Main
Overheating Electrical or Plastic Component
Boiler emits a burning smell or plastic smell when running
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Safety Warning
This repair may involve working with high voltage components or water connections. Always unplug the appliance before removing any panels.
If you are not confident in your ability to perform this repair safely, we strongly recommend contacting a professional technician.
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Possible Causes
Dust burning off heat exchanger (after long inactivity), Overheating pump or fan motor, Loose electrical connection causing arcing, Plastic components too close to flue or burner
How to Fix / Troubleshooting
Safety: If you smell burning plastic or see smoke, switch off power immediately and do not use the boiler until inspected.
- Initial use after downtime: A slight dusty smell for a short period after first use in the season can be normal as dust burns off. This should clear quickly.
- Persistent smell: If the smell persists or worsens, isolate power and gas and arrange an inspection.
- Engineer actions:
- Inspect the Main boiler internals for signs of overheating, discoloured wiring, or melted plastic.
- Check fan and pump motors for overheating and replace if necessary.
- Verify flue integrity and clearances from combustible materials.
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Repair Difficulty
Hard
4/5
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