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The very latest wheeze at Vaillant Group Service is to demand circa £90 off customers asking for an in-warranty callout. It is only refunded when the technician has been on site and proved it is a Vaillant problem. If you like the sound of this, specify a Vaillant. Another reason for me not...

Some numpty trade professional has capped off the vent to a copper cylinder and blown it up. Together with the house. See here; http://www.hpmmag.com/health-and-safety/plumber-fined-just-500-despite-causing-an-explosion

I've heard a rumour that nPower are giving up boiler installation.....does anyone know if it is true?

Our regulars will know of Dr Drivel, Water Systems etc etc. Is there a prize for being the first to notice that GaytonTonner is the latest username for this saddo?

Those of us in the boiler installation business have been troubled by wiring regs not allowing 5 and 6 core flexibles to be used for permanent wiring. Sure, you can use flat PVC/PVC cables but the boiler/pump etc manufacturers expect heat resistant flex to be used, meaning a plethora of...

I thought some forum members might be interested in the following debate I found on the Guardian website. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/georgemonbiot/2009/mar/20/william-mcgrath-aga-foodservice It features the chief executive of AGA debating the environmental credentials of his...

We have a Vaillant aquaPLUS in the family (mother in law) that intermittently plays up. Bit embarrassing because whenever we go round it works perfectly, so it is really difficult to diagnose. Problem is that when running HW it sometimes goes cold for a while. Apparently the tap symbol...

It looks like the part of Gledhill which makes Boilermates etc has gone into administration on the 17th Oct, due to the collapse of the new build market. Might be difficult getting parts now. I'm told the cylinders and copper fabrication plants are a different company and are unaffected.

In these troubled times, if there are any good heating installers out there who find themselves displaced in the Surrey/South London area; I need to recruit someone. Hopefully this isn't against forum rules?

Have a customer with a boiler fitted sideways in an airing cupboard. A tall unvented cylinder occupies the rear of the cupboard so the housebuilder has side fitted the boiler to give access to the cylinder behind. It is a Glowworm energysaver aged about 12 years and the HE has gone. The...

Anyone seen or fitted this? It uses a solar voltaic powered pump and no antifreeze. The solar panels and pipework are designed to expand and freeze in cold weather. No power supply, no antifreeze, only one moving part (the aforementioned varispeed pump). It is a direct system, eg: the...

Has anybody heard a rumour that Buderus are pulling out of the UK domestic market?

The time has come for me and my merry men to start fitting Heat Pumps. We have had reps from Worcester and Viessmann trying to get us on board for the last 24 months. The largest manufacturer in Europe is IVT, I believe, and they are tied in with an outfit in Oxford as well as selling their...

Hello An acquaintance has asked whether we can fix his 5 yr old Baxi Pot combi. Apparently it has been boiling up and hissing on CH. A new pump and a PF have been recently been carried out, and the problem persists and now affects HW too. I'd rather not send one of my team out and charge...

I have been doing some research on the Government Warmfront grant system, because a customer wanted to take advantage of it. Basically, Warmfront is billed by the Government as a £400 grant for certain people eg: they might be over 60, they might have broken down or no central heating. The...

I have a customer whose hot water is too hot. He has a 15 yr old Copperform indirect foam insulated grade III copper cylinder. Cylinder stat can be set at 50 deg, but it's still steaming. At around 70-75 degs. We've done all the normal things like checking the 3 port valve, changing the...

We are finding it very difficult to replace our technical team leader, who has left for pastures new. Had an advert on our web site, in the local papers, on the internet etc. Despite offering good rates, we have had very little interest. Even one of the UK's leading gas recruitment agencies...

Recently went to a quote. The customer was one of those who wanted to give me the impression I was only being allowed to cross his threshold for a free quote under sufferance. He had a tick sheet with three columns. First question: Do you hold 600 different parts on your service vans...

Just been out to do a quote to replace a Glow Worm 52B. It's on a Centrica/BG maintenance 3* and has a leaking pipe connection to the cast iron HE. BG have told the customer that parts are no longer available and a new boiler is required. These people are pensioners, look like they struggle...

Saw one of these the other day, its a 1994 oil condenser. Beatifully made, optionally with weather compensation, insulated casing, in apparently perfect condition. Does anyone know whether they are still made? This one give some years good service and then suffered from intermittent ignition...