Fault on boiler, help required

Garyj881

Garyj881

Garyj881

Associate
Joined
29 Sep 2006
Posts
2,164
Location
West Yorks
I have seen a few threads like this before and some have been quite successfull so here goes, before I call someone out to look at the boiler I want to see if I can fix the fault my self :)

I have a Baxi Combi boiler.

When the boiler selector switch is turned to hot water/central heating and I run the hot water tap the light doesn't come on and doesn't heat the water. If I change it to just hot water it works fine even though it does take around 10 seconds to start heating.

Is it an easy fix? Could I fix it my self?

Gary
 
Last edited:
I had a similar issue with my baxi, there is a switch that is magnetic and when you turn on the taps for hot water there is a magnetic collar that moves and tells the boiler what it should be doing. I think its called a flow switch.

It was a £25 fix, maybe not your problem but you never know?
 
I had an issue with mine where when I switched the hot tap on it would not heat the water, yet the heating worked.

Mine was due to a split in the diarpragm (spelling) got the new rubber cap off ebay for like £2. When you switch the tap on the pressure of the cap filling with water pushes it out to flick the switch on, with the whole mine was not working. Mine was also a Baxi combi boiler.

It sits in something that looks like this http://www.thanetgasspares.com/pics/Baxi - Potterton Boiler Spares/248063.jpg

The thing that goes inside looks like this http://i12.ebayimg.com/07/i/001/47/8b/25fb_3.JPG

Pretty easy fix but you must make sure your boiler is drained first, use the manual will have a easy to follow guide of what to check for if you have issues.
 
Last edited:
What model of boiler is it, do you have the service manual

If not go to http://www.baxi.co.uk/about/products.htm and you can down load the manuals and in there is a fault flowchart that may help you pinpoint the fault

From the sound of it most of your boiler is working so the fault could be a sensor or a pressure priority switch, though is possible is a pcb fault.

Fixing the boiler yourself is not recommended since its a gas appliance but as long as you are not interferring with the gas connections themselves then it should be ok. I fixed mine myself after I was quoted £500 for a repair that actually cost me £25 for a new part of EBay and 15 minutes to fit so not sure what the plumber was up to with his quote.
 
Goberpiles316 said:
Same as me Thorne my fix was around £2 and about 30 minutes to drain and fill again.
Click to expand...

I bought the entire valve unit rather than just the diapham , I could have fixed it with just the £2 diaphram but didnt know that at the time.

I now keep spare parts for all the parts that can go wrong, its a nightmare to have no heating or hot water.
 
Thank you for the replies, the boiler is around 5 years old and I can't see a model number any where. I totally agree with not messing with the gas side of things. Where will I find the model number for it? I will give the diaphram change a shot as it does sound like thats the probelm I have.

I'll take the front off tomorrow and see if I can give you more details.
 
Last edited:
Ok I have some more information foryou to help me :)

The boiler is a Baxi Combi, model number is 80Eco.

I pulled the front off to take a look and found what seems to be a leak from the front of the valve which contains the diaphram.

You can see under neath the valve where it's been leaking, also looking to the rear and to the right (back end of the valve) has been leaking aswell.

S3600059.jpg


S3600060.jpg


My plan is to buy this drain the system, loosen off the nut holding in the copper pipe (10mm), remove micro switch then remove the screws from the flange face and replace the diaphram and reassemble.

Does this sound about right?
 
Last edited:
Baxi boilers are gash, I used to work for them and they were being annihilated by Worcester Bosch in every possible way.

Apart from that, all I can say is - bite the bullet and pay a professional.
 
I found a great guy on ebay that repairs PCB's. The Baxi relays are notorious for failing so simply replacing the PCB results in the boiler failing again at some point.

This guy replaces the relays with bigger chunkier ones and also some of the resistor etc as apparently a lot of the components are very poor and likely to fail. The cost was £45.00 for an exchange service.
 
What your buying looks right, that boiler is exactly the same as mine. You are not touching the gad at all, just drain the system and take the bits apart, you can find a manual online somewhere as I used it. Dont know where through it was some time ago.
 
Well I bit the bullet!

Ordered the diaphram kit from ebay and it arrived today, I drained the system and removed the valve face and took out the diaphram, upon inspection I found two splits in it.

Replaced with the new one, put everything back togeather and what do you know it worked!

I am glad I had a go but would advise a plumber/gas engineer if you don't know what you're doing.

Thanks for your help.
 
dmpoole said:
Yeah if you want to break the law
Click to expand...

fadetoblack said:
Well done you just broke the law
Click to expand...

Wrong.

Read the gas laws.
http://www.hmso.gov.uk/si/si1998/19982451.htm

The regulations draw a distinction between doing gas work for nothing and doing it in return for payment (of any kind - not just money). If you are receiving payment you MUST be Gas Safe Registered, or the penalty can be a prison sentence. If you are NOT being rewarded in any way (e.g. DIY for yourself) then you need only be what the regulation describes as 'competent'.

There's nothing to say you can't work on your own equipment. If he was installing the boiler to the mains supply for the first time then yes he would be beyond his ability and be breaking the law. But this part had nothing to do with the gas supply.

The law isn't clear cut like you're suggesting.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom