glow worm Flexicom 12hx - ignition problems

[ifoto]

Ok so I have the above unit and a while ago it developed a fault coded as

F22 - low water pressure or ignition temp rise too slow.

A couple of resets and the issue went away only to return a week or so later, reset and repeat for a couple of weeks then the fault error became...

F4 - Flame goes out whilst lit during a demand.

Again a few resets and the problem would go away but required a reset every morning where upon the boiler would behave for the day. Now however we have moved on to a new error which reset does not resolve.

F6 - Central Heating flow thermistor connection fault, then progressed I guess logically to

F1 failed ignition 5 times.

Other than calling the person who fitted the unit a little over two and a half years ago I checked the gas main tap is fully open, The gas pressure (at least on the gas hob) does not appear to be low. The water pump seems to be working fine with no knocking or unusual behavior. The outlet pipe is free from obstruction (that was fun to check as in on the 4th floor of flats) The F/E tank is filled to the normal level and does not have any crap build up blocking and checked the radiators did not have any air in.

Turns out that it was a build up in crap condenser trap at the bottom of the unit behind the pull down white panel with the display on it. Twist the cup and clear out the grit and the unit works fine again.

Hope this might be of use to someone in the future.

 

[steve32]

Turns out that it was a build up in crap condenser trap at the bottom of the unit behind the pull down white panel with the display on it. Twist the cup and clear out the grit and the unit works fine again.

Has it been serviced in the last 2 years.

The trap should be checked/cleaned as part of a service.

 

[ifoto]

soooo seems that my problems are not over...unit behaved fine for 24 hours but them repeated the cycle of F4 or F22 errors.

When the unit fires up there is an odd sound from the housing, im assuming its silencers...essentially it sounds like you would expect a wind passing across the top of a pipe. A low muffled rumbling, its not a constant noise but more like baffles then it fails.

Visual check of the trap again is clear, no air in the system and all internal wire connections seem to be solid. If I wait for a good while and reset the system will work for a while but eventually will revert to the above faults...I think most likely it is when the unit reached temperature then turns off till the thermostat says it needs a top up.

Any ideas people.

 

[Agile]

My idea is that you should have had your boiler serviced anually!

 

[ifoto]

My idea is that you should have had your boiler serviced anually!

Point taken... Does anyone have any advice on what can be done now rather than retrospectively!

 

[mickyg]

you need to get it looked at by a competent gas engineer to resolve the F4 fault. F22 is a seperate fault associated with circulation issues, pump etc

 

[ifoto]

you need to get it looked at by a competent gas engineer to resolve the F4 fault. F22 is a seperate fault associated with circulation issues, pump etc

Thanks Mikey, I had the guy who fitted the system over and it was him that checked a number of things including the condensation sump. I have an outstanding call with him again to ask if there is anything else he can do or it requires a glow worm technician.

If I have to go down the specialist route does anyone have an idea of costs I might be looking at!

Cheers

 

[Agile]

Gas registered people are broadly devided into those who do installations and those who do repairs.

Those who install usually have little experience of fault finding as they can earn more doing installations rather than waiting for a repair call.

Most manufacturers have staff engineers and they often have fixed price repair deals which include labour and parts at about £260. But they all exclude problems due to sludge and dirt as they can be time consuming to resolve.

Then there are the independent engineers. Some charge a fixed fee of about £84 and others an hourly rate which varies from about £35 to £95 but then you are dependent on them finding and fixing the fault quickly. Independents have to buy spare parts at the maker's often high prices so if an expensive part is needed the fixed price repair is cheaper.

In your case as you have not bothered to get the boiler serviced its quite likely that all it needs is proper cleaning and adjustment but its also possible that new parts are needed.

Tony

 

[Agile]

Gas registered people are broadly devided into those who do installations and those who do repairs.

Those who install usually have little experience of fault finding as they can earn more doing installations rather than waiting for a repair call.

Most manufacturers have staff engineers and they often have fixed price repair deals which include labour and parts at about £260. But they all exclude problems due to sludge and dirt as they can be time consuming to resolve.

Then there are the independent engineers. Some charge a fixed fee of about £84 and others an hourly rate which varies from about £35 to £95 but then you are dependent on them finding and fixing the fault quickly. Independents have to buy spare parts at the maker's often high prices so if an expensive part is needed the fixed price repair is cheaper.

In your case as you have not bothered to get the boiler serviced its quite likely that all it needs is proper cleaning and adjustment but its also possible that new parts are needed.

Tony

 

[ifoto]

Thanks for the reply Tony and a lesson learned re service.

I bit the bullet and contacted Glow Worm who have been been out and now resolved the issue. Cost wise the initial quote was for £285 one off to resolve what ever is causing the problem including replacement parts, labour etc. with the exception of heat exchange unit or expansion vessel replacement . On discussing alternative options they have offer a £118.80 fee for the engineer to visit and asses the issue but not fit any parts if needed. Parts would be £60 for the first part £90 for two parts replaces and £120 for 3 part...3+ parts you pay the difference between the £118 and the original £285. Though again this excludes the items above.

im my case the issue was a blocked condensation run off pipe at U-bend trap under the sink. Clearly nothing to do with the boiler and clearly something I could have checked and resolved for myself had I been aware of such things or if it had been suggested via this forum.

The glow worm guy was fantastic, clearing the pipe despite it not being his job and then giving a cursory check over the boiler for good measure.

Although this has cost me a little cash to resolve I do not mind as I am perhaps a little wiser re the importance of servicing (even though that pipe would not have been part of the checks.) and I have a better understanding of how these things work.

Im taking the time to outline my experience in the hope that someone else searching the net might be able to resolve their issue before incurring costs.

 

[Andygasman2010]

FYI... I've had these boilers (only the lower capacity ones) have problems with F22 a few times, turns out ignition problems can cause this because they are really sensitive to flow/return temperature differential issues.

Had one recently with explosive ignition and F22, changed electrode and both faults went away.

 

[ifoto]

The technician who visited said that my system was looking for a difference in temperature in the exhaust flue and that because the water had built up in the condenser effectively sealing the ignition chamber, the ignition gasses were not able to escape and it was these gasses and temp change the system did not detect...hope I explained that right.

It is also why the unit tried a number of times to ignite but failed, it was basically choked with the gasses that had not escaped. Explains the F4, F22 and F1 codes.

The reason the system would allow a restart was that the condensation water would, over time, trickle past the blockage and allow a proper ignition but then the water level would rise, choke the firing cycle and back to square one.

All worth keeping an eye on.

For yours i guessing I wouldnt want to muck around inside the unit its self. For mine I could have easily checked the pipe had I known to look.

Live and learn

 

[Andygasman2010]

That can't be right, it doesn't have a flue temp sensor. It's something along those lines though, at least it's sorted.

 

[misterdubya]

And the boiler wont be touched until its broken again I bet. mickyg seems the best bloke on here with glowworms.