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Columbia gas Boiler shutting off

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patriot22
patriot22 Member Posts: 6
in Gas Heating
Hello, I need some help. My gas boiler heats/runs for about 6-7 hours before it shuts off. I will have to press the on/off button to get it running again. This happens daily. I want to get some advice of what might be triggering the boiler to shut off. Thank you.

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  • the_donut
    the_donut Member Posts: 374
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    Check thermostat connections and change battery if thermostat has one. Pictures of controls and some info about system would be helpful to further troubleshoot.
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,832
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    Which "button" are you pressing? There are several on most gas boilers..............
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • patriot22
    patriot22 Member Posts: 6
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  • patriot22
    patriot22 Member Posts: 6
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    Thank you to those who replied. @the_donut donut I have tried changing the batteries a couple of times did not help. @Steamhead The button that Im switching off/on is the emergency button in that red panel. When the boiler is working fine at the time i took the picture you can see the warter temperature and pressue both are fine however when it stops running both drop to 0 I can hear some sort of vent running but boiler/flame not on. When I trigger the switch I can hear it running right away and the fire flame comes on.
  • GW
    GW Member Posts: 4,692
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    Looks like the conversion burner needs a general cleaning. The flame rod may be the issue
    Gary Wilson
    Wilson Services, Inc
    Northampton, MA
    gary@wilsonph.com
  • patriot22
    patriot22 Member Posts: 6
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    Hi @GW I forgot to mention my boiler used to run on Oil, (before I moved in the previous owner switched the burner to gas in 2016). I was looking throughout the manual on the Columbia boiler I did not find anywhere that it has a flame rod? I'm trying to figure out it's location. Thank you.
  • ratio
    ratio Member Posts: 3,626
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    It's at the end of the other wire coming off the grey box on the bottom right of the boiler, not the spark-plug looking wire. Goes in to the boiler through the same hole though. It may not be too easy to get it out, but if you can get it (the flame rod itself, not just the wire) out without damaging anything it can be cleaned by simply buffing with a dollar bill.

    There may be an LED on the ignition control board (the grey box again) that might flash an error code when it quits working.

  • patriot22
    patriot22 Member Posts: 6
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  • patriot22
    patriot22 Member Posts: 6
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    @ratio is it this blue one?
  • ratio
    ratio Member Posts: 3,626
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    Yup, "sensor". IDK how to get access to it though, sorry. You might be able to find a service manual for the burner online, but be aware that some parts of the burner have critical adjustments that must not be disturbed for safe operation, & require thousand dollar instruments to reset.

    I'd get the manual & read it to see what the procedure is to replace the flame rod, to see if it can be done without changing any adjustments. Unfortunately, not everything is designed for ready service anymore!

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