Boiler locking out - I'm freezing
Boiler locking out - I'm freezing
Author
Discussion

LaserTam

Original Poster:

2,181 posts

241 months

Saturday 12th December 2009
quotequote all
Worth a quick try on here to see if there is anything simple that can be done..

I have a Powermax boiler. Got home yesterday and it was on 'lock out', pressure is fine so despite switching it all off etc, can't get it to fire up again. I have a maintenance contract on it, but they can't come until Tuesday. So no hot water/heating, any ideas on anything simple I could do to it, to try and get it fired up?

ttthhhhaaaannkkkks (in a shivering styly)

plover

362 posts

233 months

Saturday 12th December 2009
quotequote all
LaserTam said:
I have a Powermax boiler. Got home yesterday and it was on 'lock out', pressure is fine so despite switching it all off etc, can't get it to fire up again.
Do you have the exact model number, if so you might have a look at the manuals on the Potterton site.

I had similiar issue with a different make and took them 4 visits and replace 2 parts to fix. In the meantime I had to keep resetting the lockout , sometime multiple times before it would fire up. Have you found/tried the reset , assuming your model has one ?

PS. no expert just know how annoying it can be.

plover

362 posts

233 months

Saturday 12th December 2009
quotequote all
plover said:
Do you have the exact model number, if so you might have a look at the manuals on the Potterton site.
They don't seem to have the powermax manual online, try here instead.

Edited by plover on Saturday 12th December 12:02

SwanJack

1,948 posts

294 months

Saturday 12th December 2009
quotequote all
We have one that randomly locks out for days on end, then works fine for weeks and starts locking out again. Luckily though it always fires up when it is reset. From what I can gather they are very tempremental. Have a look here http://www.powermax-repairs.co.uk/

christof.h

20 posts

211 months

Saturday 12th December 2009
quotequote all
believe it or not some boilers have a squater setting so refer to your manual and there is a process to unlock the boiler

LaserTam

Original Poster:

2,181 posts

241 months

Saturday 12th December 2009
quotequote all
Thanks for the replies. Just returned from a nice warm shower at the in-laws.
Unfortunately a manual for my model doesn't appear on any of the links frown

Mine has been no end of problems for years, it seems its just never failed when its been so cold. Looks like I will just have to survive until Tuesday.

Incidentally, what is the normal life expectancy of this type of boiler? This one was installed in 2002.

Lord Flathead

1,288 posts

201 months

Saturday 12th December 2009
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shout Ferg!

Ferg

15,242 posts

279 months

Saturday 12th December 2009
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Depends on the model. It may be 'locking out' on an overheat stat. More likely the flame failure device though. It may be an electrode problem, I've had them before.

Deva Link

26,934 posts

267 months

Saturday 12th December 2009
quotequote all
christof.h said:
believe it or not some boilers have a squater setting
rofl

LaserTam

Original Poster:

2,181 posts

241 months

Wednesday 16th December 2009
quotequote all
Just in case anyone searches this, here was the problem -

After the engineer swapping out two components, some board (mother board type thing I guess) and the gas valve, he noticed some reset switch had tripped (sure he said flu something or other). Reset it, hey presto. He showed me where it was, handy for next time... Nice and toasty in my house now thank F for that, just before the snow comes. Thanks for the replies.