Boiler problems

Russinating · 3 Feb 2014 at 21:03

We've got a Worcester boiler and Drayton Wireless System. Past few days the heating has been going off randomly and now won't turn on. The Digistat shows the current temp (14c!) and a flame to show the heating is on when set to anything above that but the boiler isn't doing anything.

We've got hot water and you can hear the boiler turn on when we run the tap.

If we set the temp to below 14c and then turn it back on again then the red alarm light flashes, the green on light comes on but nothing happens.

Help, we're freezing!

andicole0 · 3 Feb 2014 at 21:06

http://www.britishgas.co.uk/products-and-services/boilers-and-central-heating/one-off-boiler-repairs.html

Andi.

dholdi · 3 Feb 2014 at 21:17

What does the receiver on the boiler show ?
If you hit select until on is highlighted does the boiler fire up then ?
http://www.worcester-bosch.co.uk/cache/file/9/dt10rf-digistat--mk-2--instructions.pdf

HardwareGeek · 3 Feb 2014 at 21:24

Does the heating work if you press the override button on the receiver? OP says you get a green light but no heat, so guess this wont work.

If your happy to diy then if the receiver is faulty and not switching you can take it off and link out the wires behind and see if the heating comes on.

Post a pic before altering the wiring cos you may have mains or extra low voltage switching, in which case you dont want to link elv to mains.

Might have neut, live and switch on receiver backplate or 1 extra as common, common may mean elv or could be mains,

either link switch to live or if you have common link common and switch together

Turn off spur for heating system first & make sure its dead and take a pic or remember the wire positions, should be something like common if present 1 and heating 3 or 4

It may not be anything to do with the switch but its 1 place to start looking

Or just call a boiler man from link above.

Ps. Because its a combi this is pretty much all you can do without taking the case off so that will need a boiler man

The_One · 3 Feb 2014 at 21:34

will be the wireless receiver - relays packed in

very common

FlyingFish · 3 Feb 2014 at 21:49

The_One said:
will be the wireless receiver - relays packed in

very common

This ^

Unscrew the transmitter from the wall and walk over to the receiver and cycle the heating on and off, you should hear a definite click as the relay is operated, otherwise its jiggered. If you do hear a click but it still doesnt operate the heating then you need to go a bit deeper and link the LS and LR terminals back to factory default, to remove the RF stat from the scene. If you still have issues then I recommend getting a boiler repair person in

Mick

Russinating · 3 Feb 2014 at 23:06

After all those more complex suggestions I replaced the batteries on the transmitter and it seems fine! Will keep all the above in mind if it starts playing up again though.

HardwareGeek · 4 Feb 2014 at 01:45

Russinating said:
After all those more complex suggestions I replaced the batteries on the transmitter and it seems fine! Will keep all the above in mind if it starts playing up again though.

Guess we all assumed you would have tried the batteries and override button before posting for help

Participant · 4 Feb 2014 at 06:56

LOL DUH IT WAS DA BATTRIEZ GUYZ! HURR

Russinating · 4 Feb 2014 at 10:49

HardwareGeek said:
Guess we all assumed you would have tried the batteries and override button before posting for help

Well there was no battery symbol which according to the manual there should be, we had a gas check 2 weeks ago and the guy replaced them, and it worked (ie the receiver flashed and turned to on when the transmitter was changed). So, yeah

. I'm guessing the gas check guy fitted duds or picked two up from the wrong box.

I would have done it straight away if it weren't for the above, plus didn't know if it'd have lost its partner/connection with the receiver by powering it down.

Russinating · 4 Feb 2014 at 17:56

Ack! So it appears a battery change didn't fix it permanently. And our internet works now so I can post some pics.

Transmitter. On manual, flame icon comes on when temp increased about current and visa versa. No other icons.

Receiver. When flame icon comes on, alarm light flashes red ~10 times and then the green on light comes on. Visa versa happens when temp is reduced. Whether the boiler actually comes on with the green light is hit and miss and it seems it goes off randomly as well.

Boiler. Not much I can tell from this! This was taken with the transmitter flame icon on and receiver green light on.

Thanks in advance.

chris.tarry85 · 4 Feb 2014 at 18:21

Might just be the picture, but what does the pressure gauge on the right hand side of the boiler control panel say?

If it's zero (which it looks to be) then that will be your problem - the boiler won't fire if the pressure is below the minimum.

Do you have a filling loop to add some water to the system?

FlyingFish · 4 Feb 2014 at 18:25

It's the BATTERIES! :-D

Mick

Russinating · 4 Feb 2014 at 18:30

The heating is on now and the boiler pressure is at 1.5 bar. So it seems sporadic more than anything.

Steampunk · 4 Feb 2014 at 18:33

Russinating said:
The heating is on now and the boiler pressure is at 1.5 bar. So it seems sporadic more than anything.

1.5 bar with the heating on seems very low. My Vaillant is supposed to be 2.3-2.5 when cold. That might explain why you're getting hot water but the boiler isn't firing up for heating.

dholdi · 4 Feb 2014 at 18:33

Russinating said:
The heating is on now and the boiler pressure is at 1.5 bar.

So did you add any water ? As Chris says it shouldn't run with zero pressure.

FlyingFish · 4 Feb 2014 at 18:41

Steampunk said:
1.5 bar with the heating on seems very low. My Vaillant is supposed to be 2.3-2.5 when cold. That might explain why you're getting hot water but the boiler isn't firing up for heating.

2.3-2.5 is on the high side for your Vaillant! 1.0-1.5 is normal starting, and ideal hot pressure.

Russinating: Replace your rf thermostat! Fit a Honeywell. And get a boiler person in to recharge your expansion vessel.

Mick

Russinating · 4 Feb 2014 at 18:46

dholdi said:
So did you add any water ? As Chris says it shouldn't run with zero pressure.

Nope, didn't add any water. In the original picture I think it was on 0.5 bar as opposed to 0.

FlyingFish said:
Russinating: Replace your rf thermostat! Fit a Honeywell. And get a boiler person in to recharge your expansion vessel.

Renting so up to my landlords

. Will see if it carries on and then get in touch with them if it carries on playing up. Going on holiday for a week next week anyway so might stick it out until then and contact them once back.

FlyingFish · 4 Feb 2014 at 18:55

No offence m8, but in your first post you state your freezing, the heating doesn't work, and you DIDN'T contact your landlord! And even now your delaying getting in touch with them! Let me guess, when you do get in touch you will want out fixing yesterday!

Help yourself and call the landlord/letting agent m8, the sooner they know about it the sooner they can sort it. Cos at this time of year your going to be lucky to get someone like me (heating fixer upperer) out within a week!

Mick

Steampunk · 4 Feb 2014 at 19:05

FlyingFish said:
2.3-2.5 is on the high side for your Vaillant! 1.0-1.5 is normal starting, and ideal hot pressure.

Russinating: Replace your rf thermostat! Fit a Honeywell. And get a boiler person in to recharge your expansion vessel.

Mick

I've just checked and it's at 1.8 after warming the house up for a couple of hours. So I must be misremembering and you are right!