External Pump fault after service - should I be charged for call out?

[skhudy]

Any heating engineers? Small Biz, I have 2 Rinnai Water heaters feeding a cylinder which had their service on Friday Morning. Saturday morning I get a call there is no Hot water.

Called the same plumbing company for an emergency call out Saturday morning. They found the external (10 year old) Grundfos pump had failed. Some component which starts the motor in the head had gone, the Engineer spun the motor to help start it and put it on, and said as long as the the power stays on, the pump will stay on and they will send quote.

I don't know if the pump was switched off when the water heaters were serviced, I'd guess it was. There is a loop on the plumbing so it doesn't have to be switched off if the water supply to the boiler is isolated for servicing.

My question isn't on the pump fault, that is clear, but after the service should the engineer not have checked the water was circulating back into the cylinder and that the water heaters were firing up? And then have spotted the pump was no longer circulating and advised of the pump fault? I have been sent a bill for the call out and not sure whether I should dispute it. If the fault was picked up after the service there would not have been the need for a call out? possibly a lower charge for the time to temporarily restart the pump.

Looking on Google AI is says "Yes, a qualified engineer should typically have spotted a failed or failing external pump during a comprehensive boiler service. "

 

[terryplumb]

Its a bit like a light bulb that works fine for years ,then it suddenly doesn't work any more. Same with most other electric appliances including pumps !
Your external pump wouldn't be subject to any inspection during a boiler service, it's not part of the boiler. You have no way of knowing if the pump was working and failed sometimes after the boiler service.
You called out an emergency service and they are entitled to be paid.

 

[skhudy]

Its a bit like a light bulb that works fine for years ,then it suddenly doesn't work any more. Same with most other electric appliances including pumps !
Your external pump wouldn't be subject to any inspection during a boiler service, it's not part of the boiler. You have no way of knowing if the pump was working and failed sometimes after the boiler service.
You called out an emergency service and they are entitled to be paid.

Thanks for taking time to reply!

 

[terryplumb]

any idea where to get a 3.5uF 250VAC capacitor? most online seem to be 2.5uF . The cost will be more palatable than a replacement £700 pump

I have no idea ,post the above in the UK Electrics forum, one of the electronics guys may be able to help you track one down.

 

[CountryFan]

CPC, Farnell, RS Components, Ebay to name a few

 

[SFK]

Note that it does not have to be 250vac.
It has to be 250Vac or greater.
There is no issue having a higher figure (and it can be better, although they do get bigger).

You will find it easier to find a
3.5uF 450Vac capacitor.

What shape is it, black rectangle, white cylinder, or something else?

 

[ChrisJP]

I googled 3.5uF 250VAC capacitor and quite a selection of offers came up.

 

[skhudy]

Thanks all - its a white cylinder. I have ordered an exact match from city plumbing.

there are loads with a screw tread on the end which i didn't want (you can cut off to fit i read) and more importantly, most are rated a lower number of hours - 10,000 when I wanted one marked as 30,000 to match the one in the pump as its on all the time. No idea if I paid a few pounds extra for nothing, or there is a difference in quality, but its a fraction of the price of a new £600+vat pump