Misdiagnosis or Unreasonable Care?

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Hi,

What do we think of this situation from a professional stand point please?

Boiler started leaking, only dripping a bit out the bottom, so I shut of the hot water taps and the water stopped dripping. I dropped the front cover and you could see the water was dripping from the Diverter so I called an engineer out.

He said the diverter needed replacing, the part cost £250. So he went away, got one, came back and fitted it the next day (sounded like he had some difficulty from where I was upstairs, don't know...) when I came downstairs he had removed the bottom panel of the boiler which holds the front panel with all the wiring to the pcb on it and the front panel is just hanging there. I was somewhat surprised at this and mentioned it to him to which he says "it's fine", but to be honest I didn't really think so.

Then when he puts it all together again the boiler won't start because of a clicking noise coming from the pcb and then a slight burning smell. That certainly wasn't there before.

He reckoned that it must have got wet when the diverter was dripping but I'm 99% sure it didn't.

So now I'm left with a bill for a part and labour to fit a diverter to a broken boiler that still doesn't work and according to him needs replacing. Is this right? Should he have checked the pcb to make sure the boiler was functioning before buying and fitting the new diverter?

Or do we think the reason for the shorting of the pcb could be from the front panel hanging down?

The boiler is a Halstead Ace High. Photo's attached of the front panel hanging down.
Cheers
 

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turn the power off, remove the plastic cover that goes over the pcb, give it a good blast with a hair dryer all over then connect back up and turn on, sounds like water ingress in the PCB, but those PCBs are very flakey at best
 
So that did seem to stop it clicking when you turn it on and the electrics seem OK, but I don't know what state the engineer left the boiler in, whether it's ready just be filled and fired up as it didn't like it when I did.

One thing is for sure, he obviously used the PRV to drain the boiler and guess what ain't closing now when I try to refill the boiler with water!

Where does this leave me anyway, I've ordered a new boiler and fitting now, maybe that too has been unneccesary...
 
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You dont need a new boiler, very much doubt you even needed a diverter valve, you said it was leaking, was it leaking from the small chrome pipes going into the diverter ?
 
While cannot comment on work practice of the chap attending, it is not unusual to have bits hanging by the cables and wires. It is also common to flood the electronics and if that is the case, removing the electronics is a safer bet before flooding the pcb.

As a heating engineer, I would be contesting the bill if shoe was on the other foot as a boiler that had diverter issue, now is a dead boiler
 
One thing is for sure, he obviously used the PRV to drain the boiler and guess what ain't closing now when I try to refill the boiler with water!

I do that all the time. I also carry stock of these as it is a common item that fails.
 
While cannot comment on work practice of the chap attending, it is not unusual to have bits hanging by the cables and wires. It is also common to flood the electronics and if that is the case, removing the electronics is a safer bet before flooding the pcb.

As a heating engineer, I would be contesting the bill if shoe was on the other foot as a boiler that had diverter issue, now is a dead boiler
Aprreciate the cables are strong enough to hold the panel, thanks.
Are you saying the PCB could have got wet when he fitted the new diverter because he didn't remove the pcb? That would make sense.
 
Without wanting to divert the conversation away from the points in question, how would you guys feel if someone cancelled you when you'd ordered a new boiler and thermostat for them? I've already booked another engineer to replace the boiler. I would feel pretty bad if I had to cancel, what do you think?
 
As long as you cancel with plenty of notice, before he uplifts the materials
 
I have had cancellations a few times without even being told.
Turn up at appointed time to find job already completed by others.
Cust quoting cooling off period etc..
If you are happy spending 1-2k carry on .
 
As you have clearly lost confidence in him, it's probably best you've asked someone else to install new boiler.

1st chap will moan, and then move on to his next job having learned a lesson.
****t happens.
 

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