Central Heating Sludge

[bryncar]

The pilot light on my boiler keeps going out, usually at night. We are not getting a constant temperature on the hot water from taps or shower. The rads are a constant heat all over, and do not require regular bleeding, and the boiler is not making any banging noises. We have been told this problem is due to sludge which is not covered by our heating insurance policy. Is this correct or are we being ripped off.

[Hard@it]

First get the pilot light sorted out by your Insurance people, that is a repair job. Secondly do you not have thermostatic valves on rads to control room temp,are they hot all over or just warm etc. how old is your system. is it a combi boiler or do you have a small tank in attic or somewhere, if so is it dirty or rusty inside it ?

[bryncar]

Thanks for reply the engineer who came out said the pilot light was not faulty but was going out due to the sludge problem. I have a combi boiler and it was fitted approx 3 years ago. We had the whole system drained when this was fitted.

Thanks

[stanleyman]

I don't know how sludge could affect a pilot light in the gas system. They usually go out because of a back draught, blocked jet, faulty thermocouple or insufficient gas pressure. Either way your insurance should deal with it.

[bryncar]

Thanks I will get back onto them to come and sort it out.

[Hard@it]

Think your engineer is hard at it, no dnger sludge causes a problem with pilot light, you have paid your insurance - tell him to get on with it !

[bryncar]

Thanks everybody for help, the engineer came back out and continued to say it was sludge, when I asked how this could affect the pilot light he couldn't answer and had to check further. He found a section a faulty part and has ordered it and will return to fit it next week. All on insurance!

It pays to have a bit more information!

Thanks again