Potterton boiler mystery...

[Santajosep]

Hello gang,

I'm here hoping for help and advice with a problem which has already outsmarted four plumbers...

We have installed a Potterton Gold Combi 28. It doesn't work. It'll fire up but dies pretty much as soon as the fan kicks in. Here's the strange part. We have another fully functioning Potterton Gold Combi 28, and we have removed every single removable part from the duff model and tested it in the one that works - gas valve, PCB, every sensor, even the whole burner has been taken out. They all work in the old model but not in the new one. Four different plumbers have looked at this bloody boiler, checked all the obvious and less obvious issues it might have and cannot find out why it won't work. For complicated reasons we cannot get Potterton out to look at it under guarantee (don't worry, it's legit, nothing dodgy), and we have run out of ideas.

At the moment it's looking like a brand new, £700+ plus boiler is going to have to be junked, and I just can't see how that can be possible. Does anyone have any helpful suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Last Plumber]

Are you Gas safe registered?

 

[Santajosep]

I'm not a plumber, I'm the house owner.

 

[Last Plumber]

You are supposed to be Registered to work on a gas appliance.

 

[rpm]

Is the house in Spain?

 

[Santajosep]

I'm not working on the appliance, plumbers are and yes they either are or have been gas safe registered. And yes, it is.

 

[Gasmk1]

a long shot but is it set up for the right gas

 

[Santajosep]

Yep

 

[Last Plumber]

When you say the boiler starts, how long does it run?

 

[Santajosep]

The boiler will stay lit for between 5-20 seconds before cutting out. One pattern noticed is that when it's being tested or checked, it starts off cutting out within about five seconds. Keep trying it and it will go up to 20 seconds eventually, but no longer than that.

 

[Last Plumber]

Polarity at the fused spur!
Have you checked that?
If not, check it before you do anything else.

 

[Harvest Fields]

The boiler will stay lit for between 5-20 seconds before cutting out. One pattern noticed is that when it's being tested or checked, it starts off cutting out within about five seconds. Keep trying it and it will go up to 20 seconds eventually, but no longer than that.

Unfortunately, as you are not gas registered. I myself will not be commenting. However I would be more then happy for you to fly me the wife and kids over for 2 weeks and I will have a look whilst I am there.

 

[Santajosep]

Polarity has been checked.

 

[Santajosep]

And there's no danger that I will be going anywhere near the bloody thing to try anything myself. The most I do is hiss at it from a distance.

 

[snowhead]

It's a certainty that the boiler would have worked when it left the factory new.
Whether it was capable of working when it arrived with you is not so certain.

So it fires, until it's produced products of combustion.
Or it fires until it's exhausted the available oxygen.

Did any of the "Plumbers" use an Analyser before they thought it would be a good idea to randomly swop parts?

Was there another boiler in the location before the Potterton was fitted?
Have you thought of fitting (or rather getting someone qualified to) the other boiler in the same location complete, instead of just bits of it?

 

[Santajosep]

Fitting the other boiler in its place is about the only thing left we can think of, but I was hoping for a simpler suggestion first! It's a new installation, so no other boiler has been used there. I wasn't there myself when the analyser was used but I've been told all was as it should be. And is there any need for the rather sarky quote marks - "plumbers"?

 

[SavageW]

Not hundred percent familiar with your boiler but after several times of it firing then dropping out does it display a fault code on the display at all e.g a flashing letter followed by a number ? I might be totally wrong an it might not have a display or show a fault code just was wondering as this could help narrow down

 

[snowhead]

And is there any need for the rather sarky quote marks - "plumbers"?

"Your interpretation".

Has anyone phoned the Potterton tech helpline?

 

[Last Plumber]

Are you sure polarity is right?
Who tested that?

 

[Santajosep]

It gives the fault code 133, which is supposed to mean a problem with the gas supply, but that's been tested and is apparently fine. Yes, we have spoken to Potterton but upon hearing the boiler is out of the country they will not speak to us - pretending it's in the UK doesn't help either because then they want to come and have a look at it, and of course they can't. I'm afraid I can't remember which one of them tested the polarity - hours have been spent on it already!

And there's no need for "plumbers" because I just want to make it clear that these aren't random people whose numbers I found in the Yellow Pages. I work in construction and am very familiar with their work, these are people who I have seen complete whole house installations, I have plenty of experience of their work and know it can be trusted.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Break down engys and install engys are totally different fields

Some people only do break downs I would try and find someone who specialises in break downs

 

[rpm]

Why would the boiler fault code be wrong (can it even happen guy`s?), Long shot but was there a time gap of days or weeks between taking the pressure reading and installing the boiler?

 

[Gotcha]

I know Potterton HE range (badged as Baxi and Main as well) inside out, as I fitted more than a good few and fixed about 4-5 of them). If it says E133, you can bet its telling you the truth, its not getting enough gas, Had a similar situation and had to call the gas provider, they sent a man in within the hour as he was nearby, changed the regulator on the meter and the boiler worked fine ever since. Nothing wrong with your boiler, stop swapping parts between them.

 

[townfanjon]

Gotcha’s post above ^^^^ to much info , public forum !!

 

[Santajosep]

I know Potterton HE range (badged as Baxi and Main as well) inside out, as I fitted more than a good few and fixed about 4-5 of them). If it says E133, you can bet its telling you the truth, its not getting enough gas, Had a similar situation and had to call the gas provider, they sent a man in within the hour as he was nearby, changed the regulator on the meter and the boiler worked fine ever since. Nothing wrong with your boiler, stop swapping parts between them.

That's exactly what I was hoping to hear, however the regulator was changed right at the start when that message appeared and the gas supply has been tested a number of times, always reading safely above minimum, and still no joy.

 

[king of pipes]

Shaun theres bit to much advice been posted on the open forum bud

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Shaun theres bit to much advice been posted on the open forum bud

ive been in two minds on this one mate, will keep an eye on it

 

[king of pipes]

What gas do they use in spain ? G20 probably not bet its bottled gas theres a clue maybe

 

[Santajosep]

The boiler is set up for propane, which is what we're using.

 

[king of pipes]

If it wont fire up and run how can it be set up? chances are thats the problem you need a engineer who knows their stuff not a part swaper cheers kop.

 

[Santajosep]

Er, it does fire up. I have said that it fires up.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Er, it does fire up. I have said that it fires up.

but then it goes out

 

[Santajosep]

Yep.

 

[king of pipes]

5 - to 20 seconds is no good get yourself a Gas engineer is my advice

 

[Harvest Fields]

5 - to 20 seconds is no good get yourself a Gas engineer is my advice

I already offered mate. But he didn't take me up on my offer.

 

[Santajosep]

Not a he