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Hi - we have a Potterton Profile 80e boiler. It works fine…

Hi - we have a...

Hi - we have a Potterton Profile 80e boiler. It works fine in the summer, but in winter...normally on the colder days, it doesn't start up with the timer. If I go and turn the main dial off and then on a couple of times it will eventually fire up and works fine...until the next cycle...or maybe a few days later.

I don't know how old it is, but it's been serviced every year and other than in winter seems in good working order. I asked the guy who serviced it his opinion and he said we probably needed to replace the PCB...although it's not definitely the problem. He said he didn't want to do it in case we spent the dosh replacing it, only to find it didn't fix the problem.

Any suggestions/ thoughts?

Many thanks,

Derek

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Answered in 16 minutes by:

11/25/2013

Plumber: Andrew Smith, Engineer replied 9 years ago

Andrew Smith, Engineer

Category: UK Plumbing

Satisfied Customers: 4,029

Experience: Domestic Gas, Commercial Gas, LPG, Unvented Hot Water, Part P Electrical, Commercial Catering

Verified

Hi my name is XXXXX XXXXX lets see if we can get you sorted in the shortest possible time.
OK, the start up sequence goes as follows;
1. Timer
2. External room thermostat and controls
3. Internal boiler thermostat
4. Fan
5. Air pressure switch
6. Ignition (ticking noise)
7. Pilot
8. Main burner

Let me know how far you think it is getting through the sequence when it does not start?

Customer reply replied 9 years ago

I think it gets to ignition. I saw the spark by the pilot light but nothing fired up first time this evening (will pay a little more attention next time it happens). I then turned the main dial off and on (a few times for luck!) and then the pilot light fired up. This has been happening since last winter (forgot about the issue over the summer). The fan is definitely working, all the thermostats controls I believe are on.

My way of finding out whether the boilers in it's sorry state (without going into our garage where it is) is to put my hand over the exhaust. Cool air coming out, it's not working but fan is...warm air it is working.

Plumber: Andrew Smith, Engineer replied 9 years ago

Ok, if it is sparking then the spark may not be hot enough, this could be solved by cleaning the ignition electrode with some scotchbrite to make a cleaner hotter spark.
Try this first and then change the ignition electrode if it does not cure the problem.
Your boiler finds it harder to light when drawing in colder air if the spark is not as hot.

Customer reply replied 9 years ago

Thanks Andrew - will come back and close the topic once I've had a chance to check the ignition electrode. Out of interest, is that easy to change / cheap to replace? Just curious if it's a couple of bob, I'd just replace.

Plumber: Andrew Smith, Engineer replied 9 years ago

A simple £20 job, just inside the case, inside the heat exchanger.
Just ensure the boiler is off at the mains.

Andrew Smith, Engineer

Category: UK Plumbing

Satisfied Customers: 4,029

Experience: Domestic Gas, Commercial Gas, LPG, Unvented Hot Water, Part P Electrical, Commercial Catering

Verified

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