Starting to get on my nerves

[notty]

Hi Folks, newbie here.

I've had an Ariston Micro Genus HE Type C Condensing Combi boiler for 2 years.

It has been serviced but not recently.

Since the last plumber came out to check my radiators as they were getting to maxuimum temperature things haven't been quite the same.

Now, the fault was an old radiator valve wasn't doing it's job and when he unscrewed the the top of the valve the radiators began to get really nice and hot again.

However, since he went, every now and then I would have the boiler running the hot water into the bath and it would just 'click off' and show the reading of AO1 error.

This wasn't hapening often at all and didn't seem to be a nuisance, however since having a water meter installed right below the flow of the boiler it's happened load of times.

I've tried differen t things to solve the problem.

1 ) I've adjusted the water pressure as it was on FULL after the water board fitted the meter ( well there's a surprise they did that after all they don't want me to notice having a meter would make a difference to my annual bill - THAT'S ANOTHER STORY )

Adjusting the water pressure seems to make a difference, if it is on very low pressure then it takes a lot longer for the boiler to 'cut out' and show the error message. ( this can be 5 minutes before it cuts out )

At full pressure the boiler heats up ( when tap turned on ) and basically switches off about 10 seconds.

I have read through the instructions and noticed that the potentiometers inside the boiler were on MAX ( these must have be reset to MAX after the last plumber visit because the firt thing he did was go into the box and have a play about ) I have now reset the potentiometers lower and have the boiler running at about 44C. This water seems to run a lot longer when not on MAX than when on MAX.

I filled a bath to 6 inches of water at 43C earlier but after about 8 minutes the boiler went to 44C then 45C then 46C then 47C then cut out....it was shjowing 43C for ages. The pressure of water wasn't adjusted during the filling and was kept constant.

Just though I'd mention. I have a gas meter Quantum which is a Pay as you go and now I'm on the emergency and have been during this period of boiler unrest. Any chance the gas meter is upsetting the system ?

I'm so glas it's summer and don't really need the hot water but would like to get it sorted before ASAP.

Any ideas folks....pretty please.

( a confused mind from Wales )

Notty

 

[holty]

A1 is ignition problem have you a gas hob in your kitchen. you could turn the hot tap on whilst a ring burner is on. then you can rule out the meter as your hob flame will shut off if starved of gas ps make sure you turn the hob burner off straight away if this does happen.

 

[notty]

Holty

Thanks for your reply.

I've just switched on a gas hob ring and lit it then turned on the boiler by running the hot water tap.

The water heats up wuite fast and within about 15 seconds it at 60C then when reaches 61C the boiler shuts off ( no error ) the water sontinues to heat until about 63C then starts to cool down until 55C then the boiler ignites again and this is an ongoing thing so it didn't switch off however, I have turned the thermostatic control knob on the fron of the boiler that controls the heat for the water dow to setting 1.

This tells me that the thermostat setting seems way to high.

Now I've just tried the control knob on setting 6 ( max ) and the water heats up to 66C then turns off and continues to 68C then starts to cool then at 57C the boiler re-ignites.

I've also just tried the minimum setting on the control knob and it heats up to 61C then turns off as continues to 63C then cools down and when at 55C starts the boiler again.

Each time I've done this, the boiler has worked fine but the water is bl@&dy hot !..too hot for washing up !

will have another think and plough through the manual and instructions that came with the boiler and perhaps run through setting the heat settings on the control knobs for the water and central heating.


Thanks for the reply.

Notty

 

[bengasman]

Not a solution for your boiler problem, but still a good idea.
Call the gassupplier and tell them you want a normal meter. Saves you hassle, and the tariff is a lot better.

 

[notty]

I would but I'm paying off a debt and the only way was with the Quantum meter.

It's also a more efficeint way of using a gas supply, knowing what you use helps towards knowing what you have to budget. I cannot budget effectively, other things seem to be more of a priority. The gas can always go off and do what we did some years ago and have no central heating and no gas bill. Easy to fill a bath with a shower head..just takes a bit longer.

With a quarterly bill ( or monthly direct debit ) I tend to ignore the cost until the letter box flap swings and the bill drops on the mat.

Each to his own I say.

Notty

 

[bengasman]

...The gas can always go off and do what we did some years ago and have no central heating and no gas bill. Easy to fill a bath with a shower head..just takes a bit longer.

That sounds like filling the bath with an electric shower.
Roughly 3 times more expensive than gasheating.
And even if you don't use gas, the standing charges will be added to the outstanding amount. Unless you have opted for a tariff without standing charge, in which case the your gas will be even more expensive.

Could also mean the cooker stays open, and if you forget that, you could have a fair bit of gas escaping when the meter goes back on and you are not in the kitchen.

If the budget is so tight that you can't afford central heating, keep the gasmeter charged with a little money for your hot water; it is cheaper in the long run, and a lot safer.

 

[notty]

Had a service from local people 'Peter Oneill' and they told me circuit board was the failure. Nearly £300 to put right.

I mentioned the boiler wasnt even 2 years old but they said it would cost that to put it right.

Only found our last week was still under manufacturers 2 year warranty.

Rang Ariston and they had an engineer out in 3 days and fixed a new circuit board for free under guarantee.

Well chuffed this end.

Don't always belive what you hear !!

Notty