My boiler, a Glow-worm space saver F, has stopped working. Its normal
sequence of operation when starting up is that the flue extractor fan
starts running, then a spark electrode lights a pilot light which then
lights the main burner. However, now all that happens when you switch
it on is a clunk and a faint whirring sound (I'm not sure if this is
coming from the boiler itself or just water circulating from the water
pump). There doesn't seem to be any air blowing out from the flue and
there is no sparking at the pilot light. Does anyone here have any idea
what might have gone wrong and how to fix it?

"Christian McArdle" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:43e0dc4b$0$274$(E-Mail Removed).. .
>> My boiler, a Glow-worm space saver F, has stopped working. Its normal
>> sequence of operation when starting up is that the flue extractor fan
>> starts running, then a spark electrode lights a pilot light which then
>> lights the main burner. However, now all that happens when you switch
>> it on is a clunk and a faint whirring sound (I'm not sure if this is
>> coming from the boiler itself or just water circulating from the water
>> pump). There doesn't seem to be any air blowing out from the flue and
>> there is no sparking at the pilot light. Does anyone here have any idea
>> what might have gone wrong and how to fix it?
>
> Well, you say the first element in the sequence is the fan starting. There
> will be various fail-safe mechanisms that abort the lighting sequence if
> the
> fan fails.
>
> So perhaps the fan is not starting for a reason. Either it is broken, or
> the
> cable to it is, or the PCB is knackered.
>
> There may be other failsafe devices, too. Perhaps the first step is really
> to start the water flow and only to proceed when flow is detected. I don't
> know enough about the boiler. Hopefully Ed Sirrett or raden will be along
> soon with the actual sequence or most likely failure mode for this boiler.
>
> Christian.
>
>
>

If the fan doesn't get up to speed, the air pressure switch won't click over
and nothing else will work. you could try lubricating the fan assembly,
else replace it. If the fan is getting up to speed, your air pressure
switch may be faulty.

Angus

On Wed, 01 Feb 2006 16:05:32 +0000, Christian McArdle wrote:

>> My boiler, a Glow-worm space saver F, has stopped working. Its normal
>> sequence of operation when starting up is that the flue extractor fan
>> starts running, then a spark electrode lights a pilot light which then
>> lights the main burner. However, now all that happens when you switch
>> it on is a clunk and a faint whirring sound (I'm not sure if this is
>> coming from the boiler itself or just water circulating from the water
>> pump). There doesn't seem to be any air blowing out from the flue and
>> there is no sparking at the pilot light. Does anyone here have any idea
>> what might have gone wrong and how to fix it?
>
> Well, you say the first element in the sequence is the fan starting. There
> will be various fail-safe mechanisms that abort the lighting sequence if the
> fan fails.
>
> So perhaps the fan is not starting for a reason. Either it is broken, or the
> cable to it is, or the PCB is knackered.
>
> There may be other failsafe devices, too. Perhaps the first step is really
> to start the water flow and only to proceed when flow is detected. I don't
> know enough about the boiler. Hopefully Ed Sirrett or raden will be along
> soon with the actual sequence or most likely failure mode for this boiler.
>
I've only met a couple of these boilers. However if the fan is not running
then the acid test is to see if it's getting any power.

I have no reason to doubt raden's belief that these boilers have
troublesome fans.


--
Ed Sirett - Property maintainer and registered gas fitter.
The FAQ for uk.diy is at http://www.diyfaq.org.uk
Gas fitting FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/GasFitting.html
Sealed CH FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/SealedCH.html
Choosing a Boiler FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/BoilerChoice.html

<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) oups.com...
> My boiler, a Glow-worm space saver F, has stopped working. Its normal
> sequence of operation when starting up is that the flue extractor fan
> starts running, then a spark electrode lights a pilot light which then
> lights the main burner. However, now all that happens when you switch
> it on is a clunk and a faint whirring sound (I'm not sure if this is
> coming from the boiler itself or just water circulating from the water
> pump). There doesn't seem to be any air blowing out from the flue and
> there is no sparking at the pilot light. Does anyone here have any idea
> what might have gone wrong and how to fix it?
>
The clunk could te easily be the fan having failed bearings and instead of
spinning the magnetic field drags the rotor sideways onto the stator.
If you are competent open up the dasing and watch what happens.
If the fan is at fault try Geoff at CET

In message <43e0dc4b$0$274$(E-Mail Removed)>, Christian
McArdle <(E-Mail Removed)> writes
>> My boiler, a Glow-worm space saver F, has stopped working. Its normal
>> sequence of operation when starting up is that the flue extractor fan
>> starts running, then a spark electrode lights a pilot light which then
>> lights the main burner. However, now all that happens when you switch
>> it on is a clunk and a faint whirring sound (I'm not sure if this is
>> coming from the boiler itself or just water circulating from the water
>> pump). There doesn't seem to be any air blowing out from the flue and
>> there is no sparking at the pilot light. Does anyone here have any idea
>> what might have gone wrong and how to fix it?
>
>Well, you say the first element in the sequence is the fan starting. There
>will be various fail-safe mechanisms that abort the lighting sequence if the
>fan fails.
>
>So perhaps the fan is not starting for a reason. Either it is broken, or the
>cable to it is, or the PCB is knackered.
>
>There may be other failsafe devices, too. Perhaps the first step is really
>to start the water flow and only to proceed when flow is detected. I don't
>know enough about the boiler. Hopefully Ed Sirrett or raden will be along
>soon with the actual sequence or most likely failure mode for this boiler.
>
Well, a bit more info would have been useful. It sounds like all that is
happening is that the pump is probably running and the fan isn't. Given
that baseline ...

Diagnostics would require a DVM and carried out in the following order
and can all be performed at or near the pcb

1/ Is there 240V between the live and neutral on the PCB (Blue and brown
flying leads)

2/ Is the overheat stat open circuit as measured at the pcb (yellow and
white flying leads

3/ Are there volts to the Fan ? (connector which plugs into the pcb




--
geoff

<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) oups.com...
> My boiler, a Glow-worm space saver F, has stopped working. Its normal
> sequence of operation when starting up is that the flue extractor fan
> starts running, then a spark electrode lights a pilot light which then
> lights the main burner. However, now all that happens when you switch
> it on is a clunk and a faint whirring sound (I'm not sure if this is
> coming from the boiler itself or just water circulating from the water
> pump). There doesn't seem to be any air blowing out from the flue and
> there is no sparking at the pilot light. Does anyone here have any idea
> what might have gone wrong and how to fix it?
>

===============
The 'whirring' sound which you describe might be the fan working normally
(despite the fact that there is apparently no air blowing out). The tubes
from the fan to the air switch have a tendency to block up (only about 3mm
ID). If this happens the light-up procedure fails. If you are confident
enough open the boiler, disconnect the air tubes and check that they're
clear of obstruction.

Cic.

In message <(E-Mail Removed) .uk>, Ed
Sirett <(E-Mail Removed)> writes
>On Wed, 01 Feb 2006 16:05:32 +0000, Christian McArdle wrote:
>
>>> My boiler, a Glow-worm space saver F, has stopped working. Its normal
>>> sequence of operation when starting up is that the flue extractor fan
>>> starts running, then a spark electrode lights a pilot light which then
>>> lights the main burner. However, now all that happens when you switch
>>> it on is a clunk and a faint whirring sound (I'm not sure if this is
>>> coming from the boiler itself or just water circulating from the water
>>> pump). There doesn't seem to be any air blowing out from the flue and
>>> there is no sparking at the pilot light. Does anyone here have any idea
>>> what might have gone wrong and how to fix it?
>>
>> Well, you say the first element in the sequence is the fan starting. There
>> will be various fail-safe mechanisms that abort the lighting sequence if the
>> fan fails.
>>
>> So perhaps the fan is not starting for a reason. Either it is broken, or the
>> cable to it is, or the PCB is knackered.
>>
>> There may be other failsafe devices, too. Perhaps the first step is really
>> to start the water flow and only to proceed when flow is detected. I don't
>> know enough about the boiler. Hopefully Ed Sirrett or raden will be along
>> soon with the actual sequence or most likely failure mode for this boiler.
>>
>I've only met a couple of these boilers. However if the fan is not running
>then the acid test is to see if it's getting any power.
>
>I have no reason to doubt raden's belief that these boilers have
>troublesome fans.
>
No, that's Fuelsavers, the Spacesaver has a completely different fan

--
geoff

On Wed, 01 Feb 2006 23:51:49 +0000, raden wrote:

> In message <(E-Mail Removed) .uk>, Ed
> Sirett <(E-Mail Removed)> writes
>>On Wed, 01 Feb 2006 16:05:32 +0000, Christian McArdle wrote:
>>
>>>> My boiler, a Glow-worm space saver F, has stopped working. Its normal
>>>> sequence of operation when starting up is that the flue extractor fan
>>>> starts running, then a spark electrode lights a pilot light which then
>>>> lights the main burner. However, now all that happens when you switch
>>>> it on is a clunk and a faint whirring sound (I'm not sure if this is
>>>> coming from the boiler itself or just water circulating from the water
>>>> pump). There doesn't seem to be any air blowing out from the flue and
>>>> there is no sparking at the pilot light. Does anyone here have any idea
>>>> what might have gone wrong and how to fix it?
>>>
>>> Well, you say the first element in the sequence is the fan starting. There
>>> will be various fail-safe mechanisms that abort the lighting sequence if the
>>> fan fails.
>>>
>>> So perhaps the fan is not starting for a reason. Either it is broken, or the
>>> cable to it is, or the PCB is knackered.
>>>
>>> There may be other failsafe devices, too. Perhaps the first step is really
>>> to start the water flow and only to proceed when flow is detected. I don't
>>> know enough about the boiler. Hopefully Ed Sirrett or raden will be along
>>> soon with the actual sequence or most likely failure mode for this boiler.
>>>
>>I've only met a couple of these boilers. However if the fan is not running
>>then the acid test is to see if it's getting any power.
>>
>>I have no reason to doubt raden's belief that these boilers have
>>troublesome fans.
>>
> No, that's Fuelsavers, the Spacesaver has a completely different fan

.... if any fan at all.



--
Ed Sirett - Property maintainer and registered gas fitter.
The FAQ for uk.diy is at http://www.diyfaq.org.uk
Gas fitting FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/GasFitting.html
Sealed CH FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/SealedCH.html
Choosing a Boiler FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/BoilerChoice.html

In message <(E-Mail Removed) .uk>, Ed
Sirett <(E-Mail Removed)> writes
>>>
>>>I have no reason to doubt raden's belief that these boilers have
>>>troublesome fans.
>>>
>> No, that's Fuelsavers, the Spacesaver has a completely different fan
>
>... if any fan at all.
>
Well, yes

From where I stand, If I know there's a Fuelsaver fan, I don't
necessarily know that there's a version without a fan

--
geoff

It turned out the fan was jammed. Thanks for your help everyone.

Hugh