Why and when to replace the electrodes on a Worcester Bosch boiler.
Spark electrodes on modern boilers replace the need for a pilot light meaning that when there’s a demand for heat the boiler can fire up instantly, so it goes without saying electrodes get a lot of use and wear and tear will occur. In fact most boiler manufactures dont cover electrodes under warranty because they should be replaced when carrying out the annual service, anywhere between every 3 to five years depending on a visual inspection of them. Worcester Bosch would generally require replacing on the 4th or 5th service.
A problem we are finding is that some boilers that maybe haven’t been serviced for way over this timescale have never had them replaced. This has the potential to be quite serious. As our plumbers have been out to a few properties in Birmingham where the old electrode type for the cdi classic range. Have either had a small fire inside the boiler or have had serious heat damage meaning the boilers have had to be replaced. This is because the old design used to have a sight glass, so the gas engineer carrying out the boiler service could see the flame picture inside the boiler. This has now been updated by Worcester Bosch to be just a solid piece of metal. The reason behind this is the glass window would crack and the heat from the burner would escape and damage the boiler. Here’s a photo of one in Sutton Coldfield that we went out to recently. The heat that escaped through the glass window damaged the combustion cover that was £260 to replace, the wiring harnesses and ignition cables, sensors on the boiler and the fan and the flue.
The updated electrode set for this particular model of Worcester boiler is around £55 at the time of writing this blog, so with out date it would be worth replacing when getting the boiler serviced. Here’s a link to the Wolsey website where these electrodes can be purchased for a reasonable price. https://www.wolseley.co.uk/product/worcester-8716121817-electrode-set/ Please remember though, if you’re reading this post and your not gas safe registered this is a job that can only be carried out by a qualified and competent gas safe registered engineer.
If living in the Birmingham area and are having issues with your Worcester Bosch cdi classic boiler and would like a boiler service or repair. Visit our page boiler service in Birmingham for more information on our boiler services. Afterglow Plumbing & Heating Limited are gas safe registered, fully insured and competent to carry out service and repairs on your Worcester Bosch boiler.
