Biasi m110.32sm/e boiler breakdown

[Mirzaghalib]

My boiler has two problems one the central heating doesn't work and second hot water works but sometimes it stops working and the boiler locks out. So I called an engineer out and after checking for few minutes he quoted me with £210 for the part to be replaced (heat exchanger plate) and get the central heating running again. So I am wondering if this is a fair price or we getting ripped off.

He also said the system needs cleaning for which he has no time right now but said that we could use the boiler for few months and then get it cleaned since it is winter.

 

[Agile]

I would clean the plate and charge £136 in the local area!

Don't see any need to fit a new one!

Tony

 

[Tibbot]

You seem to only be interested in price. Perhaps you should care more that his diagnosis doesn't match with the problems you've listed.

 

[Mirzaghalib]

So the engineer came around again today and he spent 2 and half hours without replacing any parts just checking, going back and forth. His biggest complaint was that boiler was operating at dangerous CO2 levels. He did however was able to make central heating work again however for short period of time. He was also calling Biasi and try to get the boiler sorted. However it was of no use since he could not get the boiler to continually work. The domestic hot water still works but he has given us a notice not to use the boiler as it has high CO2 levels. The tweaking with gas valve and such did not bring CO2 levels within safe range.

So after spending all that time he gave up and is now recommending that we replace the boiler with a new one at a cost of £1000 including the magnaclean filter. The boiler he is offering is Ferroli Modena 27 and the price mentioned above includes installation, megnaclean filter and the new boiler which comes with 5 year labour and parts warranty. He has said he is not charging us nothing for the 2 and half hours spent on the old boiler and we also keep the old boiler. So my question is should I accept this offer or look elsewhere since this is the second engineer who has failed to fix the boiler and we getting desperate for heating in the house and have to use electric heaters in the mean time.

 

[Agile]

He was also calling Biasi and try to get the boiler sorted.

Do you really imagine a competent engineer cannot diagnose a fault and has to call the manufacturer? Or even cannot set the CO² ?

Just a small thought to occupy you mind! How do you think the manufacturer's own engineers can fix any Biasi boiler? Are they Gods?

The Ferroli boilers are some of the worst and they may be in financial difficulties so don't expect any guarantee! Particularly when they don't pay their service agents.

Better to get your boiler repaired. I am about to fit one for someone, they are very good boilers.

Tony

 

[Mirzaghalib]

He told me two things the boilers is clogged up and the coil is too expensive to replace and the second that gas valve is faulty and that is why the CO2 is not coming within range. He was a ex British gash engineer and has been in business for more than 14 years. So based on his experience and judgement he thinks it is too expensive to get the boiler fixed as it would take lot of time and parts. When we first got the boiler 7 years ago there were numerous Biasi engineers who could not fix the problem this boiler had back then and it then suddenly started working again.

So from the get go there was something wrong with this boiler but it has lasted us 7 years. I take your advice very seriously and as you have said that Ferroli boilers are one of the worst then which other apart from Biasi I should look for. I was thinking of Vaillant or Worcester boiler.

 

[Agile]

I am sure that I could fix your boiler as that's what I do.

If that ex-BG engineer needed to call Biasi then does it not make you suspicious of his lack of skills?

You did not answer my question though about Gods!

Tony

 

[Mirzaghalib]

They are not god I do agree with you and to be fair the manufacturer hires local engineers to the jobs anyway. I understand that you feel confident in being able to repair the boiler but the problem is what if you can not do it. I mean there have been two engineers so far tackling the boiler spending in total 5 to 6 hours. Now just imagine if they asked me to pay them their labour for those hours spent I would have been out of pocket at least 400 pounds with a broken boiler. Since you are not in my area (West Bromwich, West Midlands) and finding a competent engineer is like winning the lottery I have no idea where to go but to look to replace the boiler.

I too want to save money and get the boiler fixed and that is why there have been two engineers so far trying to solve the problem. However both have failed which may be due to the boiler or they are simply incompetent. So now the only choice I have is to ask for advice from other experts which is why I have both acknowledged your advice and spent some time contemplating which would be a better option for me.

 

[Agile]

Why have you never used the British Gas or even Biasi fixed price repair service?

I have never failed to repair any boiler yet although two took me three hours but they were hard to find.

 

[Mirzaghalib]

British Gas mention this in there terms and conditions:

The charge for the work includes the labour and parts for fixing the
first fault we identify, and faults directly related to that fault. We may
charge you separately for repairs to further unrelated faults.

Now I have no idea if there may be other faults with the boiler so I cannot estimate how much it will cost me. If I call out the British gas engineer I will have to pay that charge regardless of if there is one fault or more are discovered.

 

[Mirzaghalib]

The current system is also very dirty and clogged up (hard water area) as I have seen the water in the radiators. The engineer also mentioned this as the boiler was making gurgling noise when firing up. However when I asked him if he would do the power flush to clean the system before installing the new boiler which is what you highly recommended, he refused and said he is very busy and cannot do the powerflush. Instead he will do a system flush and install the megnacleaner which will clean out the system.

I know from reading your comments on other threads and the internet that megancleaner only removes magnetic particles and the other particles still get through the filter. So I was also put off by that and therefore told him that I will do my research before getting the new boiler.

 

[Agile]

I would rather doubt your problem is lime scale related.

Much more likely just ordinary iron based dirt.

A magnetic filter will certainly help a lot!

 

[Mirzaghalib]

I understand this view but do you not recommend that I get a powerflush done before installing a new boiler if that was the case.

 

[Agile]

Well I don't see why any new boiler is needed!

Certainly a clean system is needed for a new boiler but then its needed for your existing boiler too!

I really don't understand why people don't like repairing boilers!

Tony

 

[Tibbot]

There are plenty people who repair. Unfortunately customers seem to use only 2 criteria, gas safe registered and cheapest call rate rather than specialised, experienced. Then van stocked with spares and testing equipment not just plastic pipe and tile adhesive.