On Mon, 12 Nov 2007 19:59:52 +0000, Mary Fisher wrote:

"Mike Barnes" wrote in message
...
In uk.d-i-y, Malcolm H wrote:
I had a new Potterton Suprima installed in February 2004. It has operated
faultlessly ever since and I'm reluctant to have it serviced using the
principle "If it ain't broke don't fix it".
The burner flames look the same as when the boiler was new (blue with
small
red flickers at the top).
Bearing in mind that natural gas is extremely clean, is there really any
need for frequent routine maintenance?
I'm not bothered by the cost but concerned that careless maintence might
to
more harm than good.

FWIW we had an Ideal Mexico 2 installed in May 1997 and my nerve has
given out at last so it's just had it's first service. The engineer said
it was just about due for cleaning but not overdue by a long way. I know
you said cost wasn't relevant to you, but it might be to other readers,
so I'll add that it took him about an hour and a half and the cost was
£35. It might have cost more except that he didn't have a new
thermocouple to fit (he said they tend to burn out and replacing an old
one was a worth-while investment), but he said he'll pop back with one.

Thermocouples seem to be the most vulnerable parts. They were the only ones
we've had to replace (ourselves) in our first boiler which we installed in
1984 and was replaced, still working, last year.

In my experience the life span of a thermocouple is quite variable.
Obviously the pilot flame should be the right size and if it's too big and
heats the tip so it's red hot that will shorten its life.

Boilers with thermocouples and permanent pilots cost many times the cost
of a thermocouple each year in wasted gas.




--
Ed Sirett - Property maintainer and registered gas fitter.
The FAQ for uk.diy is at http://www.diyfaq.org.uk
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Sealed CH FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/SealedCH.html
Choosing a Boiler FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/BoilerChoice.html