Lighting a gas-fired Aga, now that summer's over

[David Wood]

We got a brand new gas-fired Aga four years ago (we were hormonally disturbed at the time, as half of us were pregnant). We still have a conventional cooker, which we use in the summer.

So far, I think one year it just started without trouble when time came to light it. As near as I can remember, last year we had to call the engineer, and it was suspiciously quick.

My wife tried this morning, and says that the process would start fine, but then after perhaps 15 minutes it goes out.

I'm loath to pay the buggers another huge whack for what is probably something really simple. Anyone have a clue what?

TIA,

David.

PS - I'm not trying to restart any flame wars - just the Aga itself. Cheers!

[Andy Hall]

It was a good choice, hormones or not..

Can't see why.

Start with the control on the starting setting and light the burner with the igniter. Wait about ten minutes and increase the control a little but not to full setting. Wait a further ten minutes and turn control to the running setting.

Has the burner been cleaned?

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[David Wood]

Andy,

Thanks for taking the time to respond.

Ignoring the responses to flame-bait, which was my fault for leaving it in there...

I think this is basically describes what she tried, but I'll be trying again this evening.

Undoubtedly not since the last time the engineer had to come in order to start the thing. Tell me more - how do I do the clean the burner?

Thanks!

David.

[Andy Hall]

You're welcome.

Cleaning the burner can be done yourself but the law says that you have to be competent to do gas fitting. For professionals that means CORGI membership - it doesn't say what defines competent for non-professionals. So.. you should at least take a look at Ed Sirett's gas fitting FAQ and then decide whether you feel competent to do the work including all the safety checks.

Cleaning is a matter of turning off the gas on the c*ck at the bottom, undoing the union immediately above where it meets the valve. Then the screws holding the burner plate in place are undone to remove the whole lot for cleaning. Reassembly is the reverse but it's important to use leak detector spray to test the joints.

The Aga is a simple device, with the most complex piece being the gas valve. The starting setting is there to give time for some warming up to prevent the flames lifting off of the burner and going out. It is possible that this is what is happening.

The other possibilities are that the flame failure or one of the other sensors has failed and the gas valve is shutting off the supply, or that there is a fault in the gas valve itself. If you haven't done this type of stuff before then I would call the dealer.

.andy

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