Firebird Combi boiler problems

[farmer.palmer]

Hello

I have a Firebird Combi Enviromx Slimline C26 boiler (don't laugh). Its less than 18 months old & professionally installed and been working fine until very recently. Now the hot water seeems to be very intermittent. Most of the time its fine but occasionaly it never gets above luke warm. When this happens you can hear the boiler ignite then instantly shut down again and it keep doing this every few seconds.

The pressure is fine. The oil flow is fine. No trip outs or resets, ever. No leaks.

What do I try next?

Thanks in advance
James

 

[kimbo]

Sounds like you have a sooty photocell a common problem with these. Remove photocell and clean the end.

 

[dontknowitall]

Is THAT all it is? If that was my job, I'd have checked it but wasn't confident of suggesting it here!!

I should be bolder!

 

[ecowarm]

It sounds like a blocked plate heat exchanger to me

 

[kimbo]

Go for the easiest first , done loads like it , firebird is just down the road from me so I have a lot on my patch.never yet come across a blocked heat exchange that gives intermittent hot water, its usually not as hot as it usually is.

 

[farmer.palmer]

Sounds like you have a sooty photocell a common problem with these. Remove photocell and clean the end.

Brilliant!
I took out the photocell. It was covered in a layer of thick black soot. Cleaned it off, popped it back in. Took 2 mins max.
Lets see if this works!?
Thanks
James