We've come home tonight to no hot water, no heat :-(

The pilot light on the boiler is lit, although it seems a little smaller 
than usual.

Rotating the boiler thermostat from off to fully on to off again seems 
to elicit the usual click but the burner doesn't fire.

Any thoughts anyone?

-- 
F

(Beware of spam trap - remove the negative)

"F"  wrote in message
news:42cb02c3$0$28498$ed2619ec@ptn-nntp-reader01.plus.net...

> We've come home tonight to no hot water, no heat :-(
>
> The pilot light on the boiler is lit, although it seems a little smaller
> than usual.
>
> Rotating the boiler thermostat from off to fully on to off again seems
> to elicit the usual click but the burner doesn't fire.
>
> Any thoughts anyone?
>
> F
>

A number of thoughts, and probably to many to list at one time.

The boiler is not flaming but sounds as though it wants to, so the fault
sounds like it is something on the main gas valve that's gone belly up.
Three things on the main gas valve that cause this type of fault are the
thermo-coupling from the pilot flame, the thermo-coupling detector inside
the main gas valve and the solenoid inside the valve which opens to allow
gas to flow.

What type of testing gear and hand tools do you have?  You will need, at
least, a multi-meter for electrical testing up to mains voltages (240Volts
AC at 5 - 6 Amps).  A good set of screw drivers and pliers and a set of
spanners or small wrenches.

On 06/07/2005 01:55 BigWallop wrote:


> What type of testing gear and hand tools do you have?  You will need, at
> least, a multi-meter for electrical testing up to mains voltages (240Volts
> AC at 5 - 6 Amps).  A good set of screw drivers and pliers and a set of
> spanners or small wrenches.


Got all of those and a spare thermocouple!

I haven't fitted the thermocouple as I thought the pilot light went out 
when that failed...

-- 
F

(Beware of spam trap - remove the negative)

"F"  wrote in message
news:42cba07c$0$28461$ed2619ec@ptn-nntp-reader01.plus.net...

> On 06/07/2005 01:55 BigWallop wrote:
>
> > What type of testing gear and hand tools do you have?  You will need, at
> > least, a multi-meter for electrical testing up to mains voltages
(240Volts
> > AC at 5 - 6 Amps).  A good set of screw drivers and pliers and a set of
> > spanners or small wrenches.
>
> Got all of those and a spare thermocouple!
>
> I haven't fitted the thermocouple as I thought the pilot light went out
> when that failed...
>

The sign of the pilot dropping in size may mean it hasn't failed completely,
but is about to.  However, my thoughts are that these should be replaced
while the fault is evident, as they are now weaker than the repair you are
about to commence.  They are all related in their function, so it's best to
replace when such faults occur.