Frequent shutdown of the gas boiler can be triggered by a number of problems that should be eliminated. Otherwise, the equipment will quickly fail and costly repairs will be required. Consider two situations where the boiler simply turns on and off frequently (clocking) and the problem with attenuation immediately after switching on. There are many reasons, which, moreover, are not related to a breakdown, but require correction of the boiler.
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Gas boiler clocking: causes and solutions
The concept of "clocking" is understood as the frequent switching on and instantaneous shutdown of the boiler, which in fact does not fulfill the main task of gas equipment for heating the coolant. Such a “symptom”, if not eliminated, will provoke serious breakdowns, followed by costly repairs.
Why is this happening?
So, you approached the boiler and noticed that it starts up as expected (the torch fires), it takes just a few seconds and it immediately turns off. After a few seconds, the situation repeats itself.
The first and most harmless problem in terms of maintenance is incorrectly installed power with a small length of the heating system. Let's look at an example: your boiler is at 55℃, and the pump is set to maximum values.
In a closed system, only 2 radiators function, and outside the window is a positive temperature. What we have: the return pumped from the system returns to the heat exchanger, where, due to the temperature difference, the torch should automatically work and the boiler will light up in order to eliminate this difference by heating.
Also, the problem of frequent switching on and instant shutdown can be caused by such reasons:
Insufficient pressure gas in the system - the boiler automatically goes out, because the required volume of gas is not released at the set power.- Pump failure - the unit either does not pump water at all, or pumps it so fast that it does not have time to go through all the stages from heating to heat transfer to the batteries.
- Boiler overheating – the manufacturer has set the recommended limits for the safe operation of the boiler. If the temperature is above normal, an emergency shutdown may be triggered. This will happen exactly until the boiler cools down.
- Thermostat malfunctions - this device can fail due to sudden changes in mains voltage, which leads to distortion of the received data and the supply of a false signal to the central board about the need for a quick shutdown.
Impulse shutdown, which alternates with the inclusion of gas equipment, pretty depletes the combustion chamber and the working elements in it.Sooner or later, problems will begin with the burner, which tends to fail suddenly, when nothing portends trouble.
What to do?
The first thing to do is to correctly set the power of the boiler and pump. If these are the minimum values, then it is enough to set the pump to medium speed. When the water temperature is over 45℃, you can add speed.
It is important to set the power correctly
The sequence of actions is as follows:
- Turn off the boiler completely, let it cool down for 10-20 minutes.
- Light it up using minimum temperatures.
- Adjust the pump.
- Rate the result.
If the problem recurs, but not so often, the thermostat will save you. This device monitors the return temperature and starts the boiler forcibly only if its temperature is below the manually set temperature. The thermostat is good in every respect: it saves gas, the boiler saves, and the pump does not overheat.
The boiler immediately goes out after ignition: causes and remedies
If you lit the boiler (this does not always work the first time) and it went out after a few seconds, then there are many more reasons for this. It is especially dangerous when the boiler goes out due to the operation of automation, while the gas supply does not stop.
Why is this happening?
There are several reasons for this:
- Clogged chimney - more often the problem occurs in private homes where powerful boilers are installed. If there is soot and other blockages in the chimney, then the draft is disturbed and the boiler is instantly switched off in emergency mode.
- Thermocouple does not work - pollution can be in the hood, especially in winter, when the steam coming out of it quickly condenses and settles on the walls in the form of a dense crust of ice.The thermocouple may fail if the boiler is often used at maximum power.
- Igniter contaminants - the boiler turns on literally for a second and immediately goes out, there is no flame in the burner, and re-ignition is not crowned with success. This happens if the boiler is used extremely rarely, for example in the country.
- Failure of the gas pressure valve - its emergency operation for no apparent reason leads to a cessation of the gas supply to the burner, respectively, the boiler immediately goes out.
If the pressure valve and the igniter are faulty, then after turning on the boiler, there is a high probability of developing a gas leak. Always check the serviceability of gas equipment before starting its active use.
What can be done?
Troubleshooting in this case is the prerogative of specialists. It is strictly forbidden to independently open gas equipment, carry out an audit and repair. This should only be done by a master who has permission.
You can only check the blockage yourself by shining a flashlight on the hood. Further actions are aimed at cleaning the nozzle, assessing the performance of the igniter and monitoring the operation of the thermocouple. Be sure to check the correctness of the pressure valve.
Prevention measures
Breakdowns of gas equipment happen to everyone, it is impossible to insure against this.
However, there are a number of ways to reduce the risk of breakdowns:
- Scheduled diagnostics of gas equipment before the start of the heating season - the specialist will conduct an audit, make a test run and tell you about all the nuances of this boiler.
- Selection of the correct mode of operation of the boiler and pump.
- Periodic cleaning of all elements of the combustion chamber is carried out only by the master.
Questions and answers
It is better to call the gas service, since the red light indicates a massive breakdown, which blocks the further use of the boiler in emergency mode.
Installing a deflector will help you, which prevents air masses from entering the chimney and levels the formation of reverse draft. The device is simple but very effective.
This pattern is typical for the operation of the gas valve and the automatic shutdown of the gas supply to the burner. It is necessary to call the master, who will revise all the elements involved in the ignition.
Summing up, it is important to note that turning off the gas boiler has many reasons, which cannot be identified and eliminated on your own. It is best and safest to call the masters who will quickly solve any problem. It is not recommended to open the boiler on your own, inspect its parts and make repairs that may be unsafe for the further use of gas equipment.
Video review of the reason why the gas boiler starts and goes out
When you turn on the boiler, so that it starts to heat the water in the pipes, you need to set the temperature to almost the maximum. At the same time, gradually adding power. But if you turn on the maximum temperature, it turns off. In a word, it does not heat at a minimum, it turns off at a maximum. It takes about 2 hours to turn on.