HELP PLEASE - No hot water!!

[Akshay]

Hi, got home tonight to find that I've got no hot water coming from the boiler! Aarrrggggghhhhhh Its a Vailliant Turbomax Combi and was generating hot water this morning when I had a shower. I came home and switched on the central heating which worked fine, but on turning the hot water taps on anywhere in the house the boiler doesn't kick in as expected. There are no warning lights showing - only the green (on) light.

Please tell me this isn't going to be an expensive fix? I've only just had a pressure switch replaced this summer at a cost of £70, surely that hasn't gone again???

I must admit we haven't had any luck with boilers in this place, the last Saunier Duval boiler we had was terrible, nothing but trouble, and this Valliant is also giving us grief now!!

Can someone please offer some informed advice or suggestions what could have happened? I really don't want to call out another plumber at today's extornionate prices!!!

 

[Rob]

If its the original turbomax then it sounds like your diverter is faulty. Does your boiler have the black panel and green knobs?

 

[Agile]

I really don't want to call out another plumber at today's extornionate prices!!!

Its better to call a boiler engineer!

Why do you think that plumber's prices are "extornionate" ?

When accountants charge £100 an hour in the comfort of their offices and solicitors £250-£450 per hour again in their offices, surely a plumber who spends an hour travelling to you and then only charges £50-£80 per hour for the time spent at your property then that seems to me to be very reasonable.

After taking travel into account the hourly rate drops to about £25 which seems very cheap to me when compared with other professions!

Tony

 

[SvenVanLagerTop]

Agile has hit the nail on the head!

 

[Waterworxsw]

Sounds like a good idea to retrain as a solicitor

 

[Agile]

Most solicitors work is dead boring and its mostly stuck in the same small office all the time.

At least mending boilers I get to meet a wide cross section of people but in my case a disproportionate number of media people ( partly because I cover BBC West London territory ) writers, poets and actors but only one cabinet member, two policemen and one detective ( who specialises in pornography! ) and just one dentist ( and not a very good one either ).

Tony

 

[Akshay]

Hi Rob, yes its the one with the black panel and green control knobs. We have been stung by rouge traders in the past regarding an older boilers so I know stand on the side of caution whenever it comes to engineers who claim they know everything. Sorry if I treaded on anyones toes but when it comes to boilers I trust no one!!

 

[Blasphemous]

The definition of 'Extortionate' is: 'More expensive than you consider to be fair'. I cannot give you a definition of 'fair' in this context as it is personal to you.

I don't like telling anyone how they should conduct themselves but I would suggest that leaving remarks such as; 'I really don't want to call out another plumber at today's extortionate prices!!!' along with, 'when it comes to boilers I trust no one!!', on a Forum that has more than its fair share of Plumbers and/or Heating Engineers, is bound to ruffle a few feathers. If someone has the good will to spend their own time, giving free advice then I'd say its a fairly safe bet they can be trusted... i.e. This Site.

rob884 could be right, it may be the Diverter. But whatever the situation I would suggest that an Engineer will need to be called at some point. Have a look through the 'Find an Expert' section of this site (4 buttons at the top right of your screen). I'm miles away but if you have no joy with 'Find an Expert' then you could ask if any of the guys on here are in your area of London.

Tea and biscuits may smooth the way

Best of luck though Akshay

 

[Agile]

I dont agee with that definition of the word "Extortionate".

Its the adjective from "extortion" which implies demanding money unreasonably and not rulling out the illegal use of force.

For something to be "extortionate" I would suggest the expectation is that it would be at least two or three times the usual payment expected.

Tony

 

[Blasphemous]

I dont agee with that definition of the word "Extortionate".

Its the adjective from "extortion" which implies demanding money unreasonably and not rulling out the illegal use of force.

For something to be "extortionate" I would suggest the expectation is that it would be at least two or three times the usual payment expected.

Tony

And how did you arrive at a level of 'two or three times the usual payment expected'? To take your definition Tony, if I was presented with a quote that was 'two or three times the usual payment expected', then I'd think that it was 'more expensive than I'd consider to be fair'. But I can only know what is 'fair' if I have some idea of the average prices. Even then, I may consider it to be more expensive than I'd consider fair. That is why I could not comment or give him a definition of fair. I have no idea what he considers to be a fair rate for a Plumber. He may have been totally ripped off in the past and that has given him an idea that all Plumbers charge the earth.

Anyway, it doesn't B****y matter what the definitions are and I certainally don't want to fall out with you Tony. I might be on here looking for advice myself at some point . I am wise enough to realise that you have a lot more experience than me in the Plumbing/Heating trade. The point I was trying to make is that coming into a Forum, (any forum) especially one that has a high proportion of Plumbers/Heating Engineers and starting out with statements such as 'extortionate' in relation to Plumbers prices and 'when it comes to boilers I trust no one!! (that would have to relate to Heating Engineers), when you are asking for advice from those very people who, as I have said, are giving up their free time to provide advice, is not the best way to start asking for help IMO. Even your reply Tony:

Why do you think that plumber's prices are "extornionate" ?

When accountants charge £100 an hour in the comfort of their offices and solicitors £250-£450 per hour again in their offices, surely a plumber who spends an hour travelling to you and then only charges £50-£80 per hour for the time spent at your property then that seems to me to be very reasonable.

After taking travel into account the hourly rate drops to about £25 which seems very cheap to me when compared with other professions!

Tony

Suggested to me that you picked up more on his 'comments' than his request. You did give him an indication of prices for your neck of the woods however Tony and that will hopefully help him make an informed decision on pricing.

Now, is it time for a glass of vino yet? Hmmm a bit early I suppose