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Repair and TROUBLE SHOOTING

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BOILER REPAIR SPECIALISTS
most boiler parts carried on van if not same day repair
we will see what the problem is and give you a no obligation price to repair your boiler including parts if required

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Toilet, Opening & Closing Lid

We carry out all repairs, big or small
  • Hot and Cold water
  • Central heating
  • Boiler repairs
  • Fires
  • Drains
  • Guttering

NO CALL OUT CHARGE during working hours
charge rate 8.30am to 5.00pm
FIRST HOUR £30 every hour after £25

TROUBLE SHOOTING
, tips on how to sort out common faults
The most common fault is having bled a radiator the pressure on a combi system will drop causing the boiler to lock out below is how to top up your boiler with pressure
Dont forget to try pressing RESET button if it is flashing

TOPPING PRESSURE UP

RELEVANT INFORMATION AFTER BOILER IS FITTED IF YOU CHOOSE PRO PLUMB

If you vent a radiator or remove one for decorating the below information you will find helpful

We will have either a charging key system or a filling loop system

PLEASE CLICK LINK BELOW TO DOWNLOAD HOW TO TOP UP BOILER

CLICK HERE download pdf of how to top your combi up

RED/BLUE LIGHT FLASHING and COLD WEATHER OUTSIDE

During periods of very cold weather, we occasionally receive enquiries from customers whose boilers’ do not appear to be working.

Sometimes this is to do with the condensate discharge pipe freezing and preventing the boiler from operating.

The following information will assist you in identifying whether you have such an issue with your boiler and what should be done about it.

How can I tell if the boiler’s condense trap/discharge pipe has frozen?


Step 1 It’s possible that your boiler’s condense trap/discharge pipe has frozen if all 3 of these statements are correct:

  • your boiler is a Greenstar gas boiler, or a 28i
  • the outside temperature is or has been below freezing
  • your boiler is displaying either an EA fault code, a D5 code or is displaying a flashing blue light (for 28i boilers you may see a flashing red light instead)

Step 2 If all 3 statements are true, you should now try to reset your boiler. This can be done by holding in the ‘reset’ button (this can be found on the boiler control panel) for 10 seconds. Once you have released the button you should wait 2 to 3 minutes to see if the boiler refires.

Step 3 If the boiler does not refire and it is emitting a gurgling sound, then it is almost certain that your condense is frozen. If you cannot hear a gurgling noise you should still proceed to check your condense pipe.

Step 4 The condensate pipe will be a plastic pipe (black, white or grey), coming from the bottom of your boiler. If this pipe is less than 32mm in diameter and runs outside of the property or through a non-heated area then it should be fully insulated with waterproof lagging. If it is not fully lagged and the 3 criteria (in step 1 above) apply then it is likely that it is frozen and needs to be thawed.

How can the condensate pipe be thawed?

To thaw a condesate pipe do the following, however, you should exercise extreme caution at all times when attempting to identify and thaw a condensate pipe.

  • Boiling water poured over the pipe, starting at point near the drain, you will know when it is thawed because you will get running water/ice out of the condensate pipe
  • A hot water bottle or heat wrap (like the ones that can be used to ease muscle discomfort) would be a suitable and safe way of thawing the condense pipe. Hold the hot water bottle or warmed heat wrap around the condensate pipe to thaw it.
  • Once thawed, the boiler must be reset. This can be done by holding the reset button in for 10 seconds and then waiting 2 to 3 minutes for the boiler to refire.

More questions and answers about freezing condensate pipes

What does the flashing EA code/blue slow flashing light mean?

There are various reasons that your boiler may display these codes or lights. They do not necessarily mean your boiler is faulty. A frozen condensate trap or discharge pipe could cause these codes - refer to the steps above to check.

What is a condensate trap/discharge pipe?

The Greenstar range of gas and oil boilers dispose of their condensate by means of a syphonic trap, which discharges a given quantity of condensate fluid at a time to the properties drainage system/pipe work.

The syphonic trap is important because if the condense fluid were allowed to drip continuously to the drain at the rate it was being produced, then there would be an increased risk of any externally run condense discharge pipe freezing.

Why might the condense trap/discharge pipe freeze?

Despite the syphonic trap flushing method, when the outside temperature is below freezing for a prolonged period of time, externally run discharge pipes, or discharge pipes that are run through a cold area of your property may freeze

What will happen if my condense trap/discharge pipe has frozen?

The result of this would be the inability of the condensate to drain away, which would lead to the ‘backing up’ of the condense, which in turn will cause the boiler to fail and go to ‘lockout’.

If this happens for a gas boiler, then the boiler will likely be showing an EA fault code, or alternatively it will show a flashing blue light and the boiler may be emitting a gurgling sound.

What is ‘condensate’?

Condensate is moisture gathered from the boiler’s flue and allowed to run back through the boiler to a collection point.

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Store/Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8am -5pm