Fault Finding Boilers

[Spanner2k7]

hi people,

Can any one give any advice on fault finding on boilers, mainly the older boilers, does any know anybody who does fault finding courses. I have been in trade over 11 years, but have been mainly working and new builds, so I have much experience with them.

For modern boilers I am going to book myself on some courses with the manufacturers, does anybody have any recommendations.

Any advice will be very much appreciated.

Thanks

 

[kirkgas]

send me a PM with an email address and i will send you a powerpoint presentation that has some decent info in it

 

[md68]

The books by John Reginald are pretty good, have a look on amazon. Apart from that you will need the MI for the boiler. Fault finding is fairly easy on most boilers as things happen in a sequence so its just a case of finding out were this has been interupted. You will of course come across a few oddities but you will soon learn as you gain experience.

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

experience and help from your colleagues two off the best tools

 

[villa_tom]

experience and help from your colleagues two off the best tools

100% correct. You can have all the books in the world but the best thing I have found to help me with fault finding is to have someone who can actually show you. I don't really do many breakdowns at the minute but when I do I have a pal I can phone who can talk me through it step by step. I have ven rebooked jobs and gone back with him. nothing beats actually being shown how to do something or how to test for something.

I have found over the few years I have done this job that if you have people you can call on to help you on the phone its just like having two of you on the job

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

thanks tom nobody knows everything we learn by asking /being shown the right way to do things

 

[villa_tom]

I think thats one of my favourite things about this job, that you learn something new everday. I have been doing this job nearly five years now (got my ACS soon) and i'm still not 100% confident with breakdowns, give me a rad to fit or a boiler to service and I'm off and away. But breakdowns I am still learning but it takes time.

I remember the first PCB I fit on a suprima, wired it up wrong at the L/N/E SW.LIVE etc and did some other stuff wrong, messed up the new PCB and nearly blew the house up. But I can whack one in in half hour now.

You live and learn I suppose

 

[obseen16]

i went on as many manufacturer courses as i could and still do when its quiet. these courses did help me but the best two fault finding courses i went on were the Vokera fault finding course - free 1 day course
and i also went on the mr combi course for £120 i think it was. both courses were well worth doing. i did them both last year and since then i have only had to call technical helpline once and have repaired a fair few boilers since (probably around 50 or so)
alot of people seem to dislike mr combi but once you get started its not bad. i learned alot from both courses. also get chin waggin with the other guys in the merchants youll pick up loads of little tips unless you try gabbing to the grumpy bugger, come on every merchants has at least one grumpy plumber lol.

 

[REDSAW]

thanks tom nobody knows everything we learn by asking /being shown the right way to do things

i know nowt!!

 

[blayedrunner]

Mr Combi was pretty good course. Stupid name, but course was really useful.

 

[Spanner2k7]

Thanks for all the replies, just one stupid question does Mr Combi just train on combi boilers or does he do regular boilers as well. Can the same principles be used on both boilers.

 

[blayedrunner]

same principles apply to both. basically teaches you how to use a multi-meter. Helped me diagnose faults recently much quicker.

 

[obseen16]

like blayedrunner said, once you figure how the multimeter works its really easy.

 

[REDSAW]

Thanks for all the replies, just one stupid question does Mr Combi just train on combi boilers or does he do regular boilers as well. Can the same principles be used on both boilers.

try mr y

 

[GQuigley67]

I liked the Vokera course, it was local and he explained it well and we got to do a bit of fault finding ourself also got alot of training manuals for vokera boilers and hes sending me out a CD, most boilers have the same sequence so if you follow that sequence then you will find the fault.

The only thing about the vokera course was it advertised they teach you how to use a multimeter, wasnt quite like that

 

[gasmarc]

i did the mr combi course and it was £75 at the time and he was apparently at a baxi/potterton course a while back ,so even mr combi is still learning , You will never stop learning I can assure you ,I rarely do servicing but prefer breakdowns as less agg usually

 

[mas50n]

All you need to do to diagnose boiler faults in minutes is to learn how to work a multimeter properly.

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

i know nowt!!

thats a blatant lie LOL

 

[REDSAW]

thats a blatant lie LOL

keeps me out of trouble though.....

 

[Dannypipe]

I don't know nuffin'.

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

nor me plumbing, gas ,no mr inland revene bloke/lady dont do cash in hand

 

[ljrgas]

i found the baxi course very good also there are a few books about
i personaly like central heating combination boilers fault finding and repair by john reginald

 

[protec gas]

MIs and a good multi meter are a must if you dont know the opperating sequence of the boiler you will struggle

 

[pobsdad]

Step 1,scratch head and 'tut'.
Step 2,rub chin and say,"This could be expensive."
Step 3,ask where the boiler is.
Step 4,repressurise.
Step 5,"you need a new boiler,love,I'll sort you a quote."
If you work for BG,leave out step 4.

 

[mikegas]

If you work for BG just replace step 4 with powerflush ;]