Gloworm Ultimate, pump and a PCB

[Mattcom]

Hi there

Great forum.

I went and touched the central heating in my new house for the first time - a year after having moved in - it was asking for trouble I suppose. I bled a radiator and left the heating on for 48 hrs by mistake. So yesterday the heating stops working.

The boiler starts no problem, and then cuts out after a couple of minutes, repeatable after a few minutes, over heating. Pump I reckon.

Chap comes in first thing am - good service - and says it's a pump.

However, he says that the pump going has 'blown the PCB'.

Now, I'm out of my depth here - my head says that if the PCB has blown, why does the boiler work no problem until it overheats. Can't work that one out.

Is it feasible?

£295 plus VAT to change the pump.
An extra £90 plus VAT added for the PCB. Got to be ordered in.

I'm a bit distressed at the charge - and it then makes you question everything else.

PS: I haven't got a pressure tap to put extra water in the heating system like boiler had in my last house. I'm wondering if the tank in the loft fills it up automatically.

 

[ChrisR]

If you have £295 cash , go to the east end, buy a gun and shoot the b@5tard.

Yes your system fills from the header tank in the loft.
Check it has water in it.
Then check for a bleed valve by the HW cylinder, if there is one:

When you bleed some air OR water out, you should hear the tank in the loft refilling. If it doesn't, you have a blockage.

 

[Prof.plumb]

I think the chap may be trying to do you over - dry. I have worked on hundreds of glowworm ultimates and never has a pump which is external to the boiler blown a board. Usually big components blow fuses. I think that i would ask him to fit the pump and then see what happens. Sure enough if the pump is gone the heat will not get away from the boiler quick enough and the boiler will go out on over heat.

 

[corgiman]

Sorry prof I have to disagree I have had loads of two fuse PCBS that blow fuses due to a dodgy external pump.

 

[gas4you]

Don't the Ulimates control the pump from the pcb? or is that just the newer fan flued ones?

I thought I was expensive at £120 + VAT for a simple pump change

 

[hav it]

have you checked power at pump. or that pcb is putting power to pump.

 

[corgiman]

have you checked power at pump. or that pcb is putting power to pump.

honestly change the pump

 

[Slugbabydotcom]

£295 plus VAT to change the pump.

Do you get your eyes back when he's finished with them?

Did you spit in his coffee or something? I bet you wish you had done now!

 

[Mattcom]

Thanks - I thought it was just me

I'll get the pump changed - by someone else, and then see what happens!

 

[corgiman]

Don't the Ulimates control the pump from the pcb? or is that just the newer fan flued ones?

I thought I was expensive at £120 + VAT for a simple pump change

would have thought that was about right gas, 50-60 notes for the pump and 10 for inhibitor and the rest to do it

 

[Mattcom]

Stunning result everyone.

John from Rainbow came along and fitted the (proper grundfos) pump, diagnosed a blown fuse in the pcb - which we sourced at 90 pence (inc VAT) from the shop up the road - in Milton Keynes.

John asked for £110 including VAT - to which I added £20 for being out on a Saturday and to have a drink for having saved me loads. Thanks John....and such a nice fella too.

Unfortunately the original guys took a swipe of my card so will be taking money whether I want them to or not - so now I'm wondering whether to report the original guy to the police for trying to steal my PCB.

It is painful to think that these guys are waiting for unsuspecting people (someone's Grandma?) to call them and be ripped of to the tune fo £385 plus VAT to change a pump and a fuse.

How I can help stop them - any ideas?

 

[Meldrew's mate]

How can I help stop them - any ideas?

Name them here, then make a complaint to trading standards. Don't expect results though, unless you have proof they would charge you that much for a pump, i.e. written quote.
There are laws which prevent excessive mark-up on parts, but they are much more lenient on the supplier if they are supplied under emergency conditions (e.g they have them on the Van and don't have to go away to buy them)

Where're the legal eagles when you need them...

SOFTUS, where are you?

mm

 

[gas4you]

Stunning result everyone. John from Rainbow came along .

Bet Zippy would have been cheaper

 

[corgiman]

Plenty of plumbers I would call bungle though

 

[namsag]

Should not matter that he has took a swipe of card once you are over 100 quid there is various laws that put debt to card company to do with not receiving service you have paid for etc, phone card company and tell them not to pay