Are you worried you might have a faulty timer clock?
There’s nothing worse than being stuck without central heating and not knowing what the problem is. Often, the logical conclusion is that the timer clock has simply reset itself or is playing up.
Here at Superwarm, I receive a lot of calls from customers who suspect this might be the case – however, sometimes it turns out to be something else entirely.
With this in mind, I thought I’d write this blog post so you can determine the real problem, and get it fixed.
The problem
If you have a combi boiler and it’s turned to the right setting, all you need to do is turn on the tap to get hot water.
However, when you switch the heating on and find there’s no heat to the radiators, or your boiler isn’t firing up, the first logical conclusion is usually to check the timer clock.
Unfortunately, it’s not always so simple.
The cause
There are a few reasons your timer clock may have stopped working.
These include:
- Your old mechanical clock not automatically catching up with seasonal clocks changes
- The clock resetting due to the power being out for a while (especially if you have an older boiler)
- A blown-out fuse
- Your room thermostat settings telling the boiler not to come on
- The timer clock simply reaching the end of its life
- A more serious problem with your boiler
Could it be any of these? Below, I’m going to talk you through exactly what to do next.
The fix
If you suspect the a faulty timer clock could be the problem, there should be a relatively easy fix for most scenarios.
Follow the checklist below to cover the most obvious things – then, if you’re still having trouble, at least you won’t be calling out an engineer unnecessarily.
1. Check the power to the boiler
Is the display lit up on the boiler? If not, check the fused spur and make sure the power is switch to the boiler is turned on.
If not, change the fuse at the fused spur and see if this helps.
2. See if the time is set correctly
Is the clock working to time, or has it reset itself due to a power outage or electrical work being carried out? Most modern timers keep the settings and times, however some older models can reset to midnight and preset parameters inputted by the manufacturer.
In the case of an old mechanical clock, it may have not adjusted when you changed the clocks back or forward according to the season.
3. Ensure the room thermostat is set
Take a look at your room thermostat and check that it is turned up and set to call for heat.
Remember, if the clock is set for ‘on’ but the room thermostat says the room is up to temperature, your radiators and boiler will NOT come on.
4. Check the temperature dial on the boiler
Ensure the thermostat on the boiler is turned up, and the heating is definitely set to ‘on’. I have previously been called to properties where customers complained of no heat. It turned out they had turned down the stat on the boiler to 21 degrees Celsius.
However, this is actually the temperature of the water going through the radiators, not the temperature of the room itself. It was an easy fix of turning the control knob to the radiators to 65 -70 degrees.
5. Call a professional
Still no luck? Then I’m afraid it’s probably time to call in the experts. Check the Gas Safe Register for a qualified engineer in your area.
What if it’s happening regularly?
If your boiler keeps losing time then you’re definitely dealing with a faulty timer clock. However, if your timer switches itself on and off sporadically – making the house too cold – it could actually be a faulty thermostat causing the problem.
Conclusion
It’s no fun dealing with a faulty timer clock, and it can be caused by a number of reasons, from a power outage to a fused spur or your boiler settings.
If you’re having trouble with your timer clock, follow the checklist above. Be sure to:
- Check the power to the boiler
- See if the time is set correctly
- Ensure the room thermostat is set
- Check the temperature dial on the boiler
- Call a professional
If you’re having to deal with this problem on a regular basis, and your timer clock keeps losing time, there’s definitely a fault. However, if your timer is inexplicably switching itself on and off, it could be your thermostat that’s the problem.
Hi,
How often would the mechanical times on an Ideal Logic+ combi run slowly and lose time. Still working just not keeping accurate time anymore?
I think that’s what’s happening to mine. Would the electrical feed to a boiler ever come off a room’s lighting circuit?
Thanks
Joe
When the timer is set to switches of it does for maybe a min or two then heating comes on again Or usually when you turn on hot water tap cause it to switch it s self back on to heating Any idea thanks
Ian
My old Honeywell timer devloped a fault whereby the CH would not come on unless the Hot Water was also on. I had it replaced with a new Honeywell ST09400C. It ran beutifully for a few weeks letting me have either Hot Water or the CH on independantly or both together. Now however it has gone back to only letting me put the CH on when the Hot Water is on. Consequently when the Hot Water tank gets up to temperature the boiler switches off including the CH. I don’t know whether to call an electrician or a CH professional. The boiler temperature is set at 90, the room thermostat (in the hall) is set at 20 but the actual temperature in the hall is only 10 at the minute.
New mechanical clock fitted to my Viessman Vitodens 100 boiler last year. Only working sporadically for the past week, could this be an electrical fault. It just seems to stop.
My boiler comes on even when the timer is in the ‘cont off’ position. When the boiler turns on this way, the timer remote is sitting with the date and time settings on the screen needing I be reset even tho they were set previously. We haven’t had any power outages and I can’t think of any other reason other than the boiler just doesn’t seem to be communicating with the remote. Any ideas?
I had a new Honeywell timer last September. At first it was OK but since Christmas it has been losing time and now comes on 15 minutes late, it loses about 2 minutes a week. I have twice contacted the plumber who installed it but he does not reply. I also asked him for a user manual but have not received one. Can you tell me if the timer is under guarantee
and advise me what to do.
My timer on the wall for the boiler is ticking all the time just wondered what could be wrong with it
My boiler is on and hot water is fine. Tell my programmer to turn the heating on but the boiler doesn’t do it. It’s like it’s not receiving the message to come on. Tried reset to the programmer but didn’t change anything
my boiler is very old and it has a honeywell timer will is gaining time so i have been turning on manually
My time programmer dose not come on at all fuse ok
After a short power cut my timer for central heating & hot water seems to have reset to midnight , but the buttons won’t change anything it’s like it has froze & I don’t know how to reset it it .what can I do to fix it ?