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what could be the fault my potterton boiler just stopped heating?

potterton boiler mk 11F netaheat 10-16 just stopped heating no hot water and the radiators not heating up what could be the fault?
charles, January 2009
Follow the steps:

1. Is fan working (it is normally the first 'noise' when it first switches on)?

2. If 'yes', Does the solenoid valve click on? (second noisy 'click' after fan has been running a few seconds)

3. If yes, Can you hear the 'ticking' of the ignition unit? (on the Mk1 Neataheat [guess this might be yours?] the ignition unit stays on, and 'ticks' (sparks) continuosly while boiler is firing).

4. If yes, Does the pilot flame ignite? (look thro the little glass spyhole for a single small blue flame).

5. If yes, and the boiler doesn't fire up, it is likely to be the dreaded 'gas valve' - as alluded to in the last post. Its official description is Mercury Vapour valve - Potterton part no 404451. Officially now obsolete, if your lucky to find a supplier with one, it will cost anything up to £300. But search locally and you might get it for around £100.

If answers to Q1 thro 4 are 'No' you will have to problem solve each stage yourself eg if Q1 the fan's not coming on, it might even be a simple blown fuse.

Algynon, February 2009
Can you hear the fan running as this makes a pressure switch which in turn opens a relay to start the ignition sequence.Hope its not the gasvalve as these are expensive if you can get hold of one.

Tony S, January 2009
link Click here to see other fixes for Potterton.