Apollo 40 B

[moobee]

Hi Thought i'd ask your expert opinions on my ****ed gch system.

Typical gravity fed system, apollo 40b boiler (quite a few years old i believe) pilot light keeps cutting out and not wanting to go back on. when it does go on at the hand of a magical british gas serviceman it lasts about an hour or so.

we have the three star heatcare service provided and they have been called several times.

So far we have had several thermocouples or thermostats ? changed - they have all been changed now apparently. also a valve has been put in the return feed from the boiler upstairs.

the hot water tank also makes a whirring noise and has done on and off since i moved in in nov last year

Also been told to check my pressure occasionally as its been really low a few times they have visited

Today one of these guys said that the return feed is blocked and i should get a new boiler because the tank and its pipework is in such a **** of a place i would be charged just as much to flush it. he said i should update my system and here is his mates phone number - hmmm....Its weird that this is the first time i've heard this.

So i told him my cousin is a heating engineer and he'd probably do it cheaper and my guy left.

My heating has just failed on me again and its freezing up here in aberdeen the f ing pilot light doesn't want to stay on...

help me please

Thanks
good day

 

[PEDANTICVINDICTIVEMAN]

Bog standard balanced flue boiler with cast iron heat exchanger, pilot has only a few reasons to go out, wind blowing it out normally down to incorrect flue position, poor pilot flame so thermocouple not getting any heat, faulty thermocouple, faulty gas valve, or blocked flueways so not enough oxygen to feed gas and flames and pilot lifting of burner so thermocouple cools and off it goes.
If this Apollo has a low water content tubular heat exchanger then the pilot will go off for the above reasons, plus if there is insuffient flow of water through the boiler ie pump failure, blocked byepass circuit, sludged pipes, then it will go off on the overheat stat as well.

 

[moobee]

hey thanks pedanticvindictiveman so it could be one of a few things then....

is this gasmans story plausible or is it just a case of him not being arsed and investigating properly.

i should write down what you said and act like i know a little and see if i get anywhere with another one of the gasmen. Many have been and gone - most have just scratched their heads got the pilot lit then left.

Any secret ways to get the pilot lit or do i need to find the root of this evilness first.

Its gonna cost a few eh???

Thanks

 

[PEDANTICVINDICTIVEMAN]

No secret ways unfortunately, sometimes these things can be a pain to sort out.

 

[moobee]

so how would you go about it if you were me in my situation?

get a few people round to quote on heating repairs?? and see what they say...

keep calling my three star heatcare guys out until they identify the exact source of the problem.

or get a new boiler - i need to put radiators in upstairs anyway and it may be better in the long run.

sorry to be a pain but this is much appreciated

thanks

 

[PEDANTICVINDICTIVEMAN]

If it aint costing you make Heatcare keep coming back until they sort it, thats what you pay for I think, dont get put off by there usual oh its old, we cant get the spares, unless you think they may be right, you can always call your local spares stockist to verify spares availabilty.

 

[namsag]

Firstly your boiler if it is an apollo is fully pumped not gravity as apollo is a low water content boiler. Secondly if all stats as in high , low (fitted top right hand corner) Themocouple, over heat stat (top lefthand corner attached to t/couple) have been changed then a blockage could be causng the boiler to overheat and trip out due to excess heat build up .If you have had several visits on 3 star ask for a visit from the lead engineer who will investigate fault without being under a time limitation like the standard engineers.

 

[moobee]

Well i called again and an engineer is coming this afternoon.

Im gonna say it must be a boiler problem cause the pilot isn't lighting at all. I'll ask if the high/low thermocouples have definately been changed and if the heat stat is in working order.

I think there could be a blockage in the return feed so if they scratch their heads again i will ask if they can get the lead engineer in. They must do more than just look at it to tell if there is a blockage.?.?.?

Thanks Again - I'll update ya's

 

[moobee]

Well they came again and have fitted a new overheat stat. The heating is still working and i have no blockage.

All it took was one old professional to sort it out - he couldn't believe it wasn't sorted before now - but hey it was in a nightmare of a place !

Cant belive the guy making me think my system was completely wrecked.
Arsehole

Thanks for the info guys