3
365drills
I own a Potterton Suprema 80L boiler
Installed up in the loft in 2002
http://www.*********.com/jpgs/boiler.jpg
It went wrong the other week.
Details of problem: Demand for heat, lights flicker, boiler kicks in, flame of pilot comes alive, boiler starts to ignite, splutters, resets, tries again, trips out.
Reset: Try again. Same problem.
Action: Called installer. He arrives on site as agreed.
Diagnosis: Opens the and cover pokes about then spots the problem straight away. On the left and right sides of the burner plate are two small white shields. About the size of a small a paperback book but not as thick.
On looking at the burner plate one of the shields (right hand side as you look at the boiler) has popped out of its runner and dropped onto the burner. This is preventing the burner from igniting.
Solution: "Oh this is easy" said the installer. "The head shield has popped off, so I am going to push it back into its runner". and then he says "Oh but got to be careful because its asbestos".
I look at him a bit worried. He seems slightly concerned as well. "Go and get me a water spray, a bucket of water, soap and cloth" I oblige and get up first with the water spray bottle and then turn to get the bucket.
Before I drop down the hatch way I see him spray the panel with water, lift it off the burner with bare hands then push it back into its runner. It doesnt go back easily. Its bowed so it resists.
As he pushes it into the runner the panel is scraping the edge and this may be my over active imagination but I think I saw dust coming off in the area where the runner was rubbing the panel.
He continues to spray it with the water as he does it. Its back in its socket and he turns round to me and then says "all done, dont worry about the bucket, soap and water, we got it".
So I am praying that the white shield is an asbestos substitute, and that if it was real asbestos that his water spraying sorted it. And finally if I do get the dreaded disease then it will take 30 years to show itself, I am 40. So it wont matter.
My question is: Am I right to be worried.