New boiler installed on an old system. Bodged job? PICS

sarahjones1975 · 18 Jan 2012

Dan_Robinson said:
Google, eh? a marvellous thing.

I have a Masters in Chemistry

So you are moaning about all this before you have the facts to hand.

External signs of rust could just mean someone had a bad aim when they went to a whiz. It has little to do with what is happening on the inside.

My toilet is no where near the rad

Thread has dragged on a bit, but for all your bellyaching on here, has the installer even been contacted about your concerns?

You didn't see this, you didn't see that, you don't know this you don't know that...

You don't have a Remeha boiler so it is irrelevant what their warranty stipulates.

I thought I'd get some advice on here before I put my letter together, but make no mistake, they will be getting a letter in the next few days. I came on here to get some advice so that I didn't have the wool pulled over my eyes and fobbed off.

heatingman · 18 Jan 2012

sarahjones1975 said:
Remeha mandates a powerflush if their boiler is installed in an existing system

No they don't they just want it cleaned to the relevant BS.

More importantly, if you expect this or any other boiler to work trouble free for many years you need to have it serviced annualy. Not just wiped over with damp cloth and poked with FGA but correctly as specified by the makers.

Dan Robinson · 18 Jan 2012

I said "could" be a bad aim. The fact that rust outside means naff all in relation to internal corrosion.

You still haven't said whether the installer has been approached or if you are going straight to WF.

What has he said about the issues raised?

samba12 · 18 Jan 2012

sarahjones1975 said:
Since all you guys constantly go on about rogues and cowboys undercutting you and leaving customers with a bad experience and giving you all a bad name, I am surprised that no one will tell me if I have the install steps in the right order and that they are not excessive/convoluted/etc bits. This will form the main bulk of my complaint letter to the company and I want them to have an excuses from honouring their part of the deal.

Please tell me if this is the correct procedure (original boiler not working):-

1) Rapidly drain the system - opening all TRV's and air vents.
2) Remove the old boiler.
3) Fit *jig* for new boiler (but not boiler)
4) Powerflush the system throughly for a approx 4 hours or more.
5) Cold flush system to remove any powerflush cleanser/Fernox F3 residue until TDS <10% compared to tap water.
6) Fit the new boiler
7) Fill system and do a cold flush
8 ) Fill system again and add more Fernox F3, then run the new boiler to heat water for 1 hour. Drain the system whilst water is still hot.
9) Flush system until water is clear.
10) Refill system and add inhibitor.

Have I got that right or not?

I would describe that as a very thorough installation, and only necessary for an old sludged up system. 10 years old i would descirbe as 'quite new'

You keep on going on about a power flush, this is taken from the website of someone who is clearly a pro

"Powerflushing has it’s uses, don’t get me wrong, but it’s very limited to the actual longevity of the boiler and system. In my opinion probably only 10% of new boilers require a full powerflush, but ALL NEW BOILERS require filter protection, and inhibitor, especially high efficiency condensing appliances."

from

http://www.vaillantservice.co.uk/VAILLANT/Vaillant_Boiler_Hot_water_problems_help!.html

are you sure they didnt specify just a 'flush' which could be a chemical flush?

personally i would calm down and stop complaining, powerflush can be 400/500 quid, new boiler 750 + materials like ch filter and cw scale inhibitor, pipe, fittings, inhibitor, etc + 300 quid admin fee (not sure if that right, dont know much about warmfront)

Sounds like you expect this guy to work for free

p.s flaking rad's is nothing to do with him, or do you think he should have changed those rads for free? customers like you really **** me off

heatingman · 18 Jan 2012

There is also another aspect to this "lack of p/flush"
All warmfront installers are under strict instructions to minimise costs to the applicant. Pay for permits, use of electric and other household costs etc. The installer may have made a concious decision that the existing system was clean enough not to warrant the additional costs incurred by using gallons of water un-neccesarily if on a meter. Unlikely but possible. I can guarantee that warmfront have had some tightwad make a claim for water used during a powerflush. They have had claims for things you couldn't even dream up.

Agile · 19 Jan 2012

I went to diagnose a boiler fault for a landlord and plugged my phone charger in while I was there.

The female tennant objected because I was using "her" power!

Now a charge is 4 watts and will run for 250 hours for 13 p !!!

For the 30m min I was there the charge would have been £0.00052

The boiler needed a new gas valve and I had these in stock and could have fixed it the next day.

But as I needed to charge my phone at home the next day the boiler was not repaired until the following day.

Odd the the tenant did not work and lived on social security.

Agile · 19 Jan 2012

sarahjones1975";p="2263378 said:
I have a Masters in Chemistry

That would enable you to get a reasonably well paid job as a teacher and a new boiler installation privately would cost hardly 5% of your annual salary!

Click to expand...

Norcon · 19 Jan 2012

For the 30m min I was there the charge would have been £0.00052

You could have offered to pay.

Dan Robinson · 19 Jan 2012

Agile · 19 Jan 2012

I did offer to pay but she was of such low intelligence that she had no idea of what the cost would be and disbelieved me when I said it was a fraction of a penny but I still offered to give her a whole penny!

Unplugging from her socket and charging my phone at home the next day seemed a much better solution for her!

This was about five years ago when jobs were easily available and I have very negative feelings towards who choose not to work and to live on benefits.

She did not offer us any coffee either! Thats never very encouraging to get a boiler fixed quickly.

Tonight I went to this lovely lady after 9 pm because she always makes me a cup of coffee! I did not want her to endure another night without heating or hot water.

Tony

FiremanT · 19 Jan 2012

I have skim read this thread, and fankly, it is shocking!!

It is totall irellevant whi did the work or that the client was subsidised.

WF/Eaga are in plumbing heaven. I admit I have never fully got to grips with the mechanics of the fimancial arrangements, but they:

Get paid top whack from the Govt. (us)
Have no competition
Most clients pay nothing or little, so have no sense of ownership and therefore rarely complain

sarahjones1975 · 20 Jan 2012

No they don't they just want it cleaned to the relevant BS.

I've talked to the Remeha regional rep who stated catergorically 'powerflush' and the avanta installation manual states the word 'powerflush' - search the pdf!

You still haven't said whether the installer has been approached or if you are going straight to WF.

I've written a letter to the installation firm and have informed WF that I am not happy with the work - they said raise it first with the installers.

are you sure they didnt specify just a 'flush' which could be a chemical flush?

personally i would calm down and stop complaining, powerflush can be 400/500 quid, new boiler 750 + materials like ch filter and cw scale inhibitor, pipe, fittings, inhibitor, etc + 300 quid admin fee (not sure if that right, dont know much about warmfront)

Sounds like you expect this guy to work for free

No, powerflush was specified in the job spec, see my previous post which specifies all the work. Forget the powerflush, I didn't even get a FLUSH - cold or hot. The system was not even drained properly, not all the vents or TRV's were opened.

In total the cost for a straight forward boiler swap cost £2100 - hardly free.

There is also another aspect to this "lack of p/flush"
All warmfront installers are under strict instructions to minimise costs to the applicant. Pay for permits, use of electric and other household costs etc. The installer may have made a concious decision that the existing system was clean enough not to warrant the additional costs incurred by using gallons of water un-neccesarily if on a meter

No, as above specified and paid for in the job spec. I couldn't give a toss about the water and elctricity used. I would rather spend £50 in water + elec than spend £500 on a new hex in 2 years time.

That would enable you to get a reasonably well paid job as a teacher and a new boiler installation privately would cost hardly 5% of your annual salary!

It's not my house, it's my parents house, both in their 70's who have worked from 18-65 so more than deserve it. I was supervising, so they didn't get shafted, but obviously didn't do it well enough.

Norcon · 20 Jan 2012

You're a man arn't you? Because you post like one.
Hate blokes who pretend to be females in order to get answers.

holty · 20 Jan 2012

I just want it to work and keep on working. As you can see, no stickers anywhere. Oh ...just noticed ..looks like a screw is missing from the right hand side as well!

i think you have a screw missing also!

Agile · 20 Jan 2012

sarahjones1975 said:
It's not my house, it's my parents house, both in their 70's who have worked from 18-65 so more than deserve it. I was supervising, so they didn't get shafted, but obviously didn't do it well enough.

As you may well inherit their house one day then dont you think that you could invest in improving its facilities?

Furthermore, as they brought you up and helped you to become well educated with an MSc in Chemistry, would it be that unreasonable for you to give just 5% of one years salary to give them a new boiler?

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New boiler installed on an old system. Bodged job?** PICS **

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New boiler installed on an old system. Bodged job? PICS