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Troubleshooting No Ignition

nickr
nickr Member Posts: 48
in Strictly Steam

Single pipe steam, Utica gas boiler with pilot light lit. Damper opens when the thermostat calls for heat, but the boiler just won’t ignite. LWCO seems fine, water level seems fine, I’ve moved the pressuretrol setting all the way up to see if that’s the issue, still nothing.

What could be causing the failure to ignite?

Comments

  • HVACNUT
    HVACNUT Member Posts: 7,081

    End switch, spill switch, Rollout, gas valve.

  • pecmsg
    pecmsg Member Posts: 6,581

    Seems Fine is not troubleshooting.

    Now you need a meter and follow the voltage.

    Ironman
  • EdTheHeaterMan
    EdTheHeaterMan Member Posts: 11,270

    When I look at electricity with my eyes, it seems fine also. I can hardly see any trouble. Like it is invisible until it gets to a light bulb. When that happens, I see the light!

    In the case of a gas valve, there are a series of safety devices the electricity needs to pass thru. You can find them by following the wires. If all the different safety switches seem fine then you will need a meter to see if one of them is not so fine. ALL the safety devices need to be able to let the electricity get to the gas valve.  If just one of the devices is not letting the electricity get to the gas valve, then the gas valve will not open to let the gas get to the burner.  When the gas does not get to the burners, then there will be no heat.

    Edward Young Retired

    After you make that expensive repair and you still have the same problem, What will you check next?

    Alan (California Radiant) ForbesIronman
  • nickr
    nickr Member Posts: 48

    Geez a guy makes one stray comment. All right, I’ll follow the current.

    HVACNUTGGross
  • Grallert
    Grallert Member Posts: 999

    tough crowd sometimes

    Miss Hall's School service mechanic, greenhouse manager, teacher, dog walker and designated driver

    HVACNUTGGross
  • nickr
    nickr Member Posts: 48

    Turns out the backdraft switch was tripped.

    GGross
  • Ironman
    Ironman Member Posts: 7,773
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1870080#Comment_1870080

    Why was it tripped?

    You need to confirm that you have proper draft. Otherwise, you could have a very dangerous situation that could cause CO poisoning or death.

    Don’t run the boiler until the issue is resolved. Safeties are there to protect you and they don’t trip unless there’s a reason.

    Bob Boan
    You can choose to do what you want, but you cannot choose the consequences.
  • pecmsg
    pecmsg Member Posts: 6,581
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1870080#Comment_1870080

    so what have you done?

  • nickr
    nickr Member Posts: 48

    The boiler worked fine last season and only showed this issue upon my attempt to restart it this season.

    I reset the switch, restarted the boiler, and felt an intake of air at the draft sensor, indicating that air was going from the area around the venting into the venting, and not the other way around.

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