Forum Topic

Boiler repair

Our reasonably new Potterton boiler (about 4 years) keeps needing re-setting. The light should be green but it's red and I have to manually push the button to start it up....sometimes several times. I asked this question a few months back and someone was kind enough to tell me what part I needed to order (a board???) Would whoever it was be able to tell me again because the old boy lost the email and I am fed up resetting it all the time. Doesn't worry him because he works away all week .............thanks.............

Penny Crocker ● 6553d13 Comments

Hi Penny.Think it was me - Alan.You've got a Suprima 100 L - is the reset button round or square?How often do you have to reset?

Alan Brainsby ● 6553d

Hi Alan, thanksIt's a round button. Sometimes it will go a week without needing reset and sometimes 3/4 times a day !

Penny Crocker ● 6553d

I've had the same trouble with our Suprima.  Works for days then stop, stop, stop. I hope it's easily accessible.The PCB, about 9 years old, was replaced with the latest version 2007. Guess what? There are still lockouts! Less frequent but still occur. To say the least it's annoying. You are lucky that it does restart but given time...The most probable cause of lockout - red light - is the PCB(printed circuit board) behind the reset button. If it were gas valve failure, overheat, lack of airflow, and lots of other things, the the lockout would be much more regular, ie no start, 10/15/20 minutes after starting.This is known fault of Suprima boilers even ten years ago. There was even a BBC Watchdog programme about this problem.Just had a look on ebay - recommended price of new PCB about £220 - but can be got much cheaper, and probably a refurbished board is better than a new one. It's gone wrong and has been fixed.Give me a little time to scratch around and I'll see what I can come up with.(It's suggested that it is bad English to use a preposition to end a sentence with.)

Alan Brainsby ● 6553d

Well incorrect grammar aside, thank you very much for your help. This time Kevin Crocker will have to repair it !

Penny Crocker ● 6553d

It's quite simple to replace the board.Disconnect from mains supply.Pull off the boiler thermostat control knob.One screw to the left of the rest button to allow the control panel to fall forwards.About eight connectors to pull off or unclip.Four screws to remove the PCB.Reassemble.

Alan Brainsby ● 6553d

Alan, thank you very much.

Penny Crocker ● 6553d

Just wanted to let Alan know that we got a reconditioned part for  £68 (as opposed to £200 odd) and Kev fitted it really easily, as you said and we have heat and hot water ! Thanks very much for your advice..........

Penny Crocker ● 6540d

Hi Penny.Good saving and you'll probably find the reconditioned part is many times more reliable than than an original.Glad to have been of help.

Alan Brainsby ● 6540d

On the subject of boilers ... we have an old boiler still going strong thankfully, I thought - until I read somewhere that the new boilers save around £250 a year in energy costs.  Is this right?

Sarah Felstead ● 6537d

Perhaps. Maybe. Possibly. Definitely if your annual gas bill is £5 000 which it probably isn't. Apologies if you live in a nice W3 villa.Condensing boilers are said to be more efficient when they are condensing. However they are not condensing all the time they are on. Indeed they may never go into the condensing cycle.So where's the saving? And even if it's £250 a year for an average house the payback will take at least 4 years.If your existing boiler is working well don't bother to change it.

Alan Brainsby ● 6537d

Thanks!

Sarah Felstead ● 6537d

Please don't think my knowledge of boilers or whatever is necessarily extensive.It's primarily based on "can't or won't afford it".Secondly, if it ain't broke don't fix it! Except for maintenance and lubrication.Thirdly, if it is broken, is it fixable and how much? Sometimes total replacement is cheaper than repair, especially with electronics.

Alan Brainsby ● 6537d

Found this from the Daily Telegraph website today:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/propertyadvice/jeffhowell/5076784/DIY-advice-installing-a-wood-floor-and-replacing-a-gas-boiler.htmlHope it's of interest.

Alan Brainsby ● 6388d