Vokera Boiler - Pressure Valve replacement for £150

b_lucy · 5 May 2004

Helloooo

I'm REALLY hoping that someone out there can help me. I'm living in Oz and my partner and I are renting out our little flat in Slough whilst we're away for a couple of years... our boiler has died horribly and our poor tenants have been without hot water for days. We were advised by our Estate Agents that their contractor has been along and advised that he has to replace the Pressure Relief Valve (for £150) and from there will be able to ascertain what the problem is.... so In Short, the MINIMUM costs will be £150. We used to have a FAB plumber / electrician, but the poor man committed suicide (he is dearly missed, not lease because he was such an excellent and fair tradesman).. Being so far away I feel quite helpless and rather suspect I'm being taken for a ride by the Estate Agents (who seem to always send rubbish contractors in who costs twice as much and do half the job) If anyone could tell me if this is a fair cost it would be GREATLY appreciated!! Better still, if you know of a better plumber in the area that's be fantastic !

Thanks for reading this far and any help would be REALLY appreciated !

Lucy (in Oz)

weargas · 5 May 2004

I can tell you that the retail price of a pressure relief valve for a vokera in the NE of England is around £10.

DP · 5 May 2004

There are guys on this forum who specialise in boiler repairs. Get someone else who knows what he is doing.

I wish you had mentioned which model of Vokera you have to get further guidance. Vokera boilers (usually older models) are very reliable. It should be possible to diagnose the defect before any work commences on the boiler.

Do not change the boiler but come back with model and exact nature of malfunction.

b_lucy · 8 May 2004

Hello

I had to call the tenants to find out the make as the instruction manual left safely at my parents house isn't where we thought it would be ... The poor tenants have been without hot water for THREE WEEKS - the Estate Agents have only JUST got in contact with me !!

Anyway, nuff of the whinging... The model is a Vokera 20/80RS..

Can't hold off fixing it for much longer - but the tenants are happy to wait another couple of days.

Like I said, it seems that this other 'contractor' is whackinga great big premium onto the part and that I'm paying for his training too as he said he needs to replace the pressure release valve before he can work out if that is what actually is wrong.. This is the e-mail I got from the Estate Agents..

"Further to my email to you yesterday, I have just received a call from one of the tenants, Mick.

He has been unable to get any hot water from the boiler, the pressure is there, but the pipes are all cold and the boiler doesn't light up when the central heating is turned on.

They are desperate for hot water. Could you please advise us as to what you would like us to do, perhaps arrange for a contractor to attend!."

They then called one in - and called to let me know it would be £150+...

Thank you both for your help so far !!!!!!!!

All the best from DownUnder (where it's quite cold at the moment - Winter's coming)

Lucy

DP · 8 May 2004

Hi Lucy. Where is your flat? I am in Glasgow so might be able to help you.

Vokera 20 80 is about 10 years old and quite easily will give you another 10 years of faithful service. The chances are the boiler needs a full service which will put it back on its feet.

I would say the pressure release valve in NOT faulty if system pressure is OK. If you are looking for remote diagnoses, get your people to email me at aforementioned email.

Any boiler can be tricky to fault unless you know how it operates. I have seen many a Flowmatic discarded simply because the 'engineer' tried fixing it by changing parts and not getting anywhere. In fact I have rescued such a boiler from a skip, which now sits in my lockup waiting for my daughter to get a flat.

peter anderson · 8 May 2004

If I was your tenant I would be incredibly unhappy both with you and your estate agents that a) it took 3 weeks for the matter to reach you b) that you were making your tenants wait for days without hot water while you worried about the cost. IF I was them I would be looking for a reduction in my rent over that period.

When you say the cost is £150 is that the cost for the part only or for the labour costs as well? If for the labour costs as well then it doesn't seem an unreasonable price to me.

breezer · 8 May 2004

peter anderson said:
When you say the cost is £150 is that the cost for the part only or for the labour costs as well? If for the labour costs as well then it doesn't seem an unreasonable price to me.

£150 labour for a £10 part?

by the way, thats £30 you owe me for writing this,

breakdown of cost

elctricity used £1.00

Labour £29.00

ChrisR · 8 May 2004

DP - boiler is in Slough so not on yuor patch! Not mine either.

Lucy It does NOT sound like the pressure relief valve is causing the real problem, though they do quite often have to be replaced because they drip(outside). £150 is on the heavy side. Some would be simpler than others but I'd expect to do it in an hour ! Not many engineers charge over £100 per hour, and some as low as £35. Expect his guy to be telling you you need a new boiler...

peter anderson · 8 May 2004

Hi Breezer,

I don't really know how long corgi engineers charge for their time. Would they go to a house if they were only going to earn £29 for getting the part and the time spent in putting it in?

b_lucy · 8 May 2004

Thank you so much for all of your advice !

I totally agree with Peter that the time taken to fix this problem is a DISGRACE - I was however called on Thursday night Oz-Time / Thursday day UK time and simply don't have £150 to pull out of the air - though I would willingly pay the amount - just really don't want to be taken for a ride by the Estate Agents and their contractor (and the tenants are happy to catch them out so we can go with someone else as we've both found them rubbish)

The poor tenants have been using next door's bath !! Luckily I had a great relationship with my neighbours - I only wish someone had called me direct - I would have paid the tenants directly to fix the problem and bi-pass the rotten Estate Agents.

Anyway, you guys don't need to know all that.. Peter, I do rather feel that the majority of technicians on this forum disagree with the costs... I understand that you guys are specialists and should get paid well for your knowledge, but when guys abuse that.. well, it's just not cricket !

breezer · 8 May 2004

seeing as you said I only wish someone had called me direct - I would have paid the tenants directly to fix the problem why don't you call them?

b_lucy · 8 May 2004

BIG THANK YOU AGAIN for bothering to reply to all this !!

b_lucy · 8 May 2004

Good point !

though seeing as 15% of the rent the tenants pay go to the 'property managers' I shouldn' tave to call them...

The Estate Agents advised me that the contractor was going over Saturday morning unless they heard otherwise from me - I was really keen to fix the problem so the tenants could be comfortable again, so I agreed (I like the tenants and I'm really not a horrible landlord - I make a loss renting but love my flat and don't want to sell it.. anyway) The contractor has probably replaced the release / relief valve by now .....

You guys have been a HUGE help just so I can now tell if I'm being taken for a ride. Next time I'll definately use this site to find a decent pro.

b_lucy · 8 May 2004

Thanks for the offer of fixing the problem !!
Hope your daughter gets a cool flat !!
Having 'handy' Dads is the best

breezer · 8 May 2004

to add / amend post you should click the

button, it saves confusion

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Vokera Boiler - Pressure Valve replacement for £150

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