No ignition spark at all: when the boiler stays completely silent

Understanding no ignition spark attempted before you spend money

A failed spark generator or ignition lead produces no audible click whatsoever, and this is confirmed with a multimeter rather than assumed. Occasionally the fan has not reached the airflow the controller requires to permit ignition, so the sequence never proceeds far enough to attempt a spark at all — in that case the fault sits with the fan or its pressure switch rather than the ignition components themselves. A PCB fault preventing the ignition command being sent is the least common but still real possibility.

No ignition spark attempted: engineer's shortlist

• Total silence differs diagnostically from a spark that fails to catch
• The spark generator and lead are tested with a multimeter, not assumed
• Fan airflow must be confirmed before ignition is even attempted by design
• A fan or pressure switch fault can stop the sequence before any spark
• PCB faults preventing the ignition command are possible but less common

Questions we get asked

Is this more serious than a normal ignition lockout?

Not necessarily more serious, but it points at a different, narrower set of components to check.

Can I hear the difference myself before calling?

Yes — listening for any click or spark sound versus complete silence is genuinely useful information to pass on.

Where we deal with this

• Oldfield Park (BA2) · 8 mi
• Nailsea (BS48) · 14 mi
• Bear Flat (BA2) · 8 mi
• Chew Magna (BS40) · 8 mi