burners come on the second time they stay
on.

Does this ring a bell with anyone ? The only idea the gas company had was
that when it rains heavily that water is getting into the flue as its not perfectly
horizontal (but its only off by a couple of degrees) but I tried it again tonight
after a couple of dry days and got the same problem.

Thanks !

Butters

311

It sounds like a flue/fan issue ,but it could also be the control board:o

The flue should be tilted slightly downwards ,sometimes horizontal will do. But only if it's not taking the brunt of heavy showers.
Water getting in causes havok with a boiler. Makes all the electrical parts go haywire.

Definetly get the flue moved pointing down ,before you pay any money for parts.

butterfingers

Hi 311,

Thanks for the advice. I presume its just the final few inches of
the flue which pokes out from the side of the house that I need
to adjust ? Unfortunately it looks like its all concreted in, so it
doesn't look like something I can do myself. I presume a central
heating engineer would be able to fix it up properly ?

Thanks again

Butters.

311

butterfingers wrote: »

Hi 311,

Thanks for the advice. I presume its just the final few inches of
the flue which pokes out from the side of the house that I need
to adjust ? Unfortunately it looks like its all concreted in, so it
doesn't look like something I can do myself. I presume a central
heating engineer would be able to fix it up properly ?

Thanks again

Butters.

It takes anything from 30 minutes to over an hour ,to fix it.
Normally chasing out the cement and moving the flue down a bit does it.

I've done it a few times for people ,it's nothing major.
A registered gas installer would be best to call ,should be a list up on bord gais website.

Make sure you get someone who deal's with ferolli boilers though ,not everyone is familiar with them.(Me included:o)

butterfingers

Great, thanks. I took the end cap off this evening and can see what seems
to be corrosion on the inner metal pipe (which is the outlet I think), so it does
seem that water is getting in somehow.

Unfortunately I think the real problem may be that something in the boiler itself
has got damaged by water, as it again wouldn't start properly this evening even
though it was dry all day and I ran it for an hour or so last night

Thanks,

Butters.

I wouldn't think it was a PCB fault as that tends not to be so uniform, i would be looking at the start up gas settings and make them stronger if possible, i would also be looking at the detection electrodes for any damage and if the flue needs a flue restrictor, if this problem carries on and the gas is right and all other setting are as per the manufactures instructions then the list of possible components would be spark generator,gas valve, electrodes detection and spark, i would think it's the settings of the boiler than a component, ring the manufactures helpline and i bet they have had this before and can give you better info, Gary.

butterfingers

Hi Gary,

Thanks for a lot for the advice and list of suggestions !

I've emailed the makers asking for a list of approved repairers in Ireland (they
are a UK company).

Thanks

Butters