For a while (maybe a week or two - can't really remember when it
started) now we've been trying to work out what has been causing this
odd pop/bang noise from outside our house. After a bit of elimination,
and finally this morning, sitting looking out the window for ages, we've
determined that it's our neighbours boiler.

What appears to be happening is that when the neighbour's boiler (fanned
flue) starts up, immediately before the normal plume appears there's a
pop/bang and then the plume starts.

The neighbours have been away for a few days, but I think it may have
been happening a bit longer than that - but until today were unable to
say with any certainty where it was coming from as it appeared to be so
irregular. The only thing I could say during this weekend was that,
during daylight, the boiler was always pluming when we checked after
hearing the noise - but obviously, until we were watching when it
occurred we didn't know whether it came from somewhere else entirely.
We didn't want to start apportioning blame without evidence (had that
with a different neighbour claiming we interfered with her TV reception).

We'll be (if my wife hasn't already) notifying our neighbours about it -
but I wondered what the cause of the problem might be, so our neighbours
can at least know whether anyone who looks at it is giving them honest
advice.

Thanks

David

"David Hearn" wrote in message
...
For a while (maybe a week or two - can't really remember when it started)
now we've been trying to work out what has been causing this odd pop/bang
noise from outside our house. After a bit of elimination, and finally
this morning, sitting looking out the window for ages, we've determined
that it's our neighbours boiler.

What appears to be happening is that when the neighbour's boiler (fanned
flue) starts up, immediately before the normal plume appears there's a
pop/bang and then the plume starts.

The neighbours have been away for a few days, but I think it may have been
happening a bit longer than that - but until today were unable to say with
any certainty where it was coming from as it appeared to be so irregular.
The only thing I could say during this weekend was that, during daylight,
the boiler was always pluming when we checked after hearing the noise -
but obviously, until we were watching when it occurred we didn't know
whether it came from somewhere else entirely. We didn't want to start
apportioning blame without evidence (had that with a different neighbour
claiming we interfered with her TV reception).

We'll be (if my wife hasn't already) notifying our neighbours about it -
but I wondered what the cause of the problem might be, so our neighbours
can at least know whether anyone who looks at it is giving them honest
advice.

Mine did it when it was starting to soot up after a few years of not being
cleaned. Eventually it backfired like a jet engine and dumped a load of oily
soot up my (white) rendering. I would suggest they get the boiler cleaned
and serviced.


--
Bob Mannix
(anti-spam is as easy as 1-2-3 - not)

David Hearn wrote:
For a while (maybe a week or two - can't really remember when it
started) now we've been trying to work out what has been causing this
odd pop/bang noise from outside our house. After a bit of elimination,
and finally this morning, sitting looking out the window for ages, we've
determined that it's our neighbours boiler.

What appears to be happening is that when the neighbour's boiler (fanned
flue) starts up, immediately before the normal plume appears there's a
pop/bang and then the plume starts.

The neighbours have been away for a few days, but I think it may have
been happening a bit longer than that - but until today were unable to
say with any certainty where it was coming from as it appeared to be so
irregular. The only thing I could say during this weekend was that,
during daylight, the boiler was always pluming when we checked after
hearing the noise - but obviously, until we were watching when it
occurred we didn't know whether it came from somewhere else entirely. We
didn't want to start apportioning blame without evidence (had that with
a different neighbour claiming we interfered with her TV reception).

We'll be (if my wife hasn't already) notifying our neighbours about it -
but I wondered what the cause of the problem might be, so our neighbours
can at least know whether anyone who looks at it is giving them honest
advice.

Thanks

David

Mine was doing something similar last year. I traced it to a faulty
spark gap. What seemed to be happening is that it had a weak spark so a
lot of gas would get pumped into the combustion chamber before it
ignited. When it did ignite there was enough gas there to cause a bit of
a bang. Sometimes so much so that a brief flame was apparent from the
flue. Once lit all was fine even when cycling. It seemed to be dependent
on the weather, particularly bad when damp to the extent that sometimes
it would not light first time. Replacing the spark gap cured it and all
is fine now.

Andrew

On Mon, 22 Oct 2007 16:38:20 +0100, David Hearn wrote:

For a while (maybe a week or two - can't really remember when it
started) now we've been trying to work out what has been causing this
odd pop/bang noise from outside our house. After a bit of elimination,
and finally this morning, sitting looking out the window for ages, we've
determined that it's our neighbours boiler.

What appears to be happening is that when the neighbour's boiler (fanned
flue) starts up, immediately before the normal plume appears there's a
pop/bang and then the plume starts.

The neighbours have been away for a few days, but I think it may have
been happening a bit longer than that - but until today were unable to
say with any certainty where it was coming from as it appeared to be so
irregular. The only thing I could say during this weekend was that,
during daylight, the boiler was always pluming when we checked after
hearing the noise - but obviously, until we were watching when it
occurred we didn't know whether it came from somewhere else entirely.
We didn't want to start apportioning blame without evidence (had that
with a different neighbour claiming we interfered with her TV reception).

We'll be (if my wife hasn't already) notifying our neighbours about it -
but I wondered what the cause of the problem might be, so our neighbours
can at least know whether anyone who looks at it is giving them honest
advice.


It sounds like the ignition is not working right. Probably some dirt or
other crud on the burner.



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