I have a british gas 532/i condensing combination boiler, when i switch it on the pilot light wont stay on and for the short time it is on the boiler has started to make a strange noise which stops as soon as the pilot light goes out then starts again when it relights please help me.

paul, January 2009

how do i reignite the burner on a rd 532 ??

mark, April 2012

Yup - had this same problem.
The 'sound' is a low-pitched rumbling/growling - a bit like a bum note on an oboe.

I simply poured the contents of a boiled kettle over the external, small diameter white plastic pipe (it should drain into a nearby drain) and haey presto, now the pilot light LED stays on after I've pressed the reset button and the boiler is functioning perfectly.

While you're fiddling with your boiler, take the time to check the water pressure - it should be between 1 and 2 bar.

The Kettle King!, December 2010

Brilliant, the answer above fixed my problem. Thanks

Paul G, December 2010

Your message is most helpful. Since 6:30am I have been shutting down and re-starting our 532i boiler and pressing the RESET button as it says on the LCD readout. Kept getting Fault Message AE. Which turns out to mean No Flame Detected. Iv'e had a look outside and there are 2 pipes from the boiler. One is obviously the condenser outlet (when the boilers working steam comes out of it)
the other looks like an overflow pipe. Both are covered in ice. So tomorrow I will try the Hair dryer technique from inside first. It seems to make sense that the pilot needs some air to ignite?

Tricky Coniston, January 2010

Hi Hannah

Thanks for your answer. You have just saved me a £165-00 British Gas callout and repair fee. Not only that but I would have had to wait till next Tuesday!!

The hot water to defrost the pipe worked a treat.

Regards FG

Fred, January 2010

Hi Paul,

Dont know if this is of any help at all, but I've had a few problems with the same model of boiler. Firstly it was making horrible noises and it was because the pressure bar wasnt on '1' due a little leak in the pipes somewhere. Check your pressure guage (dial on front)To get the pressure bar to 1 twist the little flat plastic underneath the boiler (its white and looks/feels like a cog/wheel) until you hear water flowing, when the pressure bar has returned to 1 it should work. Or, another problem I have just had this morning, is with my pilot light not turning on, I've just been told that the white pipe that goes from the boiler to the outside has frozen. If you go outside your house you should see the white plastic pipe, coming from the wall behind the boiler (into some drainpipes). Until this blockage has melted the pilot light will not work properly. My plumber suggested using a hairdryer or warm water to defrost the pipe, then when you turn it back on, the pilot light should work properly. There is no way I'm going out there with a hairdryer up a ladder in this weather so I'm going to hope it defrosts of its own accord soon! Hope any of these suggestions might be of help...

Hannah, January 2009