I have a Worcester combi boiler which is about 11 years old. It is
under contract with B Gas. Recently it started blowing pilot out.

What happens is that if you turn on the hot water (tap or hot water)
its works ok for about 5 mins and then there is a clicking noise and
pilot and flames blow out. I then have to light the pilot by firing
the button 5-7 times. It will work again for about 4-5 mins and same
happens again - clicking noise, flames/pilot go out. This happens
consistently on hot water. If we use the central heating then it may
blow out 1 or 2 times in evening.

I have called out Bgas 3 times and they have not been able to fix it.
They have changed a thermostat and then a sensor but without luck.
They are now saying that the boiler is too old and needs replacing.
And CH also needs a power flush to get rid of debris. They say there
is no other remedy.

Now if there was debris that was causing the tripping then I would
expect this to happen more on the CH side rather then the hot water. I
would also expect the tripping to be random rather than consistent.

I am totally unhappy with B Gas being unable to find the fault and
telling me to replace boiler. Yes the boiler is old but it has had
about 60-70% of the components replaced in the last 2-3 years. I am
paying them 16.75GBP per month and I think they are not putting in the
effort to find the real fault.

One of the things I have noticed is that when we used the hot water
before, it used to get really hot after 4-5 mins and it used to go
into a rest mode and started up again after a minute or so. Its not
doing that - it just trips now. I told that to the B Gas engineer and
he repleced the sensor but it has not made any difference. Is it
possible that the internal is not receiving enough air (fan maybe
faulty)?

I think there must be another reason for all this other than the
debris.

Can you please give me some advice/pointers as I am going to call out
B Gas for the last time.

On Thu, 17 Jan 2008 05:27:01 -0800, Nick wrote:

I have a Worcester combi boiler which is about 11 years old. It is
under contract with B Gas. Recently it started blowing pilot out.
....
One of the things I have noticed is that when we used the hot water
before, it used to get really hot after 4-5 mins and it used to go
into a rest mode and started up again after a minute or so. Its not
doing that - it just trips now. I told that to the B Gas engineer and
he repleced the sensor but it has not made any difference. Is it
possible that the internal is not receiving enough air (fan maybe
faulty)?

I don't know this model of boiler but I'd suspect that the boiler may have
an overheat cutout which cuts out the pilot. If so I'd be looking at
either the sensor (too sensitive) or the circulation: pump, sludge in
system etc.

--
John Stumbles

Women always generalise

On Jan 17, 1:32*pm, John Stumbles wrote:
On Thu, 17 Jan 2008 05:27:01 -0800, Nick wrote:
I have a Worcester combi boiler which is about 11 years old. It is
under contract with B Gas. Recently it started blowing pilot out.
...
One of the things I have noticed is that when we used the hot water
before, it used to get really hot after 4-5 mins and it used to go
into a rest mode and started up again after a minute or so. Its not
doing that - it just trips now. I told that to the B Gas engineer and
he repleced the sensor but it has not made any difference. Is it
possible that the internal is not receiving enough air (fan maybe
faulty)?

I don't know this model of boiler but I'd suspect that the boiler may have
an overheat cutout which cuts out the pilot. If so I'd be looking at
either the sensor (too sensitive) or the circulation: pump, sludge in
system etc.

--


Might be that they've replaced the sensor and it still overheats and
they suspect it's because the heat exchanger has furred up meaning
there's not much throughput of water. If the main thermostat has
failed then this will also lead to an overheat situation and the
overheat stat does (and should) cut the circuit.

"Nick" wrote in message
...
I have a Worcester combi boiler which is about 11 years old. It is
under contract with B Gas. Recently it started blowing pilot out.

What happens is that if you turn on the hot water (tap or hot water)
its works ok for about 5 mins and then there is a clicking noise and
pilot and flames blow out. I then have to light the pilot by firing
the button 5-7 times. It will work again for about 4-5 mins and same
happens again - clicking noise, flames/pilot go out. This happens
consistently on hot water. If we use the central heating then it may
blow out 1 or 2 times in evening.

I have called out Bgas 3 times and they have not been able to fix it.
They have changed a thermostat and then a sensor but without luck.
They are now saying that the boiler is too old and needs replacing.
And CH also needs a power flush to get rid of debris. They say there
is no other remedy.

Now if there was debris that was causing the tripping then I would
expect this to happen more on the CH side rather then the hot water. I
would also expect the tripping to be random rather than consistent.

I am totally unhappy with B Gas being unable to find the fault and
telling me to replace boiler. Yes the boiler is old but it has had
about 60-70% of the components replaced in the last 2-3 years. I am
paying them 16.75GBP per month and I think they are not putting in the
effort to find the real fault.

One of the things I have noticed is that when we used the hot water
before, it used to get really hot after 4-5 mins and it used to go
into a rest mode and started up again after a minute or so. Its not
doing that - it just trips now. I told that to the B Gas engineer and
he repleced the sensor but it has not made any difference. Is it
possible that the internal is not receiving enough air (fan maybe
faulty)?

I think there must be another reason for all this other than the
debris.

Can you please give me some advice/pointers as I am going to call out
B Gas for the last time.

Assuming it has one and I'm going by similar symptoms on another boiler it
sounds like the DHW flow switch sticking and causing an overheat condition
when hot water is called for. Should be a simple matter of changing this
switch.
--
Dave Baker
Puma Race Engines

On Thu, 17 Jan 2008 05:27:01 -0800 (PST), Nick wrote:


I have called out Bgas 3 times and they have not been able to fix it.
They have changed a thermostat and then a sensor but without luck.

Should read without necessary skill or genuine intent. It's insane that they
consider a 12 year old boiler finished - no, more accurately, criminal. Scrap
the BG contract and get a decent heating engineer to look at it and in the
unlikely event it needs replacing. it'll cost you about 2/3 of the BG price.

Andy

On Thu, 17 Jan 2008 13:57:23 +0000, Andy Cap wrote:

On Thu, 17 Jan 2008 05:27:01 -0800 (PST), Nick
wrote:


I have called out Bgas 3 times and they have not been able to fix it.
They have changed a thermostat and then a sensor but without luck.

Should read without necessary skill or genuine intent. It's insane that
they consider a 12 year old boiler finished -

Agreed it insane they consider a 12 y.o. Worcester boiler finished.
A Pott. Puma or Biasi/Alpha/Vokera well may be.





--
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

On Thu, 17 Jan 2008 17:47:28 +0000, Ed Sirett wrote:

Agreed it insane they consider a 12 y.o. Worcester boiler finished.
A Pott. Puma or Biasi/Alpha/Vokera well may be.
^^^^^
Careful - you'll rattle you-know-who's cage! :-)

--
John Stumbles

On Thu, 17 Jan 2008 17:47:28 +0000 (UTC), Ed Sirett
wrote:

On Thu, 17 Jan 2008 13:57:23 +0000, Andy Cap wrote:

On Thu, 17 Jan 2008 05:27:01 -0800 (PST), Nick
wrote:


I have called out Bgas 3 times and they have not been able to fix it.
They have changed a thermostat and then a sensor but without luck.

Should read without necessary skill or genuine intent. It's insane that
they consider a 12 year old boiler finished -

Agreed it insane they consider a 12 y.o. Worcester boiler finished.
A Pott. Puma or Biasi/Alpha/Vokera well may be.

Boilers shouldn't even be allowed into the market place, without a 25 year life
expectancy and spares backup. They should be put in the same category as
long-life bulbs.

It's intolerable, how the industry has been allowed to undermine people's
expectations, frequently relying on their natural ignorance, because the word
"gas" naturally instills fear and they take full advantage.

Someone here a few months ago, said that their boiler WAS 8 years old and so
should he be looking to replace it ! Such wastefulness negates any saving in
energy, that technology is purported to deliver.

Andy

And now they have made it even more difficult!!!! I hear that you now
need a certificate of efficiency from Corgi and a planning certificate
from your local council (can be issued by a qualified installer).
Without these two documents you will not be able to sell your house.
Is this correct?

Any questions I should be asking the B Gas engineer when I call them
out again (for the last time before I ditch them)?

On Fri, 18 Jan 2008 00:41:28 -0800 (PST), Nick wrote:

And now they have made it even more difficult!!!! I hear that you now
need a certificate of efficiency from Corgi and a planning certificate
from your local council (can be issued by a qualified installer).
Without these two documents you will not be able to sell your house.
Is this correct?

I really can't see most people turning down a property they want, for the cost
of replacing a boiler when most gut the place anyway, to put their own stamp on
the house. Anyway, what would happen to all these knackered houses that get sold
through auction ? Some are in appalling state but they all have to be renovated
by someone. Apparently many purchaser are not bothering with HIPS already.

Any questions I should be asking the B Gas engineer when I call them
out again (for the last time before I ditch them)?

I like Start Noble's suggestion of asking Worcester if spares are still
available. Or you could ask these if they are available, though they probably
wont supply you. Though I did get a replacement cap for mine.

http://www.onlineboilerspares.com/
http://www.mjtcontrols.co.uk/

These might give you an idea of possible prices for replacments. I'm sure there
are others. I've just kept a note of these in the past.

http://www.diyboilers.com/
http://www.discountheating.com/

Andy

"Andy Cap" wrote


Boilers shouldn't even be allowed into the market place, without a 25 year
life
expectancy and spares backup. They should be put in the same category as
long-life bulbs.


Not sure what you would have to pay if this was the case!


It's intolerable, how the industry has been allowed to undermine people's
expectations, frequently relying on their natural ignorance, because the
word
"gas" naturally instills fear and they take full advantage.

Someone here a few months ago, said that their boiler WAS 8 years old and
so
should he be looking to replace it ! Such wastefulness negates any saving
in
energy, that technology is purported to deliver.


Hear hear!

On Fri, 18 Jan 2008 07:05:58 +0000, Andy Cap wrote:

On Thu, 17 Jan 2008 17:47:28 +0000 (UTC), Ed Sirett
wrote:

On Thu, 17 Jan 2008 13:57:23 +0000, Andy Cap wrote:

On Thu, 17 Jan 2008 05:27:01 -0800 (PST), Nick
wrote:


I have called out Bgas 3 times and they have not been able to fix it.
They have changed a thermostat and then a sensor but without luck.

Should read without necessary skill or genuine intent. It's insane
that they consider a 12 year old boiler finished -

Agreed it insane they consider a 12 y.o. Worcester boiler finished. A
Pott. Puma or Biasi/Alpha/Vokera well may be.

Boilers shouldn't even be allowed into the market place, without a 25
year life expectancy and spares backup. They should be put in the same
category as long-life bulbs.

It's intolerable, how the industry has been allowed to undermine
people's expectations, frequently relying on their natural ignorance,
because the word "gas" naturally instills fear and they take full
advantage.

Someone here a few months ago, said that their boiler WAS 8 years old
and so should he be looking to replace it ! Such wastefulness negates
any saving in energy, that technology is purported to deliver.

Agreed, that's why IMHO it's important to get a good boiler to begin
with, and fit it properly.


--
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

Nick wrote:
I have a Worcester combi boiler which is about 11 years old. It is
under contract with B Gas. Recently it started blowing pilot out.

What happens is that if you turn on the hot water (tap or hot water)
its works ok for about 5 mins and then there is a clicking noise and
pilot and flames blow out. I then have to light the pilot by firing
the button 5-7 times. It will work again for about 4-5 mins and same
happens again - clicking noise, flames/pilot go out. This happens
consistently on hot water. If we use the central heating then it may
blow out 1 or 2 times in evening.

I have called out Bgas 3 times and they have not been able to fix it.
They have changed a thermostat and then a sensor but without luck.
They are now saying that the boiler is too old and needs replacing.
And CH also needs a power flush to get rid of debris. They say there
is no other remedy.

Now if there was debris that was causing the tripping then I would
expect this to happen more on the CH side rather then the hot water. I
would also expect the tripping to be random rather than consistent.

I am totally unhappy with B Gas being unable to find the fault and
telling me to replace boiler. Yes the boiler is old but it has had
about 60-70% of the components replaced in the last 2-3 years. I am
paying them 16.75GBP per month and I think they are not putting in the
effort to find the real fault.

One of the things I have noticed is that when we used the hot water
before, it used to get really hot after 4-5 mins and it used to go
into a rest mode and started up again after a minute or so. Its not
doing that - it just trips now. I told that to the B Gas engineer and
he repleced the sensor but it has not made any difference. Is it
possible that the internal is not receiving enough air (fan maybe
faulty)?

I think there must be another reason for all this other than the
debris.

Can you please give me some advice/pointers as I am going to call out
B Gas for the last time.

One wonders how realistic it is to expect BG engineers to know the ins
and outs of every model of boiler. Still, they've taken on the risk, and
must find the solution. I'd be inclined to get written confirmation
from WB that spares are available for that model and pass that on to
whoever's in charge at BG (if anyone). It really isn't good enough to
take the money and then only want to fix the easy bits.

On 17 Jan, 14:05, Stuart Noble
wrote:
Nick wrote:
I have a Worcester combi boiler which is about 11 years old. It is
under contract with B Gas. Recently it started blowing pilot out.

What happens is that if you turn on the hot water (tap or hot water)
its works ok for about 5 mins and then there is a clicking noise and
pilot and flames blow out. I then have to light the pilot by firing
the button 5-7 times. It will work again for about 4-5 mins and same
happens again - clicking noise, flames/pilot go out. This happens
consistently on hot water. If we use the central heating then it may
blow out 1 or 2 times in evening.

I have called out Bgas 3 times and they have not been able to fix it.
They have changed a thermostat and then a sensor but without luck.
They are now saying that the boiler is too old and needs replacing.
And CH also needs a power flush to get rid of debris. They say there
is no other remedy.

Now if there was debris that was causing the tripping then I would
expect this to happen more on the CH side rather then the hot water. I
would also expect the tripping to be random rather than consistent.

I am totally unhappy with B Gas being unable to find the fault and
telling me to replace boiler. Yes the boiler is old but it has had
about 60-70% of the components replaced in the last 2-3 years. I am
paying them 16.75GBP per month and I think they are not putting in the
effort to find the real fault.

One of the things I have noticed is that when we used the hot water
before, it used to get really hot after 4-5 mins and it used to go
into a rest mode and started up again after a minute or so. Its not
doing that - it just trips now. I told that to the B Gas engineer and
he repleced the sensor but it has not made any difference. Is it
possible that the internal is not receiving enough air (fan maybe
faulty)?

I think there must be another reason for all this other than the
debris.

Can you please give me some advice/pointers as I am going to call out
B Gas for the last time.

One wonders how realistic it is to expect BG engineers to know the ins
and outs of every model of boiler. Still, they've taken on the risk, and
* must find the solution. I'd be inclined to get written confirmation
from WB that spares are available for that model and pass that on to
whoever's in charge at BG (if anyone). It really isn't good enough to
take the money and then only want to fix the easy bits.- Hide quoted text -


WB told me they intend to supply spares for their boilers for 10 years
following the last production date.

To the OP, what model boiler is it?

Mathew

Nick wrote:

I have a Worcester combi boiler which is about 11 years old. It is
under contract with B Gas. Recently it started blowing pilot out.

What happens is that if you turn on the hot water (tap or hot water)
its works ok for about 5 mins and then there is a clicking noise and
pilot and flames blow out. I then have to light the pilot by firing
the button 5-7 times. It will work again for about 4-5 mins and same
happens again - clicking noise, flames/pilot go out. This happens
consistently on hot water. If we use the central heating then it may
blow out 1 or 2 times in evening.

I have called out Bgas 3 times and they have not been able to fix it.
They have changed a thermostat and then a sensor but without luck.
They are now saying that the boiler is too old and needs replacing.
And CH also needs a power flush to get rid of debris. They say there
is no other remedy.

Now if there was debris that was causing the tripping then I would
expect this to happen more on the CH side rather then the hot water. I
would also expect the tripping to be random rather than consistent.

I am totally unhappy with B Gas being unable to find the fault and
telling me to replace boiler. Yes the boiler is old but it has had
about 60-70% of the components replaced in the last 2-3 years. I am
paying them 16.75GBP per month and I think they are not putting in the
effort to find the real fault.

One of the things I have noticed is that when we used the hot water
before, it used to get really hot after 4-5 mins and it used to go
into a rest mode and started up again after a minute or so. Its not
doing that - it just trips now. I told that to the B Gas engineer and
he repleced the sensor but it has not made any difference. Is it
possible that the internal is not receiving enough air (fan maybe
faulty)?

I think there must be another reason for all this other than the
debris.

Can you please give me some advice/pointers as I am going to call out
B Gas for the last time.




Get them to check the pressure in your gas supply pipe. I, and the
neighbour downstairs had a very similar problem a while back. Workmen had
severed a gas pipe in the street and Transco had come out to "fix it".

The pipe was left with what looked liked some sort of wadding around it and
taped up still exposed in the hole. It was also still leaking gas as
everyone could smell it. I must also add that the workmen had -
illegally - turned the gas off at an underground tap outside my house, then
later turned it on. No doubt so no one from Transco would know they had
done it.

Anyway, two chaps turned up to fix the fault with the pipe the next morning.
When they did my boiler would fire up to heat the water or central heating
and run for thirty seconds or so and shut down. The pilot light went out
(and it would shut down) when the oven was put on. This happened several
times in the morning. I decided that the gas supply to the boiler was too
low (and I'm no engineer) and went out and suggested as much to the two
chaps outside.

They reckoned my boiler was knackered. At this point my neighbour asked if
I was having problems as her pilot light kept going out. Another BG van
then trundled up to another neighbour a couple of doors away. We decided
to go out as the house was cold and we had no hot water.

The upshot was that the guys were still there when we got back at 7 that
night. They needed access to our flat to sort the last piece at the gas
meter. They had dug up the garden in three places and replaced pipes,
removed taps and all sorts of things as it turns oout there was next to no
pressure in our gas pipe. And all for nothing too.