I need someone to fit a primary heat exchanger in London...

[Adamantium]

Hi All

First post after a few months lurking.
I have a Potterton Performa 24 Combi Boiler which needs a new Primary heat exchanger fitting. I had a plumber from a "reputable company" come round yesterday to tell me that I needed a new primary heat exchanger which would cost me £500 for the part and a full day's labour and I was therefore better off buying a brand new boiler......Yeah, right! A new heat exchanger costs £100 max and fitting should take no more that 2.5 hours surely. I'm a competant DIY'er and have undertaken many tasks from electrics to mechanics but I know when to get a pro in too. I am going to buy the new heat exchanger myself but need a RGI to come fit it for me and thought I'd ask on here. Any London engineers want a private job???

 

[Gasguru]

What postcode area of London are you in?

What makes you think the plumber has actaully diagnosed the problem correctly?

What's up with the boiler?

 

[mickyg]

you obviously dont trust the guy that come around so why trust his diagnosis? get someone else in, dont go buying any parts until your sure you need them.

 

[kevindgas]

whilst i appreciate the £500 is wide of the mark so is your £100!

where will you be getting it from? list price i've found is £153 + Vat that does not include any seals needed or the time to go fetch it for you.

how do you know it will only take the time you say it will? have you changed one before?

 

[Gasguru]

They're around the £100 mark plus a couple of O rings and aav. Normally an easy job plus vessel pump up and safety checks if nothing else wrong. Shouldn't be more than £100 tops.

 

[Adamantium]

Hi all,

Thanks for all the replies, I'll try respond to each of you

@GasGuru - I'm in W3 Acton. The boiler works for hot water but when using CH it heats for a minute or so, makes a loud flowing noise from within the combustion chamber and then switches off. The CH flow pipe gets super hot. The engineer explained that the flow is being restricted and blames the primary heat exchanger.

@mickyg - I do trust their diagnosis, I used these people in April to replace the plate heat exchanger and to do a powerflush of the system. Thing is, If I tell them to crack on and it isn't the heat exchanger then they would have to fix whatever else is wrong with it so it's in their interest to diagnose correctly.

@kevindgas - A quick google will show you where I got that figure from

http://www.boilersparesdirect.co.uk/parts-online/shopexd.asp?id=69394
http://www.clickonbathrooms.co.uk/acatalog/248016_POTTERTON_PERFORMA_24_HEAT_EXCHANGER.html
http://www.heatingspares247.com/potterton-primary-heat-exchanger-248016-p-2617.html
No, I have not changed one before but I was watching when the engineer opened the combustion chamber and pointed out the part. I have also consulted the manual and can see that to change a hex you need to
-drain the circuit
-remove the fan
-remove and replace hex
-replace fan
-pressurise the system and test

That cannot take a full day's labour can it?


@All

This afternoon I called the guys back and queried the price, they called back and said that the best they can get it for is £150. So a reduction of £350 in one phone call?!?!? I them pressed them on the fitting, now they say they will do it for a 5 hour fee.... They clearly tried to screw me. Like I said, I've used them before and they were not cheap but still reasonable for London, but this time they have seriously messed up. I'm still looking for a RGI to help me. Cheers

 

[Beerlover]

As an ex Baxi man, the job should take no longer than two hours start to finish.

Have you tried contacting Heateam for a fixed price repair/instant cover, The later will also give you twelve months warranty and they will change any part that is required.

 

[Adamantium]

As an ex Baxi man, the job should take no longer than two hours start to finish.

Have you tried contacting Heateam for a fixed price repair/instant cover, The later will also give you twelve months warranty and they will change any part that is required.

Hi Beerlover, we have the same hobby!

No I haven't tried Heateam, I will give them a ring in the morning though, thanks!

 

[Gasguru]

You've had a bunch of idiots look at the boiler.

If it works ok for the hot water then the prrimary heat exchanger is probably fine. The fact that you've had a secondary heat exchanger indicates the system water is probably full off muck. Most powerflushing I've seen has little benefit to the system...most don't do it properly.

Therefore the first item to check is the return filter located in the return isolating valve on the right.

Bleed all the radiators.
Drop the pressure with the drain-off valve to the right of the pump.
Unscrew the larger nut on the front of the isolating valve and check the gauze filter inside.
Whilst the pressure is on zero check the vessel..see FAQs
There is normally no need to turn off the isolating valves.

 

[Adamantium]

You've had a bunch of idiots look at the boiler.

If it works ok for the hot water then the prrimary heat exchanger is probably fine. The fact that you've had a secondary heat exchanger indicates the system water is probably full off muck. Most powerflushing I've seen has little benefit to the system...most don't do it properly.

Therefore the first item to check is the return filter located in the return isolating valve on the right.

Bleed all the radiators.
Drop the pressure with the drain-off valve to the right of the pump.
Unscrew the larger nut on the front of the isolating valve and check the gauze filter inside.
Whilst the pressure is on zero check the vessel..see FAQs
There is normally no need to turn off the isolating valves.

Jeez, I am going to be seriously ****ed off with them if this turns out to be the fix!

Thank you very much for the advice, I'll give this a go in the morning and report back

 

[Agile]

There is also another part which could also be causing this problem.

But all the evidence you have presented indicates that the problem is NOT with the primary heat exchanger.

I would also agree that it should not normally take more than two hours to replace the HE but as thats not the fault then thats irrelevant.

Tony

 

[Adamantium]

You've had a bunch of idiots look at the boiler.

If it works ok for the hot water then the prrimary heat exchanger is probably fine. The fact that you've had a secondary heat exchanger indicates the system water is probably full off muck. Most powerflushing I've seen has little benefit to the system...most don't do it properly.

Therefore the first item to check is the return filter located in the return isolating valve on the right.

Bleed all the radiators.
Drop the pressure with the drain-off valve to the right of the pump.
Unscrew the larger nut on the front of the isolating valve and check the gauze filter inside.
Whilst the pressure is on zero check the vessel..see FAQs
There is normally no need to turn off the isolating valves.

Jeez, I am going to be seriously p****d off with them if this turns out to be the fix!

Thank you very much for the advice, I'll give this a go in the morning and report back

Well, would you ****ing believe it... GasGuru, you are an absolute LEGEND! The return flow gauze filter was completely clogged, it was like a solid rock!!! I took it out and spent 30 mins scraping it out. Cleaned everything thoroughly and put it all back together, I now have a toasty warm flat!! Thank you so much for the advice. I am absolutely fuming at the plumbing company and have logged an official complaint (for what that's worth) It just pains me to think of old women or non technical blokes being charged £££££££'s by these snakes when a simple clean out of a filter could be the fix!!!!

Anyway, I'll calm down now

Thanks again!

 

[gas_man_gaz]

lol love it, think gg deserves the thanks button

 

[Gasguru]

Did exactly the same job on Tuesday...it takes all of 10 seconds to diagnose the blocked filter.

So in return for the free advice (and cheap repair) howabout contacting your local trading standards team. Print off this thread and blow the whistle on these charlatans.

Otherwise message me with their details. Doing nothing will just allow them to rip-off others. What they have attempted to do is plainly fraudulent.

 

[Agile]

Well, would you **** believe it... GasGuru, you are an absolute LEGEND! The return flow gauze filter was completely clogged, it was like a solid rock!!! I took it out and spent 30 mins scraping it out. Cleaned everything thoroughly and put it all back together, I now have a toasty warm flat!! Thank you so much for the advice. I am absolutely fuming at the plumbing company and have logged an official complaint (for what that's worth) It just pains me to think of old women or non technical blokes being charged £££££££'s by these snakes when a simple clean out of a filter could be the fix!!!!

Thanks again!

In the meantime he has listed his need for a replacement primary heat exchanger on a quotes website:-




Here's a customer lead we think you'd be really interested in accepting:-

Job Name Fit a new primary heat exchanger to a potterton performa 24 combi boiler. MUST BE RGI / CORGI
Approx Budget £100 - £250
Skills Required Gas and Oil-Fired Boilers
Location W3
Ideal Start ASAP
Description Remove old primary hex, install new one and test.



So up to five engineers have tried to be helpful and each PAID £5 just to be able to give him their quotation.His limits of £100-£250 seem rather miserly as it costs about £150 and takes two hours.