Hi,
I have been renting my flat out for a year and the gas safety inspection was due. I booked a registered engineer with good reviews to do a service and certificate for the boiler, which is a Sime Halstead Combi 30/90 (same as this diagram): https://www.plumbase.co.uk/halstead-wickes-combi-3090-10000780-3550087/explodedviews
The engineer failed the boiler because the screw for the casing is missing - I'm assuming he means the one labelled 37 in the diagram on the bottom of the front panel but I wasn't there at the time as the tenant was instead. There's a good chance the screw was present at the first inspection last year or it should've failed then, so this means either the tenant or today's engineer have somehow managed to "lose" it. I've accepted that I have to pay for the engineer to come back to fit the screw as I don't have much choice but to give benefit of the doubt this time and apparently on gas safe can touch the casing screws, but as far as I understand from a bit of online research, it's fairly common for gas engineers to carry an assortment of screws that are suitable to use as replacements in this kind of circumstance.
As the screw is now listed obsolete as an official part or OEM, I just want to educate myself a bit more about where I go from here - surely I can't be told I have to get a new boiler because a screw is obsolete? Is it safe to replace it with any screw that fits or will I be unable to get a gas safety certificate if this particular screw is unavailable? I'm waiting to get a quote tonight from the engineer for a single screw which seems a little ridiculous. I'll be disappointed if it's over 50p to be honest but of course it will be 100 times that just to come back to the property
I suspect I might be getting ripped off again but I don't seem to have much luck with safety inspections. I had British Gas check over the electrics before I rented, I have a fairly modern consumer unit but again it was failed on the top entry of the cables to the casing because the gap for entry was too big. I accept this was a genuine reason for a fail but instead of giving us the chance to caulk/silicone around the cable (using something that won't react with the cable, or course) or just fit a little capping plate, essentially I was told the only solution was to spend £800 replacing the CU, which I politely declined. This time it's not optional as I need the gas safety certificate by law (I solved the CU problem by fitting some mini trunking around the entry point so now it's safe).
I'll of course wait to see what the engineer comes back with but if he starts going down the sharp intake of breath route then I need to know if I have to keep my cool or call someone else to do the inspection and let him know what I really think.
I have been renting my flat out for a year and the gas safety inspection was due. I booked a registered engineer with good reviews to do a service and certificate for the boiler, which is a Sime Halstead Combi 30/90 (same as this diagram): https://www.plumbase.co.uk/halstead-wickes-combi-3090-10000780-3550087/explodedviews
The engineer failed the boiler because the screw for the casing is missing - I'm assuming he means the one labelled 37 in the diagram on the bottom of the front panel but I wasn't there at the time as the tenant was instead. There's a good chance the screw was present at the first inspection last year or it should've failed then, so this means either the tenant or today's engineer have somehow managed to "lose" it. I've accepted that I have to pay for the engineer to come back to fit the screw as I don't have much choice but to give benefit of the doubt this time and apparently on gas safe can touch the casing screws, but as far as I understand from a bit of online research, it's fairly common for gas engineers to carry an assortment of screws that are suitable to use as replacements in this kind of circumstance.
As the screw is now listed obsolete as an official part or OEM, I just want to educate myself a bit more about where I go from here - surely I can't be told I have to get a new boiler because a screw is obsolete? Is it safe to replace it with any screw that fits or will I be unable to get a gas safety certificate if this particular screw is unavailable? I'm waiting to get a quote tonight from the engineer for a single screw which seems a little ridiculous. I'll be disappointed if it's over 50p to be honest but of course it will be 100 times that just to come back to the property
I suspect I might be getting ripped off again but I don't seem to have much luck with safety inspections. I had British Gas check over the electrics before I rented, I have a fairly modern consumer unit but again it was failed on the top entry of the cables to the casing because the gap for entry was too big. I accept this was a genuine reason for a fail but instead of giving us the chance to caulk/silicone around the cable (using something that won't react with the cable, or course) or just fit a little capping plate, essentially I was told the only solution was to spend £800 replacing the CU, which I politely declined. This time it's not optional as I need the gas safety certificate by law (I solved the CU problem by fitting some mini trunking around the entry point so now it's safe).
I'll of course wait to see what the engineer comes back with but if he starts going down the sharp intake of breath route then I need to know if I have to keep my cool or call someone else to do the inspection and let him know what I really think.
