Sime Ecomfort 30 HE boiler intermittent stoppage problem

[alba2]

The problem with this Sime boiler is that it doesn't just out and out break down. It acts up.

The boiler runs fine for months then it starts acting up by cutting out and flashing green and orange or red. I am never sure which. I believe it is red and this means problem with the line post- condenser, whatever that is! It can be restarted quite easily again and carries on working ok for a period.
The ch engineer I get to repair it greases some arm (diverter valve?) that I believe functions in conjunction with the microswitch, then all is well for another 3 or so months. Could it be a faulty diverter valve?

I have searched the web and found that the microswitch (5191900) can be a problem, but surely this is not it, if the boiler works for a period after the above greasing treatment! Or is it?

I understand that there is condensate modification kit (5181620) for this model. The engineer checked that there was no blockage in the past, and again this does not correspond to the above successful grease treatment. So would this kit help? I can't find out the reason for the modification.

Incidentally the condensate goes directly down a plastic pipe and under the floor it does not pass directly through the wall to the outside. I therefore don't anticipate that it is freezing, although the boiler seems to act up around December/January each year. It has done it 3 times now over the past 4 years. I don't know if this is simply a coincidence.

It also seems to lose pressure slowly over a week or so. I have discovered one of the radiators is very slightly moist at the bleed point, not enough to even dampen the carpet below. Could this affect the pressure in a short space of time? I have tightened the bleed screw as much as possible but the moisture is still there. Perhaps I need to try and tighten the chrome hexagonal nut at the bleed point? I can find no other leaks.

Are there any Sime experts out there who can give advice? I find there are not many ch engineers knowledgeable about this boiler and its problems.

 

[Agile]

You should search for leaks when the system has been cold for a few hours otherwise it just evaporates and you dont see it.

It sounds as if you need your engineer to come again and do the greasing as that makes it work for 3-4 months.

Sime are not very common boilers and not popular with engineers. Many will not go to them and the few that do will often not be very confident to diagnose faults.

Tony

 

[bolshy]

The part that needs greasing on Sime boilers is usually the flow switch. It's a fiddly little thing which operates a microswitch. There's a pivot point and O seal which require greasing at each service. The cover on it has a very tiny screw, IIRC.

 

[alba2]

Thanks to both of you. The advice was appreciated.

Is it such a complex boiler?

I get the impression that the trade doesn't like this boiler and seem to shy away from fixing them. This surprises me to some extent as I get satisfaction from problem solving. I would have thought it feels good to be a successful trouble shooter and use your expertise when others are stumped.

 

[bolshy]

There are literally thousands of gas appliance models out there. Some more common than others, of course. Unfortunately, we can't have worked on them all in the last 12 months. Certain models seem to be more prone to failure than others. Older Sime boilers had a poor reliability record. This is why many RGIs don't like Sime, but they have over 1.5 million appliances fitted throughout Europe.
Sime have offered 10 year warranties as standard for some time now on certain models, so they must have some confidence in them. I've installed a couple myself.
Personally, I don't like this particular flow switch arrangement.

 

[Agile]

Many dont have basic diagnostic skills and only want to go to boilers like Vaillant and Worcester that they know well.

I will go to any make of boiler although this is not cost effective as I need to take more time to evaluate the boiler as I do repairs on a fixed price basis.

As stated there are many different boiler models some of which are not very common. For example I dont remember seeing a Worcester 280 which was mentioned today here.

Tony

 

[alba2]

Thanks again. I understand there can be a problem if it is more time consuming to track down the fault, particularly if it is intermittent. However, I am prepared to pay extra if this is explained to me, but not of course if the engineer does not know his stuff.

I really appreciate those who know their stuff, and you have full confidence that they are going to fix the problem.

We previously had a Worcester boiler in a new build property that gave us no end of problems. We had a contract with British Gas and I lost track of the amount of visits due to trial and error. A significant amount of components were replaced until they hit the right one.

They never asked if we had the fault finding chart that came with the boiler. I am obviously not a ch engineer, but I find these charts quite helpful.

Anyway, thanks again. I think that the problem has been isolated. Would I buy a Sime again................No. Not that it has given that much trouble, it is just that any ch engineer I have had, never approaches them with confidence, and I always worry after the repair that it is going to break down again within a few months.

Curiously my sister in law has an absolutely ancient boiler that she inherited when she bought her property. It has never broken down once in 20 years. She has a British Gas contract and they keep trying to get her to replace it because they apparently can't get the parts, if it did break down!