Alpha CB24 Boiler advice needed.

[srekcins]

I currently have an Alpha CB24X which apparently is around 4 years old (only been in the house for 3) and has never been serviced. For a while it was leaking slightly from the DHW pressure switch but both DHW and heating worked fine until the pressure dropped and it needed recharging. Like a fool I ignored it until recently when it became a lot worse and pressure was lost on a daily basis. A recommend plumber came to have a look and pointed out all the corrosion and tried to change the worn seals. He was only able to change 1 out of the 2 he wanted because the grub screw holding the diverter valve in place had corroded to a point where it could not be removed. The leaking appeared to stop and we both agreed it was far better. I hoped to get another 6 months out of it at least but the following day I noticed a new leak which was getting onto the electrics. Same plumber came back, changed the seals (which had obviously been leaking for some time and had just been made worse by taking parts out to fix the original leak. When he tried to start the boiler it would not ignite. The error lights which come on vary between A (the red one) being on constantly or A flashing. The plumber checked continuity across the electrical points under the advice from Alpha and he believes the PCB has blown. He has quoted £240 to replace the PCB and £290 to replace the diverter valve and all pipe work showing signs of corrosion in addition to the £175 already paid to replace the seal/diaphragm OR £1350 minus the original £175 to install a Remeha Advent 28c plus remote RF controls.

My question is: Is he trying to rip me off???

I should point out that the boiler worked fine after the first visit and neither of us tested to see if it worked after I spotted the new leak. As it was dripping onto the wires running into the PCB I left it isolated. Sorry for the long post but the "read me first" post does say the more information the better!

 

[bengasman]

Your current boiler is one I would not rate very highly, and that is putting it mildly. £1350 minus £175 discount for work done is unbelievably cheap for a proper job. Admittedly I do not know the quality of the remeha boiler, but I would say you are likely to replace an old nightmare with a new one if you are effectively paying £1175 for a boiler replacement supply and fit.

 

[ChrisR]

On the face of it, no he isn't really, the parts are very expensive for that boiler.
It might be worth calling Alpha, or BG, for a fixed price repair quote. Ask them what they do if the boiler has more than one fault.

It would be interesting to know where the leak is - can you find it on here:
click the pic - diverter is lower right

The diverter valve internal parts are all available, if a fiddle to fit, which should come out cheaper than a new one.

 

[gas4you]

I would suggest you wait for Paul Barker to come on here. He is the Alpha expert and one of their appointed repair enginneers.

 

[srekcins]

I believe the plumber feels some what guilty as there is no way of knowing whether or not he is 100% directly responsible. He offered to change the PCB without charging for labour.

I don't know how to insert images but it is leaking from:
1) DHW flow switch - situated between the 2 parts of the diverter valve assembly
2) Minor leak from the joint by the fixing screw below the diverter valve - the screw which is corroded so can not be removed
3) Underneath the overheat thermostat terminals - this is the new leak which ran down the pipework onto the wires coming out of the PCB.

Just about every joint visible when the control panel is removed shows signs of corrosion.

Is the Remeha Advanta Plus a reliable boiler? It is not a brand I have heard of...[/img]

 

[gas4you]

Broag is a new boiler to the UK and early reports are that is is very good.

I have started specifying this on certain installation quotes now.

 

[GforceJames]

As already said the avanta is a new boiler to the uk, broag have been a commercial boiler supplier for many years.

I do (company) the bulk of the warranty work for broag.

On there commercial and domestic boilers, and honestly the only real fault we have has been a batch of faulty pcbs otherwise 90% of the work is installer faults and nothing wrong with the boiler.

James

 

[srekcins]

Thanks for the input.

My main concern is that the PCB in my current boiler isn't actually faulty and that it is something simple, and yet overlooked, causing the problems.

 

[GforceJames]

Have you checked the low water pressure cut off switch, i have known this to fail getting clogged up with dirt and not working.

I have changed a few pcbs on this series of boiler so it is a good possibility

James

 

[srekcins]

I think it is a case of just getting my wallet out and going with a new boiler. The boiler it's self wasn't very well installed as it is crammed into an old airing cupboard, is awkward to get at and part of the cupboard had to be cut away to allow the front panel to swing down fully (in fact it came off completely as it wasn't attached properly). A couple of the radiators were hung at a slight/moderate angle (don't know if this matters but they have been corrected anyway due them being removed during renovation work).

That is unless an expert on here can advise me of a quick fix to get it going again until the summer...

 

[baggiedean]

help please !
i have exactly the same problem you described if you fixed it could you please tell me how ? if not any advice will do thanks in advance.
Baggiedean.