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Default boiler ignition problem


Heathcliff wrote:
I am having an intermittent problem with the boiler for my hot water
heating system. The boiler is a Peerless, uses natural gas. The
ignitor control is a White-Rodgers 50E47-150. What happens is I
notice the house is kind of cold, see that the temperature is well
below what the thermostat is set to, and go down to look. The
circulating pump is running but the boiler is cold. The red light is
flashing on the ignition control module. According to the
troubleshooting guide for the control unit, this indicates the fault is
likely outside the module itself. However, turning off power to the
system and turning it back on again makes it restart and then it works
fine for a while (like a couple days). When the system fails, I don't
know whether it is because of a failed start or it is shutting down
prematurely while running, although it always starts OK after the power
off/on.

I am thinking that the ignitor must be OK since it works whenever I am
watching, and it would either work or not work at all. Perhaps the
flame sensor is not consistent? Problem with the gas valve? Any
suggestions welcome as to things to test or guesses as to what the
problem most likely is. Thanks, -- H


Without observing a failure and/or serious diagnostic tools, you'll
just keep chasing it.
Cheap easy-to-replace stuff comes first to mind, as does checking the
circuit board for bad solder joints.

Another item to check is the size of the pilot flame, and the little
holes (jets) that go from the pilot to the burner proper. Sometimes the
pilot flame is a skosh too small and it won't reach the main gas jets,
and sometimes the gas jets that go between the pilot/ignitor and the
main burner plug/corrode.

I believe even in a 'pilotless' system, the ignitor lights a small gas
jet, then that gas jet lights off the burner proper.

Be aware that messing with it, you may booger something up that could
cause a hazard, or require a service call/parts replacement. If there
were to be a fire, your homeowners insurance could be affected if it
was caused by the furnace after you worked on it.

Dave