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Hi, I have a combi boiler that fails to fire up and sustain the burn. I read a similar post on this site but it doesn't precisely match my needs hence this post.
Let me explain, and apologies for the less technical description since I use a plumber for my problems but he seems stuck on this one. Sorry it's so long too.
My problem began a week ago when the boiler tried to start up but failed to sustain it for more than one or 2 sec. I called the plumber - an experienced plumber. He basically checked and replaced everything but none made any difference except one act. He checked oil flow/pump/ sensors etc. The one way he managed to get it to fire was to connect a second photoelectric cell (I believe that is what it's called - it monitors the flame I was told?) to the electrics of the burner, essentially leaving the original one in the relevant burner housing but not connected to the electrics. He turned the boiler on and at the same time shone a torch on this second photo cell. And it fired up.
Yet when he used it to replace the existing cell it failed to sustain the burn.
Where he did also have success in getting it to burn was to alter the allen-key-controlled air mix. It is a numbered wheel that is moved round via the allen key - sorry I don't know the name but it is to the right on the burner. It had been set to around 5 on the dial. When he wheeled it back to around 3.5 it fired up and that is how he left it. He was concerned that the burn might be smokier - he did various test and measured the gases but still left us, perplexed at the problem. He did phone someone at Enviromax but all they seemed to say was that they had not come across it before.
A week later and the problem returned. This time I reduced the air balance down to 2.5 to get it working and left a message with the plumber. And then today I found I had to reduce it further to 2.0. I don't know whether my plumber will come back to me and so I thought I'd seek guidance here that I could pass on to him. Thank you.
Let me explain, and apologies for the less technical description since I use a plumber for my problems but he seems stuck on this one. Sorry it's so long too.
My problem began a week ago when the boiler tried to start up but failed to sustain it for more than one or 2 sec. I called the plumber - an experienced plumber. He basically checked and replaced everything but none made any difference except one act. He checked oil flow/pump/ sensors etc. The one way he managed to get it to fire was to connect a second photoelectric cell (I believe that is what it's called - it monitors the flame I was told?) to the electrics of the burner, essentially leaving the original one in the relevant burner housing but not connected to the electrics. He turned the boiler on and at the same time shone a torch on this second photo cell. And it fired up.
Yet when he used it to replace the existing cell it failed to sustain the burn.
Where he did also have success in getting it to burn was to alter the allen-key-controlled air mix. It is a numbered wheel that is moved round via the allen key - sorry I don't know the name but it is to the right on the burner. It had been set to around 5 on the dial. When he wheeled it back to around 3.5 it fired up and that is how he left it. He was concerned that the burn might be smokier - he did various test and measured the gases but still left us, perplexed at the problem. He did phone someone at Enviromax but all they seemed to say was that they had not come across it before.
A week later and the problem returned. This time I reduced the air balance down to 2.5 to get it working and left a message with the plumber. And then today I found I had to reduce it further to 2.0. I don't know whether my plumber will come back to me and so I thought I'd seek guidance here that I could pass on to him. Thank you.
