Frequently Asked Questions

Q. My boiler isn’t working – there is zero pressure showing on the gauge.
Q. My pressure gauge is over 3 bar and rises when starts – is this normal?
Q. My oil boiler fails during cold weather and I can’t restart it too easily.
Q. My Oxy-safe gas fire won’t always light.
Q. My gas cooker oven starts up goes to high flame and then drops to minimum
setting even though I have got the thermostat knob set high.
Q. My gas cooker oven stays on high flame and has incinerated a casserole,
even though I turned the thermostat dial to low position.

Q. My boiler isn’t working – there is zero pressure showing on the gauge.

A. It could just be that there isn't any water or enough in the system.
There could have been a drain down or a radiator taken out previously
if you have just moved in or there could be a leak on the system somewhere.
You need to first refill the system - a combi has a filling key to do this
where the charging link assembly is - we can supply if you don't possess one.
A typical combi is a Worcester 24i which is detailed below – for particular
boilers refer to you handbook.
You remove the bottom panel to gain access to the filling loop assy.
The grey knob is supplied with the boiler in the hardware pack, insert the
bayonet end of the key into the corresponding cutouts in the filling loop
housing and twist to lock the key in place.
Turn the grey knob clockwise to stop filling and remove the filling key by
lining up the bayonet end of the key with the cutouts in the filling loop
housing and withdrawing the key.
The key has to be removed from the filling loop housing after the system
has been filled to prevent accidental filling and to comply with Byelaw 14
of the Water Byelaws Scheme.
Store the key in a safe place and replace the bottom panel.
If the boiler still doesn’t hold any pressure see below.

Q. My pressure gauge is over 3 bar and rises when starts – is this normal?

A. It could be that your pressure relief valve is faulty - if you place a balloon or
similar over the discharge pipe (outside the building) and after a few hours
/days it fills with water then it is that part.
It could also be that the expansion vessel has failed - if water is coming out
of the pressure (schraeder) valve on the vessel it is faulty – this looks like a
car tyre valve - there should be a maximum of 0.5 bar charge in the vessel.

Q. My oil boiler fails during cold weather and I can’t restart it too easily.

A. In cold weather oil 'waxes' and becomes thicker (higher viscosity) - with
pressure jet equipment this is not normally a problem. On gravity systems
it is a problem (with float control valves). In cooler months oil companies
put an additive in to help prevent waxing up. You are advised to ask your
oil supplier if they can do this.
Also you should increase the pipe size from your oil tank to the appliance
-this may help.
Changing the oil filter elements every six months could also help - we
stock all different types and sizes.

Q. My Oxy-safe gas fire won’t always light.

A. It is likely that the oxy pilot assembly is blocked or the magnetic unit in the
gas valve is faulty.
Firstly - get a vacuum cleaner, (check that nothing can be sucked up)
switch on the vacuum and apply to the pilot assembly for a few moments
then repeat - (the best way is to make the suction more powerful by partially
placing your finger over the nozzle) - if this doesn't cure it use AIR DUSTER
- we stock it for about £5 a tin - if this doesn't work you need an engineer to
establish whether the oxy pilot, the magnetic unit or the complete tap
assembly has failed.
Never attempt to break any gas lines unless Corgi registered and under
no circumstances work on a gas fire that is not cooled down sufficiently.

PS - if you do need an oxy pilot we can supply if you get the NG reference
off the shoulder of it or give details from the fire.

Q. My gas cooker oven starts up goes to high flame and then drops to minimum
setting even though I have got the thermostat knob set high.

A. This is probably going to be a fault on the Flame Failure Device (FFD) –
very common – the sensor end of the FFD could be out of position also -
if you give as many details from the cooker we may be able to supply from
stock – you will need a Corgi registered engineer to do the work though.

Q. My gas cooker oven stays on high flame and has incinerated a casserole,
even though I turned the thermostat dial to low position.

A. The thermostat will most likely be at fault for this cooking disaster – though
I’ve never tasted one of your casseroles! Just make sure the sensor for the
oven is in place first though. If you give as many details from the cooker we
may be able to supply from stock – you will need a Corgi registered engineer
to do the work though.

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