Boiler installer left old flue hole open

[Peter Rabbit]

Ah OK, sorry for misunderstanding. I don't know if that pipe in the bottom right is new - I don't have photos of that wall and don't remember what was there before. I believe the previous boiler was non-condensing - it was a Ferroli F30, plausibly from 2004 when I think the flat was built, and my EPC from when I moved in says the flat would benefit from having a condensing boiler installed. Is it likely to be a newly installed condensate drain pipe then? And it ought to have been connected into another drain?

I'm not able to measure the distance from the window to the flue right now - I'm away from the flat - but will have it checked.

Several Vaillant boilers including the ecofit

I think I found the manual you meant now - very useful, thanks!

It looks as if the installer, only had access from the inside, so did all the work from inside, completely ignoring the outside finishing. Perhaps the intention is to return later, to complete the job?

It only came out in email discussions afterwards about another issue that the flue had been repositioned, and they mentioned none of the other issues raised here, so I don't think they were planning to come back to it!

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

It only came out in email discussions afterwards about another issue that the flue had been repositioned, and they mentioned none of the other issues raised here, so I don't think they were planning to come back to it!

You need to make sure they return, and properly complete the job. I cannot imagine why they might think it was OK to leave an unfixed hole in the wall, like that.

 

[Peter Rabbit]

Ah, sorry for misunderstanding. I don't know if the pipe in the bottom-right is new - I don't have previous photos of that wall and didn't think about what was there before. The previous boiler may well have been non-condensing - it was a Ferroli F30, plausibly from 2004 when I think the flat was built, and my EPC when I moved in says the flat would benefit from having a condensing boiler. Is it likely that that pipe is a newly installed condensate drain pipe then? And it ought to be connected into another drain?

I've read that freezing of external condensate pipes can be an issue - should that pipe also be better insulated?

Perhaps the intention is to return later, to complete the job?

Drop a tape measure down, from the lower edge of that Velux, to the flue pipe. It is required to measure greater than 300mm distant.

It was only incidentally mentioned to me that the flue had been moved as part of a discussion about something else, and they didn't mention any of the other issues raised here, so I don't think they were planning to return!

I'm away from the flat so can't measure the distance, but will have it checked.

Several Vaillant boilers including the ecofit

I think I found the manual you meant now - very helpful, thanks!

 

[Peter Rabbit]

Sorry for repeating my post - it looked like the forum had lost the first one.

You need to make sure they return, and properly complete the job. I cannot imagine why they might think it was OK to leave an unfixed hole in the wall, like that.

Nor me! Sounds about right!

 

[opps]

I am not a plumber but I have seen the liquid from condensate pipes erode concrete (albeit very slowly).

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Nor me! Sounds about right!

Ring them, and ask them when they plan to return to complete the job.

It's also worthwhile your investigating the purpose of the white pipe. If it's a condensate disharge, when the boiler is in operation, every so often, it will discharge a batch of condensate water, out of the pipe. The water is slightly acidic, and needs to be discharged in an acceptable way. Simply pouring out, from a height, is not acceptable.

 

[CountryFan]

I am not a plumber but I have seen the liquid from condensate pipes erode concrete (albeit very slowly).

Yep, as @Harry Bloomfield it's slightly acidic and will eat away at most things over time, exactly the reason it must not be metal

Simply pouring out, from a height, is not acceptable.

Neither is the white pipe, has to be insulated through the wall now

 

[Peter Rabbit]

Thanks, I will get onto them.

Would I likely have good legal grounds to expect the installers to correct these issues? If the new flue ought to have been sealed and/or the condensate pipe attached to a drain, then it sounds like their job is currently not completed. For filling the old flue hole, I've read that that may come under "making good" the area afterwards - this wasn't explicitly discussed beforehand and isn't in the quote (I presumed they would clean up after themselves inside, and since I wasn't expecting them to move the flue, the issue of filling in the previous flue hadn't come to mind!).

If filling in the hole weren't covered as part of the installation, it seems like they have in effect damaged the freeholder's wall - I wonder would this generally mean that the freeholder could pursue the installers for the costs of filling in the hole? (I realise that the details of my lease may complicate things - but I just wonder what would generally be the case.)

Neither is the white pipe, has to be insulated through the wall now

Do you mean the pipe should be in the wall, or that the external part should be insulated up to the wall, or the pipe can come outside and the insulation should continue though the wall? Sorry if it's a dumb question.

 

[CountryFan]

Do you mean the pipe should be in the wall, or that the external part should be insulated up to the wall, or the pipe can come outside and the insulation should continue though the wall? Sorry if it's a dumb question.

No it's not a dumb question. The pipe is already in the wall (if it is indeed that one), but should have been up sized to 36mm and insulated in the wall or at least externally. As for the installation, if there was a deviation to the quote, they should have discussed it with you. I wouldn't expect it to pass a gas safe inspection - if they don't respond I would speak to these (gas safe register). Were the company definitely registered?

 

[fixitflav]

Do you mean the pipe should be in the wall, or that the external part should be insulated up to the wall, or the pipe can come outside and the insulation should continue though the wall?

Almost certainly it's the condensate pipe, but be good to confirm. If so, even if it's insulated it still needs to be piped to a drain.
Much better if possible, is to route it to a drain inside the flat, eg to a washing machine or dishwasher drain. That also avoids the frost problem.

 

[Peter Rabbit]

Thanks again. Yes they are Gas Safe Registered, and came recommended.

I sent them an email with the various issues and asked them to call me ASAP. The company director called me quite soon after and said they were booked in to do the external work in 2 days time. They hadn't mentioned this before in a couple of weeks of emails back and forth. He seemed to be implying that this had already been planned, though it's not clear to me.

Though now I'm wondering if I approve them going back, whether that means that if the freeholder subsequently objects then I can't say this was done without my knowledge, and I should tell them to hold off until I've discussed it with the freeholder. But then it may take weeks to get the repair done. Ugh...

 

[Peter Rabbit]

Something else that seems off is that the director said they'd now received the Building Regulations Compliance Certificate, but I wonder how that is possible to get legitimately before the work that's needed that was identified above is carried out.