I have an Ariston Genus combi boiler and the pilot light has gone out, and there is no pressure in the system (zero reading on boiler display). How can I refill the boiler to increase the pressure and how do I relight the pilot light?

Donna Reed, January 2005

You need to find the filler loop this will either be a flexible steel hose from a cold water pipe to a heating pipe or it may be an integral part of the boiler , this will have a lever on it . open it and the pressure guauge will rise . set it to about 1 bar , bleed any radiators then check the guauge again, does the boiler have a permenant pilot light or is it self lighting ? also check any reset buttons .

Steve, January 2005

Not sure, but I can make a guess.

May be the pressure is zero, because the boiler is off - this may go up once you get the pilot light.
Most boilers have a piezo ignition for the pilot - somewhere (possibly behind an accessible cover-plate) will be a knob or knob and press-switch. On some, you turn the knob (or press and turn), hold for about 30 seconds, press (or press the seperate switch/button) and the pilot should light - BUT you must keep the knob held or turned for 15 or 30 seconds to let the heat from the pilot warm the thermocouple or the boiler will think that it's blown out and will extinguish the pilot.
If this doesn't work you may have a faulty thermocouple.

Hope this helps (but I may be down the wrong street)!

J, January 2005