Netaheat by Potterton - Information for owners and technicians

First of all, thanks for visiting Netaheat Repairs. If you’d like me to repair your Netaheat Electronic or Netaheat Profile and you’re within driving distance of me in Hungerford, west Berkshire, call or text me on 07866 766364.

I'm Mike Bryant, also known as Mike the Boilerman. For those who haven't already encountered me on the net, I specialise in mending boilers. In particular I like repairing the awkward, the older and the unusual boilers that many technicians are inclined to announce cannot be repaired and therefore must be replaced. This is sometimes true but certainly not always. The Potterton Netaheat is a great example of this. Many Netaheat breakdowns are fully repairable, particularly the later versions, the 'Netaheat Electronic' and the ‘Netaheat Profile’.

I've written this site specifically to help owners of Potterton Netaheat boilers understand them better and and their technicians who repair them. I list the common faults and problems and the fixes. There are several incarnations of the Netaheat which differ considerably in detail so I have a written a page for each. See the link above to the different versions. 

There is however one fault people regularly call me about which is not actually a boiler fault at all, even though it appears to be initially. This can occur on any version of Netaheat, or even any make and model of older style of boiler. The boiler lights when the heating (or hot water) is first turned ON, but the flames go out again after a minute or two, or three and the radiators don’t heat up. To the user this looks like a boiler fault but in most cases it isn’t. This is caused by the circulating pump usually in the airing cupboard, no longer pumping. Usually it has jammed from lack of use over the summer and can sometimes be freed reasonably easily if you are of a practical nature. I show you how in my youtube video here: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5sMNa8bjrA&ab_channel=MiketheBoilerman

More about the Potterton Netaheat...

I'm a great fan of this boiler. I think it is an excellent example of good British engineering. The Netaheat was the first example of a new generation of boilers developed back in the late 1970s which achieved a major advance in fuel efficiency by using a fan to push the flue gasses through the combustion chamber thereby avoiding heat wastage via the flue when the boiler was OFF. The Netaheat was also the first boiler to abandon a permanently burning pilot light and instead use electronics to light the burner. (A permanent pilot light running 24/7 like all previous boilers wastes a considerable amount of gas over extended periods of time.)  This design leads to fuel efficiency exceeding 80% on some versions, so, despite the government's advice that major improvements in fuel efficiency can be achieved by replacing older boilers, this is clearly NOT the case if you currently own a Potterton Netaheat (which may be up to 30 years old!) It is a terrible shame that so many Netaheats are now being removed in the mistaken belief that a new boiler will be far more efficient.

Many Netaheats are also being replaced in the belief that spare parts cannot be obtained. This is a half-truth. Many of the most commonly failing parts on all versions of the Netaheat are still available through normal spares merchant channels, but not all. A few of of the gas control valve components are no longer available new but most other parts can still being manufactured. If a part fails which happens to be obsolete, the is however still a chance of keeping the boiler running. There is a thriving market in second-hand Netaheat components on eBay, the online auction site. Gas technicians removing Netaheats are fully aware of this and will often dismantle a Netaheat they have replaced and sell the parts on eBay. 

The Netaheat came in four versions. The original (or MkI) came in two sizes, the 10/16 and the 16/22. The output was adjustable and the numbers indicate the minimum and maximum output in kW of each size. The MkI was complex and totally alien in the way it worked to virtually all heating engineers. It was a mystery and difficult to diagnose and fix when it broke down so the MkII was rapidly developed. The MkII and the MkIIF are very similar (so similar it is hard to spot the differences) and are very much easier to understand and diagnose. The next version was the Electronic, and this had a third smaller size added to the range, the 6/10, to suit the lower heating demand of new houses being built to the new, higher standards of insulation demanded by the Building Regulations.  The final version was the Netaheat Profile, a completely different design of boiler which was only available for a short while before the name was shortened by Potterton to just "Profile". Working out which model of Netaheat you have is important as they are all different. I suggest you read my page “Netaheat - identifying your model ” next. 

I'll finish by saying I used to live in Reading, Berkshire but now I’ve moved 30 miles west to a small village near Hungerford. Most of my work is still in Berkshire, Hampshire, Oxfordshire, Hampshire, Surrey, north and west London but if you are outside these areas and having problems getting your Netaheat fixed, then I'm perfectly happy to visit. I'll go anywhere if necessary! The only trouble with this is, from your point of view, is that I charge for all the time I spend repairing a boiler, and this includes the time spent travelling to and from site. This means the further you live from me, the less economically viable it becomes to get me to visit. 

On the other hand though, I can usually fix most Netaheats in a single visit, using my extensive stock of spare parts in the van. Even the earliest versions can often be fixed, but subject to parts availability.  Give me a call to discuss the exact fault yours has and I'll be able to give you a clearer idea on the phone. My number is 07866 766364.

Alternatively I'm happy to give email advice to anyone wanting it.

For my main site, check out www.miketheboilerman.com

Once again, thanks for visiting.

Mike Bryant, AKA Mike the Boilerman, Great Bedwyn, Wiltshire.

Call or text me on 07866 766364

Areas I cover: Berkshire, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Oxfordshire, Surrey, Sussex, West London, Wiltshire.

Call or text me on 07866 766364