Freezing house!!

[okgo]

Hi guys, not the greatest place to ask, but before I call out a plumber at vast expense I might try on your knowledge first.

Our heating has stopped working.. The boiler pilot flame is still burning, I have turned it on like I normally do, but the radiators are cold and have been for hours..

The house is about 4 degree's now as its been like it all day while I was at work.. It was working yesterday.. Is there anything I can check to try and trouble shoot?

[J-Skid]

Is the pump turning?
Do you still have hot water?
Has it been banging or clanging before it went quiet?

[Prof Beard]

Is it a system with a header tank? A stuck ballcock in the header tank can produce this symptom if it is.

[john_p]

What sort of boiler, does hot water work, does it have a diverter valve and is it stuck (google)

[TWSTEEL]

Thermocouple

Pump

Thermostat

Turn the room thermostat up and down - do you hear a click? Turn it to max.
Is the burner firing up when you do that? If not could be thermocouple.

If it fires, put your hand on the pump and you should feel the vibration as it kicks in.

[ZR1cliff]

Are you Radiators cold at the top and warm at the bottom ?
If so they might need bleeding.
Has your heating system had it's yearly service ?

[mechsympathy]

It might be a stuck valve. This thread might help.

[okgo]

No, I didn't hear any clanging..

The water from the hot taps is not getting hot no.

I don't know what the header bit is? I have an airing cupboard with the water tank in, and then in the kitchen a thermostat with the control I use, with the white box with flame inside above..

[cs02rm0]

Are any warm at the bottom at all? If so, probably need bleeding.

[okgo]

Nope radiators are cold from top to bottom, I will have a look at that switch.. as its in the airing cupboard I guess attached to the foam insulated tank??

[Prof Beard]

If you have the sort of system that has a header tank, these are usually in the loft (a tank with a ballcock like the one in a bog cistern)

[Munter]

If the pilot light is on, but it's not fireing the burner my guess is a component failure inside the boiler which is stopping it fireing. Happened to ours on boxing day.

Particularly if the pump is working, everything is set to on, and neither hot water or heating is hot.

Time for a corgi registerd man. http://www.trustcorgi.com/

Or British Gas...

[mechsympathy]

okgo said:

The water from the hot taps is not getting hot no.

You sure the pilot light's still on?

[Freezing Ferg]

TWSTEEL said:

Turn the room thermostat up and down - do you hear a click? Turn it to max.
Is the burner firing up when you do that? If not could be thermocouple.

Absolutely NOT! The OP says the pilot is alight.

[okgo]

Prof Beard said:

If you have the sort of system that has a header tank, these are usually in the loft (a tank with a ballcock like the one in a bog cistern)

Oh, not sure, house is only ten years old, I have found that switch but cannot read what it says due to the way its placed..

[TWSTEEL]

Freezing Ferg said:

TWSTEEL said:

Turn the room thermostat up and down - do you hear a click? Turn it to max.
Is the burner firing up when you do that? If not could be thermocouple.

Absolutely NOT! The OP says the pilot is alight.

I mean the thermocouple in the boiler unit itself.

[Freezing Ferg]

Can you tell me what make and type of boiler it is, please?

[TWSTEEL]

Central Heating FAQ
Here you will see FAQ’s covering Central Heating, and Boilers. .... or the heat sensing thermocouple that detects its lit condition, has deteriorated. ...
www.letsfixit.co.uk/html/central_heating_faq.html - 43k - Cached - Similar pages -

[okgo]

Freezing Ferg said:

Can you tell me what make and type of boiler it is, please?

I presume we are talking about the whitebox with the flame in here? I am terrible.

Yes pilot light is still on.. both lights for hot water and heating are on.

What do I need to do to this switch in the cupboard then?

[TWSTEEL]

TWSTEEL said:

Freezing Ferg said:

TWSTEEL said:

Turn the room thermostat up and down - do you hear a click? Turn it to max.
Is the burner firing up when you do that? If not could be thermocouple.

Absolutely NOT! The OP says the pilot is alight.

I mean the thermocouple in the boiler unit itself.

Absolutely YES! - could easily be the thermocouple not detecting the pilot light is on.