Ideal Concord WRS boiler not firing

[cj]

Hi all,

I have an Idea Concord WRS boiler (230A).

Last week I removed a radiator for decorating and on the same day paid a guy (corgu regerstered) to come round and remove the feed to an old gas fire. He obvioulsy turned the gas supply off which would have killed the supply to the boiler as well.

After he has gone I realised that I would need to re-light the boiler. After quite a few attempts I finanally manged to light the pilot light. However the boiler will now not fire. The thermostat is turned up high, hot water and heating turned on and rotary knob on boiler is set to 6. All you can hear is a very quiet sound like a pump (maybe). The pilot light stays on but boiler just won't fire.

Any ideas? Maybe by turning off the gas supply without first turning off the boiler has activated some sort of safety shut off valve? I'm in the dark because I don't have any instructions for it. I would really apreciate some help because I don't want to pay for a plumber unless I really have to. I even put the radiator back on to make sure this wasn't the problem but obviously this made no difference.

Cheers,

Chris

[Geo]

Thought the experts would have been here by now but perhaps there's something good on tele. So meanwhile...

The instructions don't tell you much anyway. The boiler has no fancy cut-outs so it must be a pretty basic fault. It has a standard thermocouple just above the pilot light - this might need replacing but I would not have expected its expiry to coincide with removal of the gas supply. Otherwise there is the gas valve whose coil can go open circuit but again nothing to do with your maintenance. On my WRS240A the mains supply is an IEC connector plugging in to the left of the temperature dial. You could pull this out and check for a supply present when your timer/thermostat etc is calling for heat.

Geo

[The Simpsons]

My Concord is the 255, possibly similar. As you had trouble lighting the pilot, could it be that you need to turn the pilot up to have enough heat for the pilot failure device to function. I adjust the pilot by means of a sunken grub screw at the bottom of the igniter panel. OTH, when I had my boiler moved some years ago it failed after the reinstallation, although it had worked perfectly before, this required a new part. Seems these things fail when they've been turned off for whatever reason. Like a light bulb they fail as you turn them on. Don't think you can blame the plumber for this.

Fred

[Tony Bryer]

It must be OK (perhaps starting to show signs of age) as the OP said that once he'd got the pilot to light it stays alight. Otherwise if it's the same model as I once had, there's just a thermostat and gas valve.

[Geo]

Duh! - You're right of course - too late at night for me...

Geo

[Ed Sirett]

On some older gas valves there are distinct position for pilot lighting and for running (when the pilot has been lit). You may need to turn the valve from the "pilot" position to the "on" setting. Slightly less older boilers often have pilot valves without this 'feature'.

[cj]

here:

Hide quoted text -

Thanks for all your replies. I had to get a plumber out in the end and it needed a new Gas valve. Total cost 90quid. I think I'm gona have to get a new boiler at some point soon, this one can't be very economical! Anyway at least at the moment I can relax in a nice warm bath!

[Geo]

Nah - it will probably still work in 20 years...

Geo

[Ed Sirett]

Indeed so! burning many times it's cost in wasted energy going straight out/up the flue.

[Plumberplumb]

replying to Geo, Plumberplumb wrote: ?Thought the experts would have been here by now but perhaps there's something good on tele.? You do know plumbers don?t just sit on their arses all day at home until a phone call comes through. There are other jobs to be done and more important ones at that. You?re not the number 1 priority so get over yourself

[Rob Morley]

Of course if you'd responded ten years ago you wouldn't look as foolish as you do now.