Boiler was installed just 3yrs ago. For more than a year has had an irratic fault when boiler doesn't switch off at end of programme, or during programme when required temp is reached. This used to happen occasionally, but now nearly all the time. Display on boiler reads 6 74-81. Does this mean a problem with the control system? The 'heating and gas' company who installed boiler says it is an electrical fault, the electrican who wired the programmers etc says it is down to the plumbers. Obviously, neither of them want to get involved. Another electrician (not a CH expert) thought it may the PCB. I'm not at all technical and will need to call in someone who understands such matters. Does this sound like a problem with the boiler, or could it be something to do with the wiring that an electrican could sort out? It seems electrical as it is not using any gas when the boiler overrules the programmes. I think Zone One serves the CH in main house and HW, and Zone 2 the underfloor heating in the conservatory. Any suggestions would be much appreciated, please.
Keston C40 boiler
- Thread starter mer
- Start date
That's an understatement 
But why so many people involved in fitting a boiler? Surely it is best to have one company install and wire the boiler - or at least the master controls - assuming a specialist company doing things like UFH or heat pumps.
But why so many people involved in fitting a boiler? Surely it is best to have one company install and wire the boiler - or at least the master controls - assuming a specialist company doing things like UFH or heat pumps.
Hi. I'm a fellow Keston boiler owner but no expert in gas or electrics. You don't have to search very far on this forum to realise that Keston boilers aren't held in high esteem by gas engineers (that's an understatement, by the way). It appears that some (many?) gas engineers won't work on Kestons.
I don't understand the problem you describe but I think the best people to answer your question are Keston's technical people. In 2010, Keston were taken over (or merged with?) Ideal but I contacted them last week on 01482 443005 (I'd make a note of this number if I were you - you'll probably need it again). You may have to be a bit devious to get past the receptionist so you can speak to 'the organ grinder', but once you do, they're usually very helpful.
Hopefully, Keston will interpret that reading (error code maybe?) so you'll know which tradesperson to call in to fix it.
I don't understand the problem you describe but I think the best people to answer your question are Keston's technical people. In 2010, Keston were taken over (or merged with?) Ideal but I contacted them last week on 01482 443005 (I'd make a note of this number if I were you - you'll probably need it again). You may have to be a bit devious to get past the receptionist so you can speak to 'the organ grinder', but once you do, they're usually very helpful.
Hopefully, Keston will interpret that reading (error code maybe?) so you'll know which tradesperson to call in to fix it.
I would say that all you need is a competent boiler engineer. Someone who fulfils my defination of a boiler engineer will be totally conpetent in all aspects of boiler instalation and control.
Electricians are people who wire things up just as plumbers are people who pipe things up.
But as Kestons are seen as difficult and unreliable boilers there are many who will be less keen on working on them.
Another problem is that in most cases the flueing on Kestons does not have the necessary inspection access which currently requires the engineer to make a risk assessment for the next year. After that they will always be classed as Immediately Dangerous and need to be turned off!
I find it very annoying that after explaining the situation and showing them the Gas Safe information on their web site virtually all customers just do nothing about it. Since I have never worked for British Gas, I am not experienced in turning off boilers and leaving people without heating or hot water.
Tony Glazier
Electricians are people who wire things up just as plumbers are people who pipe things up.
But as Kestons are seen as difficult and unreliable boilers there are many who will be less keen on working on them.
Another problem is that in most cases the flueing on Kestons does not have the necessary inspection access which currently requires the engineer to make a risk assessment for the next year. After that they will always be classed as Immediately Dangerous and need to be turned off!
I find it very annoying that after explaining the situation and showing them the Gas Safe information on their web site virtually all customers just do nothing about it. Since I have never worked for British Gas, I am not experienced in turning off boilers and leaving people without heating or hot water.
Tony Glazier
Thanks everyone for your useful advice. I realise I probably should have explained that the display code '6' on the boiler means 'burner off because required temperature has been reached' (according to the user instructions). Presumably the number between 74-81 that follows it is the temp. Have tried speaking to Keston technical dept today, but failed to convince the receptionist that I am a qualified gas engineer so couldn't get past her! She said it sounds like I need an electrician, but she is now offering to send someone out for £275 (includes parts/labour/VAT) who will fix it if it is a boiler problem. If it is found to need a new main heat exchanger however, that will be an extra £350. She emphasised that if it is an electrical fault that would be a waste of money because their engineer would only deal with boiler faults.
The reason we had plumbers and electricians involved when the boiler was installed was that we were having a great deal of work done in the house at that time and it was teaming with tradespeople. I think in hindsight the plumber may have off-loaded some of his responsibility for the programming etc to the electrician. We were paying the plumber price-for-job, the electrician by the hour. Easy to be wise after the event!
So, the dilemma is, should I recall the original electrician again and insist he does a thorough check of the wiring before I start spending serious money on a boiler engineer, be it the one Keston is offering or someone else trained in Keston boilers? I have a feeling this is just the beginning of an expensive relationship with our boiler... Needless to say, we don't have a service contract with BG or anyone, but maybe they wouldn't have wanted to know either!
The reason we had plumbers and electricians involved when the boiler was installed was that we were having a great deal of work done in the house at that time and it was teaming with tradespeople. I think in hindsight the plumber may have off-loaded some of his responsibility for the programming etc to the electrician. We were paying the plumber price-for-job, the electrician by the hour. Easy to be wise after the event!
So, the dilemma is, should I recall the original electrician again and insist he does a thorough check of the wiring before I start spending serious money on a boiler engineer, be it the one Keston is offering or someone else trained in Keston boilers? I have a feeling this is just the beginning of an expensive relationship with our boiler... Needless to say, we don't have a service contract with BG or anyone, but maybe they wouldn't have wanted to know either!
I dont know what you mean by a gas engineer in your case. Perhaps you work with medical or industrial gases, or natural gas transportation?
In terms of boilers that would usually mean Gas Safe registered.
It would also usually mean that you would have installed the boiler yourself and would have been able to diagnose and repair any issues it presented.
Tony
Tony, sorry for the confusion. I was just trying to get past the receptionist and speak to someone in their technical dept. I explained to the lady at Keston that I owned the boiler and was endeavouring to find out what could be causing the problem so that I know whether I need to call out a Keston boiler expert or an electrician. I was not pretending to understand anything about the boiler.
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