A very dissapointed customer

[tango1]

Hi, I have a problem with my underfloor heating. When i switch on the underfloor heating, it triggered off all the electrics in my house and now i don't have any underfloor heating at all. So I called my builder who orginally did the job. He checked everything & came to a conclusion that the underfloor heating wiring is burnt. He said that he can reinstall the underfloor heating & retile the floor but he's asking for payment which i dissagree cos i have already paid alot of money for the first job. How can i avoid paying the money, pls help!

 

[noseall]

who is responsible for the u.h. install?

 

[JohnD]

this is electrical underfloor heating?

was it installed by a proper electrician, who tested it?

 

[tango1]

who is responsible for the u.h. install?

My builder and his workmen whom i hired to do my new home renovations.

 

[tango1]

I think he was just a general builder but the electricals were tested and passed by an electrician.

 

[JohnD]

did the electrician issue a certificate? have you got it?

do you consider that the work was done by a reputable firm? have you got a quotation and an invoice?

 

[tango1]

yes the electrician had issued me the certificate.

 

[tango1]

I'm not sure how reputable his company is but he was highly recommended by one of his customers who happens to be my neighbour.
They did not have any complains about his workmanship. That's what is puzzling me.

 

[JohnD]

contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau.

It sounds like you have a dispute over quality of work done, whether it was done to a proper standard or not. If it was properly installed and tested it is unlikely to go wrong unless it is subsequently damaged.

 

[tango1]

I have his quotation with me but unfortunately i missplaced his invoiced receipt while moving home.

 

[noseall]

I have his quotation with me but unfortunately i missplaced his invoiced receipt while moving home.

how long has the u.f.h. been down?

 

[tango1]

I think the underfloor wiring was damaged by one of his workers while he was repairing the broken tile because when we moved into our newly renovated home, i tried using the kitchen underfloor heating. When I switched on the u.f.h, it triggered off all the electricals in my home.

 

[tango1]

The u.f.h was heating up but triggers off the electrics when switched on up till about a few weeks ago it stops heating completely.

 

[tango1]

Anyway thank you everyone for all the advice.

 

[^woody^]

The responsibility lies with whoever did the installation, or whoever supplied the mat.

If your contract was with builder to supply and fit the heating mat then he is responsible for the mat, and for the installation by himself or his contractors.

If you supplied the mat and he just fitted it, then he is responsible if he damaged it, but not if the mat failed due to a manufacturing fault.

Its common law liability (latent defects) and the liability is for 6 years from when the fault was discovered, not from when fitted