Mike Reed
pfm Member
Our 35+ (???) y.o. Potterton Netaheat 10-16 II failed to ignite on Sunday morning. It has been utterly reliable for the 20 years we've been here. Unfortunately and Sod's law, our plumber is away today for a 10 day hol., but he thinks, from my investigations, that it might be the gas valve/solenoids etc.
When I dropped the panel on Sunday, I noticed that there was no electricity getting through to the boiler, despite all good at the plug. On Tuesday morning I substituted a made-up lead and there was juice showing on all contacts and fuse. I only have a neon tester but it was clear that there had been a break in the very old lead. Coincidence or caused by sth internal, I know not.
However, the fan comes on upon switch-on, regardless of the timer and on/off position; not sure why unless it defaulted to the on position from Sunday morning and has become inoperative. After a few sec's it clicks once, though I can't see a pilot light, but nothing happens after that. Previously, it was the same procedure but fired up within 5 or so sec's.
I've spent some time reading up on this boiler and faults experienced by others (though from 2007/8/9 !). Have I missed anything obvious (I don't have meters or expertise) ?
I've no problems about getting a new boiler because my system needs flushing, new TRVs etc and was thinking about this for the spring/summer (not Jan./Feb.!). However, as it now looks like many weeks of around 15 degrees in occupied rooms and moving heaters about, I wonder if there's sth I can do or have missed. The 18 y.o. immersion heater works, amazingly (it has never been used), but hot water is quite limited; because, I think, the top-mounted immersion only heats the top of the big cylinder and the airing cupboard just ain't one any more.
Sorry; long text but wanted to give all info. Help/advice from the pfm plumbing fraternity and other informed fishies would warm my 81 y.o. bones.
. (My wife, Eskimo Nell, is a lot younger and quite content with the upheaval with a radiant heater in front of her.
When I dropped the panel on Sunday, I noticed that there was no electricity getting through to the boiler, despite all good at the plug. On Tuesday morning I substituted a made-up lead and there was juice showing on all contacts and fuse. I only have a neon tester but it was clear that there had been a break in the very old lead. Coincidence or caused by sth internal, I know not.
However, the fan comes on upon switch-on, regardless of the timer and on/off position; not sure why unless it defaulted to the on position from Sunday morning and has become inoperative. After a few sec's it clicks once, though I can't see a pilot light, but nothing happens after that. Previously, it was the same procedure but fired up within 5 or so sec's.
I've spent some time reading up on this boiler and faults experienced by others (though from 2007/8/9 !). Have I missed anything obvious (I don't have meters or expertise) ?
I've no problems about getting a new boiler because my system needs flushing, new TRVs etc and was thinking about this for the spring/summer (not Jan./Feb.!). However, as it now looks like many weeks of around 15 degrees in occupied rooms and moving heaters about, I wonder if there's sth I can do or have missed. The 18 y.o. immersion heater works, amazingly (it has never been used), but hot water is quite limited; because, I think, the top-mounted immersion only heats the top of the big cylinder and the airing cupboard just ain't one any more.
Sorry; long text but wanted to give all info. Help/advice from the pfm plumbing fraternity and other informed fishies would warm my 81 y.o. bones.
. (My wife, Eskimo Nell, is a lot younger and quite content with the upheaval with a radiant heater in front of her.
