ALDE boilers
Q. Boiler makes a load booming noise, it may even vibrate the whole boat interior. Please note we are talking about a very loud low frequency tone.
A. The boiler has almost certainly got dirt or rust on the flame trap over the burner. First find a competent gas fitter, he will remove the burner, clean out the dirt and rust and then assemble the burner and test it. Probable time taken 45-60 minutes. Parts required - None.
Q. The boiler will not light.
A.1. Have you just changed a gas bottle. If so there is a strong probability that there is air in the pipes. This can take up to two or three minutes to purge via the pilot light. This time may be speeded up by lighting the burner on the hob if it is on the same gas feed. Else just be patient.
A.2. Have you checked if your gas bottle is empty? Have you turned the control knob on the gas bottle? Have you opened the boiler isolation valve? Is the igniter sparking when you press the igniter button (only applies to older models)? Is the auto igniter clicking (new models)? If the appropriate item of the last two is not working call a competent gas fitter.
Q. Black soot appears on roof of boat around boiler outlet vent.
A. The burner is almost certainly dirty and requires cleaning. Find a competent gas fitter, he/she will remove the burner, clean out the dirt and rust and then assemble the burner and test it. Probable time taken 45-60 minutes. Parts required - None.
Q. Header tank overflows every time it is topped up.
A. The header tank on an ALDE is designed for use with low volume water systems. If the boiler is connected to a system with a high water volume such as is commonly found in those systems with large radiators then the water will overflow if the header is topped up to the maximum line on the tank. This happens as the temperature of the water in the system rises and the water expands. In a large volume system this expansion cannot be accommodated within the tank, so the system overflows. The solution is, either to only fill the tank when the system is hot or if the system is cold only top up the header tank to a little above the minimum line.
Q. Why does the water in the header tank bubbles and steam come from the system.
A. The boiler temperature control sensor has probably gone wrong. This sensor which is a bulb shaped unit attached to the front of the water jacket and is held in place by a wire clip. If this unit ceases to function correctly then the boiler overheats. The only solution is a replacement unit, this is best done by a competent boat yard.
Q. The auto igniter does not produce a spark.
A. There a two main causes for this problem. The most likely is that the twelve volt supply to the boiler has failed, so check all your fuses and make sure the supply is present. The second and financially more painful cause is that the igniter electronics has failed. This latter problem has been a common fault on many of the early version of the boiler with electronic ignition and ALDE seem to have produced a revised igniter circuit.
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