Help me to have a hot shower again!

Help me to have a hot shower again!

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Harry Flashman

Original Poster:

19,504 posts

244 months

Wednesday 5th May 2010
quotequote all
Chaps, a quick question.

Second bathroom is heated by its own combi boiler; less than a year old, installed about 8 months ago. Its electrical components run through a switched fused spur outside the bathroom. Boiler has always been quirky in that if you switch this switched spur off, boiler won’t “reboot” for some time after it gets power back. I assumed that this was a safety feature to allow any leaked gas to dissipate before it started itself again.

You guessed it – this time, it won’t get going again. I checked the fuse in the spur, and it is fine. You can hear a sort of solenoid-ish clunk from the boiler when you give power back to it, so clearly electricity is getting through. But nothing is happening.

Adding to the fun is the fact that the tilers have grouted over the screws to the tiled access panel – so I have the joy of picking grout out of Phillips heads with a suitable instrument before I can even get to the boiler.

It is possible to see through the grille on the access panel – and there is no activity. Lights and digital LCD readout usually brightly visible.

So, when I get the panel off, what in the name of God’s tits do I do?

Road2Ruin

5,293 posts

218 months

Wednesday 5th May 2010
quotequote all
Harry Flashman said:
Chaps, a quick question.

Second bathroom is heated by its own combi boiler; less than a year old, installed about 8 months ago. Its electrical components run through a switched fused spur outside the bathroom. Boiler has always been quirky in that if you switch this switched spur off, boiler won’t “reboot” for some time after it gets power back. I assumed that this was a safety feature to allow any leaked gas to dissipate before it started itself again.

You guessed it – this time, it won’t get going again. I checked the fuse in the spur, and it is fine. You can hear a sort of solenoid-ish clunk from the boiler when you give power back to it, so clearly electricity is getting through. But nothing is happening.

Adding to the fun is the fact that the tilers have grouted over the screws to the tiled access panel – so I have the joy of picking grout out of Phillips heads with a suitable instrument before I can even get to the boiler.

It is possible to see through the grille on the access panel – and there is no activity. Lights and digital LCD readout usually brightly visible.

So, when I get the panel off, what in the name of God’s tits do I do?
Boilers often have a reset button, as I found out to my expense a few years ago, try that if it has one. Sometimes they can be cuningly hidden, mine was on the bottom of the boiler behind a small removable panel.

andy43

9,825 posts

256 months

Wednesday 5th May 2010
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Who on earth tiled a combi boiler into a cupboard?
Is it a sealed system - does it have a pressure gauge? If so, check pressure is right - if below usual min of 1 bar the boiler may not fire. Don't like the sound of no lights or visible signs of life tho'.

Harry Flashman

Original Poster:

19,504 posts

244 months

Thursday 6th May 2010
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Builder wasn't as stupid as I thought - I was. Boiler isn't sealed in: there's a hidden panel behind which are clasps to release front of cupboard which hinges outwards, giving full access.

Tried reset etc, nothing. Builder popped over last night; turned out to be a control valve or something - he's fixing it this morning.

Actually pleased with him: once he got my message, he turned up as soon as he could, and one of his plumbers arrived this morning to sort it out. Not bad for a local builder. His work has to be fair been very good though - some delays, but completely on budget and to a great standard.

pmanson

13,387 posts

255 months

Thursday 6th May 2010
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You can't complain about that level of service