Boiler Pilot Flicking On/Off

[JamesFD]

Hi all, hoping for some advice about our boiler. Its started struggling to fire on occasion and I was wondering if it was on the way out, needs a part repairing or being affected by the cold weather for January.

Your thoughts would be much appreciated. Potterton Netaheat Electronic.

See the video of the pilot going on and off here.


Cheers
James

 

[Aquarius]

I doubt very much it’s just the cold weather, it’s looking/sounding like a part failure.

 

[oz-plumber]

It doesn't look like anything major.

I wouldn't think the boiler needs replacing for that fault.

 

[Gasmk1]

It doesn't look like anything major.

I wouldn't think the boiler needs replacing for that fault.

It’s a neat heat must be 30 years old

 

[Dan]

Hi all, hoping for some advice about our boiler. Its started struggling to fire on occasion and I was wondering if it was on the way out, needs a part repairing or being affected by the cold weather for January.

Your thoughts would be much appreciated. Potterton Netaheat Electronic.

See the video of the pilot going on and off here.


Cheers
James

Any idea how old it is?

Might be worth getting it replaced. Compared to 30 years ago, if that is how old it is, the efficiency of boilers I assume would have improved greatly. So the cost of replacing it may pay you back over the next 5 - 10 years.

(I'm not a Gas Engineer though so listen to the lads not me!)

 

[oz-plumber]

I didn't know it was that old, but stand by my post.

I wouldn't change a boiler with that as the problem

 

[Gasmk1]

I didn't know it was that old, but stand by my post.

I wouldn't change a boiler with that as the problem

The 1st nets heats were being installed when i was either still an apprentice or just after so early to mid 70’s a lot of parts for them are obsolete, some are reconditioned. It’s 30 plus years old and nowhere near as efficient as a modern boiler.

 

[JamesFD]

Thanks everyone. It seems to be a much better recently so hopefully it can limp on for a couple months and be replaced with the kitchen. I'm impressed it's still going, guess they don't build them like they used to.

I doubt it but is there much value in old but working boilers to anyone?

 

[Dunlopplumbing]

It's probably more like 35 years old, they were a bugger to fit. Its looks like it is definitely repairable, probably the solenoid on the pcb giving up, or less likely but could possibly be a flame rectification fault or even possibly a pressure switch. Refurbished parts are still available. The boiler was around 75% or more efficient when new, so if it has lost say 10% of it's efficiency, with a new boiler being (theoretically) 90% efficient and the average annual cost of gas, to heat your heating and hot water of around £550, with a 20% saving made of £110 a year, a new boiler would take 18 or 20 years to pay for itself, by which time you will probably have had to replace the boiler again. The figures used are not accurate, but do give a good indication of what to expect, in terms of savings made. Good luck.

 

[JamesFD]

It's probably more like 35 years old, they were a bugger to fit. Its looks like it is definitely repairable, probably the solenoid on the pcb giving up, or less likely but could possibly be a flame rectification fault or even possibly a pressure switch. Refurbished parts are still available. The boiler was around 75% or more efficient when new, so if it has lost say 10% of it's efficiency, with a new boiler being (theoretically) 90% efficient and the average annual cost of gas, to heat your heating and hot water of around £550, with a 20% saving made of £110 a year, a new boiler would take 18 or 20 years to pay for itself, by which time you will probably have had to replace the boiler again. The figures used are not accurate, but do give a good indication of what to expect, in terms of savings made. Good luck.

Cheers and thanks for the advice.