Plumber has been, few questions - Help needed please

[Agile]

Interesting how this plumber was welcomed as a helpful professional at first and then has been found out to be a charlatan who just wants to replace lots of parts which are all OK.

Its not clear if you have paid him anything. He is probably one of those people who comes out free and then wants to charge a lot to fix it. I always charge to diagnose problems but then fix just what is needed. Any suggestions for other work are just suggestions!

Tony

 

[pop80_uk]

Interesting how this plumber was welcomed as a helpful professional at first and then has been found out to be a charlatan who just wants to replace lots of parts which are all OK.

Its not clear if you have paid him anything. He is probably one of those people who comes out free and then wants to charge a lot to fix it. I always charge to diagnose problems but then fix just what is needed. Any suggestions for other work are just suggestions!

Tony

Gets worse, he came this morning at 7.00am to replace the 3 way valve and arrived with a van full of stuff I never asked for, in no particular order:

> In line filter
> New pump
> New radiators (one he had never mentioned before but he said single panel radiators were old and not efficient)
> New copper pipe as he said it was easier to work with new pipe than existing
AND.....

> A new boiler!!! I nearly fell over when he told me the reason, that being he had been thinking about it and thought my boiler was old so it was best to change it over.

I refused everything but the 3 way valve, he got angry and said I needed everything changing or he would not do any work so I sent him on his way! He still tried to claim a £175 call out charge though! Meant to be a friend of the family!

I have since spoken to a friend who is a level Jedi DIY'er and he has said he can change the three way valve for me, but will need to drain the system.

So any idea if we do need a special key to release that radiator? or how the draining bit of it works on the picture shown?

Thanks

 

[hazetimesfive]

are you sure you communicated with this guy properly?

I mean who turns up with a full heating system on a whim.

 

[Dan Robinson]

Isolate the pump and remove the head.

Open top valve and drain from there into a bucket.

Obviously you turn the f&e tank off first.

But are you 100% sure that the valve is dead?

 

[pop80_uk]

are you sure you communicated with this guy properly?

I mean who turns up with a full heating system on a whim.

Yup phone him on Friday and said just bring the three way, he admitted that half the stuff he had never mentioned, but just thought we needed it.

 

[pop80_uk]

Isolate the pump and remove the head.

Open top valve and drain from there into a bucket.

Obviously you turn the f&e tank off first.

But are you 100% sure that the valve is dead?

Thank you, we are 99.9% sure its the valve.

Can I ask about the radiator drain valve in the picture I posted, how does it work?

Its not like others I have seen before.

 

[doitall]

Think you'll find a normal rad key fits them.

 

[pop80_uk]

Could you explain how please:

 

[doitall]

Take a pic looking up at the valve from the floor.

 

[pop80_uk]

Take a pic looking up at the valve from the floor.

I see what you mean, just lifted up the cap and it looks like the valve is weeping! Looks like this will need replacing as well!

I have attached some pictures of the wiring from the thermostat, control panel and the box in the airing cupbaord as a few have requested.

Thanks

 

[matt1e]

You are a cable core short of a mid position valve working correctly, theres is likely nothing wrong with the valve you have

Matt

 

[pop80_uk]

You are a cable core short of a mid position valve working correctly, theres is likely nothing wrong with the valve you have

Matt

Are you thinking total rewire to get it to a y plan layout?

 

[Agile]

No just to correct it.

A photo of the in side of the cylinder stat may be needed.

Tony

 

[doitall]

There's a brown wire in with the grey, see if you can find where the other end is.

 

[matt1e]

There's a brown wire in with the grey, see if you can find where the other end is.

The Cylinder Stat one would think

Matt