Vaillant ecotec plus 418. Many problems.

[Agile]

That's so true Dan.

But still no reason to fit a combi just because the HA Contractors don't understand how to wire up a standard "Y" plan.

All it needs is just one proper heating engineer to diagnose what has gone wrong.

I hate those problems and sometimes end up starting again from scratch as that's usually quicker than finding out what they have done wrong.

When the wiring center is remote from the working parts then I usually have to run a test lead between them to assist identifying the wires.

Some muppets join and extend cables in different colours just to make things more difficult.


I went to an earth leakage fault and it turned out the builder had taped the thermostat wires to extend them when he built the extension and just left the taped joint lying on the underfloor soil where moisture had got into the joint creating a leak to earth.

Enjoyed that one having a relaxed coffee with the owner before I started and he was seriously concerned at my relaxed attitude because he had endured five engineers from well known Herts firm who could not identify the problem.

While he was making the coffee I had disconnected the room stat.

After coffee I casually turned on the boiler and he was so surprised that that it ran without tripping the RCD.

Tony

 

[EricTheFedUp]

I was expecting them to run leads from downstairs to upstairs to verify continuity on a wire, i have done that on cars before.

I once found a small carrier bag full of excess wire tucked behind the glovebox of an old Rover SD1. It joined
the electric windows and locks on both front doors for seemingly no reason. I removed the wire and everything
worked properly.

Is Birmingham that bad nobody wants a trip up/down here

Any suggestions on the video clip? What puzzles me is that each time they visit they claim its wired
correctly yet when they go away it behaves differently.

Last week hot water came on when the slider was moved to HW, Heating worked when moved to heating
but you could only have one on at a time.

After the last visit heating works by having the sliding on heating. but to get hot water you have to switch
heating and water to on, yet you only get hot water and no heat?

How can the wiring be correct yet operate differently each visit?

 

[Dan Robinson]

Is Birmingham that bad

I get a nose bleeds when I pass the A14.

Got to go to Liverpool next week for a two day course. Think i might need to see the doctor before hand to get some medication.

 

[bernardgreen]

Hey Bernard. If the OP had had a combi, he wouldn't be having these problems

Maybe be not these problems but maybe a different combination of problems. Life life style changes "Don't wash up, the kid's in the shower"

 

[shambolic]

Hey Bernard. If the OP had had a combi, he wouldn't be having these problems

Maybe be not these problems but maybe a different combination of problems. Life life style changes "Don't wash up, the kid's in the shower"

I have a combi that runs 2 showers at once!!!
No lifestyle changes here except we used to use one shower together when in the throes of youth.

 

[bernardgreen]

one shower together when in the throes of youth.

or one bath, much more comfortable ( provided the bath is a large one )

And not just for the young ones either....... OAP ( Old Age Pensioner or Old Age Passion )

 

[Agile]

I get a nose bleeds when I pass the A14.

But in your case that's far better that having your internal organs bleeding.

Didn't they used to use a clothes peg to cure a bleeding nose?

 

[Agile]

Can you put your postcode and location name?

And see if anyone from the forum can offer to help?

BUT before you consider asking them its essential that you make a WRITTEN complaint to the HA listing all the visits they have made without solving the problem.

I see so many similar other reports of problems with contractors working for HAs that it surprises me that DP has such a high opinion of their engineers.

When I visit my dentist in Warwick, I would be within 30-60 miles away from you.

But I am quite busy and its likely that your HA does not expect to pay my rates for an out of area call.

Tony

 

[DP]

HAs that it surprises me that DP has such a high opinion of their engineers.

Agile, record is getting well worn.
As said NOT EVERY HA INSTALLER IS ALL KNUCKLES AND THUMBS
You claim to be a top heating engineer but you also make some blunders which you fail to acknowledge.
Stop judging other people and start looking at yourself

At least I acknowledge where someone is more able than me!

 

[EricTheFedUp]

Touching wood and crossing my fingers... It maybe fixed...

I phoned them Monday after having the boiler run on after the timershould have switched it off.
I moved the sliders to off and the boiler continued to heat up. The house was like a sauna.
Seems the electrician they wanted to look at it is not in my area.

During Mondays call i asked whether i would be be receiving a contibution to my gas and electric bills because
the boiler is faulty and runs needlessly with no control except to cut the power at times.

A silent paused i assume they were in shock and then told i need to contact the HA directly. A bit odd i thought
they would want this kept quiet because they NEVER left paperwork after each failed visit and do they really
want the HA to know how bad this fiasco has been?
Im sure the HA will be charging them anyway?

After that call i get a call back saying an electrician will come the next day. He removed everything and was
puzzled why they wired way they did and something about the pump being fed a live feed?

Undid every wire and started from scratch. The valve now moved to the middle W/H position.....


Moving the sliders switches it off, water and heating on moves the valve to the middle position
and so far the temperature seems to be OK. The boiler is not running all the time as it was
previously. With the heating on the boiler seemed to be firing from 6pm to 10:30pm non
stop.

Fingers crossed for me......

Thanks for the info...

 

[Echo the husky]

Finally! I can't believe it took so many people before finding someone who can do what is nothing more than basic, bog standard wiring.

 

[Dan Robinson]

Didn't we say this was the problem (I. E. Crap wiring) back on page 1

 

[Agile]

How long did it take him?

Tony

 

[EricTheFedUp]

Not that long, possibly under 2 hours with tea breaks and a natter.

He actually listened when i mentioned the faults and the boiler did exactly what i said
and carried on running even after moving the slider from timed/auto to off.

He did a few sketches on a pad of the current wiring and then checked the manual as he
had a cuppa. Then undid everything and started from scratch.

Even showed me the valve moving to each position, especially the centre W/H which
it didnt do before.

Its been a nightmare since they fitted it, I thought it was September.. But it was actually fitted in
July last year. Initial complaints because the pump was always running, at that time we only
had it on hot water alone. Now i know why my October bill increased even though we only had
it on hotwater and no heating at all.

It was not until October that i put the heating on one day to test it before winter started. Then I
found it would not goto water and heat and it overshot the room stat.

All in i think this was the 13th or 14th visit since they installed it.

The pump seems quieter also, previously it seemed louder and ran constantly, I could set the room stat
to 18 degrees and switch the heating on at 15 degrees and the boiler would be firing all the time, it would
never shut off until switched off manually.

Now it kicks in to heat and when upto temperature it shuts down, what a shock, the house seems quieter
now with no ticking from the valve or whine from the pump.

The radiators do not seem to get so hot either a more gentle heat.

Scared to touch any of the settings now

Thanks for putting up with me.. I just dread the Gas and Electric bill now...


Oh yeah... The guys advice on the phone when i said it wont shutoff except by the power is not to use
the timer. That didnt go down well.


Thanks again, keeping my fingers crossed...

 

[mogget]

Glad you appear to have it sorted, shame it took a while but I'm sure it's a weight off your mind now it seems to be working correctly. Thanks for letting us know, too many people disappear and don't let the forum know how it turned out.