I have a Netaheat Profile 50 boiler, which was working fine until recently. It's had various new parts over the years, including a new fan last year. The hot water comes on at the programmed time, but the pilot light fails to ignite. I can light the pilot light by clicking on the reset button on the underside of the boiler, but it only stays on for a couple of minutes, therefore I have no hot water.

A related - but less urgent - problem is that, before the hot water stopped working, the central heating would come on when the water was heating, even though it was switched off (I turn it off completely from April to October). I believe that this may be a problem with the valve next to the cylinder. I only mention it in case it's related to the hot water problem.

I'm hoping there's a simple solution, as I'm unemployed (credit crunch victim) and can't afford to call out a plumber/heating engineer. Thanks for any suggestions.

P.S. I have bled all the radiators and checked thermostat settings etc., just in case.

Little Bear, July 2009

Hi (seco services) - thanks for your suggestions.
I've tried with the heating on and there's no difference. I have to press the reset button on the boiler to start the pilot light, which then only stays on for a couple of minutes. The heating doesn't come on either.

When you say it sounds like a circulation problem and to check the pump, do you think that the pump might need replacing? There are two pumps next to the cylinder - a large black hi-flow pump and a smaller blue pump attached to the 3-port valve, which gets very hot when the hot water is on (I assume this the hot water pump - excuse my ignorance). I’ve never had a cold water pump. When I turn the hot water tap on I don’t think the pump is coming on, although there is a pumping noise when the timer comes on to heat the hot water.

What new parts do you think I might need and are we talking squillions? I can do without any heating for another couple of months, but I need to get the hot water working again.

Many thanks.

Little Bear, July 2009

your heating coming on with the water is more likely the 3 port valve passing when hw on only.

your hw call live comes from the cyl stat not the valve.
try the heating on.

if the boiler has to keep being reset sounds like you have a circulation problem.
check the pump is running.

seco services., July 2009