Vokera Unica He Tacho/Fan Fault

[Hypagen]

I was wondering if anyone may have experienced similar problems to me with this combi boiler (Vokera Unica He).

The boiler has been installed 3 years and has had light use. The boiler is installed in a bedroom and has a flue to an external wall.

Over the past 4-5 weeks I noticed the boiler was becoming more noisy when switched off. The fan sounds like it is running constantly. After a few weeks of this, one day the boiler failed to ignite with the error code stating there was a problem with the Tacho/Fan.

I reset the boiler, set to heating and it started working normally again for about a week then same error code. If I left the boiler set to heating with the thermostat controlling the demand for heating 24/7 (I would set thermostat to low to switch off and turn up when I wanted heat) it seemed to work fine for a couple of weeks until it failed again with the same error code. The error then became more and more frequent to the point where I couldn't get it to fire at all.

It has been off for a week now but I managed to get it to fire today by first getting it to fire and heat hot water then switch it to central heating. Since the error I've never got the boiler to fire when switched to CH I've always had to get the water heating first. It was intermittentently working at first today but is now fully operational I am hoping this means there may not be too much wrong with it.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

 

[SimonJohns]

I was wondering if anyone may have experienced similar problems to me with this combi boiler (Vokera Unica He).

The boiler has been installed 3 years and has had light use. The boiler is installed in a bedroom and has a flue to an external wall.

Over the past 4-5 weeks I noticed the boiler was becoming more noisy when switched off. The fan sounds like it is running constantly. After a few weeks of this, one day the boiler failed to ignite with the error code stating there was a problem with the Tacho/Fan.

I reset the boiler, set to heating and it started working normally again for about a week then same error code. If I left the boiler set to heating with the thermostat controlling the demand for heating 24/7 (I would set thermostat to low to switch off and turn up when I wanted heat) it seemed to work fine for a couple of weeks until it failed again with the same error code. The error then became more and more frequent to the point where I couldn't get it to fire at all.

It has been off for a week now but I managed to get it to fire today by first getting it to fire and heat hot water then switch it to central heating. Since the error I've never got the boiler to fire when switched to CH I've always had to get the water heating first. It was intermittentently working at first today but is now fully operational I am hoping this means there may not be too much wrong with it.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

I think it's gona be time to call a local engineer in

What's your location?

 

[woodsy]

Vokera when they first brought these out had a problem with the air vent in the top right corner leaking. The leak ran down the connected tube and dripped on to the fan causing problems, usually blown fan ( thick end of £300 to buy, They now have designed a shield which covers the fan should it happen). It might be worth checking to see if this has happened first.

 

[SimonJohns]

Vokera when they first brought these out had a problem with the air vent in the top right corner leaking. The leak ran down the connected tube and dripped on to the fan causing problems, usually blown fan ( thick end of £300 to buy, They now have designed a shield which covers the fan should it happen). It might be worth checking to see if this has happened first.

Wouldn't that come with a replacement fan?

 

[woodsy]

Not a 100% sure as i had a couple of occurences which failed under warranty, so had Vokera out and noticed the cover installed and it is now standard on all new boilers. This was happening approx 2-3 years since which would fit the posts timeframe.

 

[Hypagen]

I think it's gona be time to call a local engineer in

What's your location?

Hi Simon, cheers, I have the number of a recommended local engineer...I just haven't dared ring him yet! I thought this problem may be unique to this boiler and it wouldn't do any harm to gather some information via peoples experiences on here.

 

[Hypagen]

Not a 100% sure as i had a couple of occurences which failed under warranty, so had Vokera out and noticed the cover installed and it is now standard on all new boilers. This was happening approx 2-3 years since which would fit the posts timeframe.

Thanks Woodsy. I have read a little bit about this online. Maybe my fan has lasted past the warranty due to light use?
If the boiler has failed due to a "design fault" do you think I may qualify for a reduced cost fan replacement (if this is the fault) as my boiler is out of warranty?

I was hoping the boiler wasn't going to need the fan replacing after only 3 years as it's a rather expensive part!

 

[woodsy]

I found it happened when the boiler was topped up. Ask your engineer to a) see whether it is the origonal model, ie no shield and b) if it looks like it has happened and then speak to Vokera and ask the question. good luck.

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

300 quid for a fan???? cheapie boiler is it?

 

[woodsy]

Not particulary but price for the fan is a joke. At the time i seem to remember it was £290 plus vat. Didn't bother ringing round as the second time it happened to me the boiler was 2months out of its 2yrs warranty, so i rang the rep and he sorted it for me. tbh the price of spares generally are ridiculous. I think that the fan and pcb alone come to the price of a new boiler.

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

spares that pricey would make me not fit that brand,thats one of the reasons i fit baxi spares are reasonable fan on a duotec is 78+vat

 

[woodsy]

Went on the Baxi course last week for the new Neta tec and duotec for that reason. Generally Unica is a good boiler if a bit old fashioned in its internal layout. Problem now is selling the extra cost of the duotec on to the customers who generally don't want to pay even the cost of the Unica.

 

[stevetheplumber]

Went on the Baxi course last week for the new Neta tec and duotec for that reason. Generally Unica is a good boiler if a bit old fashioned in its internal layout. Problem now is selling the extra cost of the duotec on to the customers who generally don't want to pay even the cost of the Unica.

id show them the diffence in the parts prices

 

[woodsy]

Can't argue with that

 

[Mbear]

I usually like vokeras but the unica is a banger in my experience. They've really let themselves down with the unica