Are there "pattern" Aga parts in circulation?

[RigidRaider]

Am I allowed to post on Trade Talk?

Feeling miffed because last September the plastic control knob on our gas Aga valve broke and a local "specialist" told us there was no other option than to change the entire valve, which IIRC cost over £200. Yesterday the Aga turned itself off and now it won't re-light. I've no idea why it suddenly turned off. Now the knob has a strangely "soggy" feel to it and doesn't operate easily and after holding it down for a full minute the pilot light just goes out.

So was I sold a copy valve? Do copies exist? To add to my annoyance the bloke who fitted it left the end of the piezo wire dangling loose in the bottom of the burner box and it's been necessary to light the Aga with a spill through the little port since then. I asked him to come back and fix the piezo at the time but he refused. Grrrr!

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

Copies of originals do exist. Did you purchase an original part?
New parts do fail and become faulty, so it sounds like you may purchased one or the gas safe engineer has installed incorrectly.
I would suggest you re-contact the installer, tell them that the valve has stopped working either through fault or incorrect installation, give them the opportunity to correct or disconnect the valve, If they refuse then tell that you will contact another engineer and if it is found that their installation was unsatisfactory you would hold them accountable for the work charged for or expect a full refund.
It would be worth getting this in writing if it becomes necessary.

By the way you can get the replacement control knobs for about £40.00 (this would depend model of the appliance, but usually source-able)

 

[RigidRaider]

Thanks. No, I naively thought all Aga parts were originals and it turns out the valve was not an Aga-accredited part. We are so unhappy with the installer that Mrs RR doesn't want him back in the house so we got a more grown-up local plumber to look at it. He found a pilot jet clogged with dirt and he replaced the thermocouple and the flame sensor and got the Aga lit again.

There are times when I'm only too happy to have an argument with awkward people but when Mrs RR is whining about her cold Aga is not the moment to pick a fight.