I am going to get my combi replaced and have had a quote which I don't entirely agree with. I kind of like the firm I got the quote from but I last had dealings with them 10 years ago and there might be a more aggressive sales policy in place.
The question: I have thermostatic radiator valves on *all* my radiators. The CH outflow and return pipes have a 'short-circuit' pipe running between them about 1ft below the boiler which has a tap on it turned very low. With this setup if all the rad valves close there is still a circuit of water to return into the boiler so it can turn off gracefully.
On the quote there is a remote-controlled room thermostat itemised. I queried this and was told that it's a part of new regs and that it was required as otherwise the boiler would shutdown. Is it required?
Perhaps a more difficult question to answer: the overall price of the quote.
My existing combi has all the pipes in place apart from the condensate drain which will have to be 32mm plastic as it's going down an outside wall.
New boiler (Vaillant 831) can be had for £1300 +vat if you're crazy or £900 inc vat from the internet and I told this company as much.
I know it'll need an 'exhaust pipe' but these are push-fit and can be put in the same place as the existing one.
I'm guessing it's 1 day's labour. They're quoting a shade over £2000 inc vat including the boiler. Granted, they're going to do a chemical flush (and the above thermostat) but still I find this a bit steep.
Finally: British Gas. I have a service contract with them and have saved a small fortune by having this as I am the unfortunate owner of a Potterton Puma 100e which has gone through 4 diverter valves, 2 DHW wax stats, 5 electronics boards and a pump. They are now saying that I need a power-flush which will cost £750 (9 rads) and if I don't get it done they'll not fix any more CH faults. They did not show me any evidence to prove that I am sludged up and over the past 8 years every rad has been removed, flushed out and replaced while doing some major redecorating. Also, at the risk of showing my ignorance, my boiler is upstairs and so is the highest part of the CH system - I am presuming that this would mean that it is less likely to sludge up? (although I guess sludge may still make the pump have to work harder). Shortly after telling me that I needed this flush they said that as a part of a boiler replacement, BG will power-flush free-of-charge... oh and by the way please mention my name when ordering the boiler.
This smells like a fiddle to me but I don't know what I can do about it.
If you've read this far, many thanks.
I'd be very interested in anyones opinion.
Ian.
The question: I have thermostatic radiator valves on *all* my radiators. The CH outflow and return pipes have a 'short-circuit' pipe running between them about 1ft below the boiler which has a tap on it turned very low. With this setup if all the rad valves close there is still a circuit of water to return into the boiler so it can turn off gracefully.
On the quote there is a remote-controlled room thermostat itemised. I queried this and was told that it's a part of new regs and that it was required as otherwise the boiler would shutdown. Is it required?
Perhaps a more difficult question to answer: the overall price of the quote.
My existing combi has all the pipes in place apart from the condensate drain which will have to be 32mm plastic as it's going down an outside wall.
New boiler (Vaillant 831) can be had for £1300 +vat if you're crazy or £900 inc vat from the internet and I told this company as much.
I know it'll need an 'exhaust pipe' but these are push-fit and can be put in the same place as the existing one.
I'm guessing it's 1 day's labour. They're quoting a shade over £2000 inc vat including the boiler. Granted, they're going to do a chemical flush (and the above thermostat) but still I find this a bit steep.
Finally: British Gas. I have a service contract with them and have saved a small fortune by having this as I am the unfortunate owner of a Potterton Puma 100e which has gone through 4 diverter valves, 2 DHW wax stats, 5 electronics boards and a pump. They are now saying that I need a power-flush which will cost £750 (9 rads) and if I don't get it done they'll not fix any more CH faults. They did not show me any evidence to prove that I am sludged up and over the past 8 years every rad has been removed, flushed out and replaced while doing some major redecorating. Also, at the risk of showing my ignorance, my boiler is upstairs and so is the highest part of the CH system - I am presuming that this would mean that it is less likely to sludge up? (although I guess sludge may still make the pump have to work harder). Shortly after telling me that I needed this flush they said that as a part of a boiler replacement, BG will power-flush free-of-charge... oh and by the way please mention my name when ordering the boiler.
This smells like a fiddle to me but I don't know what I can do about it.
If you've read this far, many thanks.
I'd be very interested in anyones opinion.
Ian.
