Baxi Solo Boiler failing to ignite

[mattbrewer]

I have a baxi solo boiler, gas powered which I inherited when I bought my house. It is not a combi. My plumber thinks it is about 15 years old.
For the past month it has been sporadically failing to ignite .
The fan starts, all three lights come on but the gas burners fail to ignite.
The fan then runs until switched off.
If I switch off either on the controller, at the mains or by turning the boiler off using the orange heat setting knob and then turn back on again this resolves the problem - until the next time.
The controller is a Potterton EP2001.
The plumber I always use is not sure what the problem is, can anyone help?

 

[ChrisR]

When was it last properly serviced? I expect the fan is dirty, -or it could always be a pcb problem. Is it a Solo?

 

[mattbrewer]

Hi,

Yes it is a Solo, it had a new fan fitted 16 months ago. The previous fan's blades broke causing it to overheat.
I am assuming you mean the fan on top of the motor, that cools it?

 

[mattbrewer]

Sorry,
Did not answer your question fully.
It has not been serviced in past 2 1/2 years that I have owned it.
Is it possible to service it myself? I am reasonably competent at DIY.

 

[breezer]

Is it possible to service it myself? I am reasonably competent at DIY.

No, me personally i would recomend british gas

 

[ChrisR]

"It has not been serviced in past 2 1/2 years that I have owned it. "

Should be serviced annually.

"Is it possible to service it myself? I am reasonably competent at DIY."
Sure, but you don't know what to do, what to look out for, and it's illegal!

The function of the fan is to evacuate the flue gases, not cool the boiler! Fan performance is measured by a pressure switch. if performance or switch at fault, boiler won't light. Other faults are of course possible - pcb, sticky gas valve....

Personally I'd steer clear of British Gas. They will cheerfully tell you your boiler is too old and you need a new one. Plenty of instances reported of them lying through their teeth about not being able to get parts. Oh and you'll need one of their power flushes too. Around £500. Plus vat. And you'll have to change your cylinder to comply with latest regs.

 

[mattbrewer]

Thanks for your input, I'll get it serviced and see what happens.

 

[breezer]

although most do not like bg, the one thing i will say for them at least they turn up, even if they cant fix it they order part and come back, unlike 3 other "heating engineers" who "fixed it" but didn't or ordered wrong part and forgot to tell us, marvellous (not)