Plumber/Heating enginers perspective required

[gatecrasher3]

If you had installed a new boiler and associated upgraded gas pipe, etc and then after 4 days the boiler had a fault what would you do?

Would you replace the boiler for the customer or would you tell the customer that they need to contact the boiler manufacturer and arrange for one of their engineers to attend and repair it under warranty?

 

[Rob]

We would attend to make sure it was a boiler fault and nothing to do with installation. If it was indeed a boiler fault we would then arrange for the manufacturers to attend.

Why? Didnt expect a new boiler after 4 days did you??

 

[corgiman]

get the makers back

 

[Softus]

what would you do?

Almost anything except go on an Internet forum asking oblique questions.

Is this just a hypothetical question, or do you actually have a problem?

 

[numpty1]

We would attend to make sure it was a boiler fault and nothing to do with installation. If it was indeed a boiler fault we would then arrange for the manufacturers to attend.

Why? Didnt expect a new boiler after 4 days did you??

ditto

 

[heatingman]

Contact the makers, requesting a visit and repair within 48hrs, if not return apliance to wholesaler as unfit for purpose

 

[Softus]

Ah, heatingman. Welcome back.

 

[bengasman]

A fault is always possible , though pretty unlikely if you use a decent brand and do a thorough job.
More likely customer has been playing with the settings and has done something wrong. Teaching them how to play with their new toy is also part of the job, so whatever I suspect, if I can’t solve it over the phone, I go back to sort it out for them.
Small effort, and it does wonders for your client base. A lot more effective than advertising.
On the rare occasion that the boiler actually is faulty, I even meet the warranty engineer to see how and what, and pick his brains. Got some invaluable info that way, including an engineers book that hardly anyone seems to know exists.

 

[heatingman]

Bad news, new person but must be using an old ID.

 

[Softus]

engineers book that hardly anyone seems to know exists.

Do tell!

 

[gatecrasher3]

We would attend to make sure it was a boiler fault and nothing to do with installation. If it was indeed a boiler fault we would then arrange for the manufacturers to attend.

Why? Didnt expect a new boiler after 4 days did you??

I'm not "expecting" a replacement unit but wanted to hear opinions from you guys as to what was the norm in that kind of situation.

That said though, a failure occurring so quickly after installation does not provide confidence in the longevity of the unit.

Playing devils advocate for a minute, I'm guessing from your last line and other peoples posts that nobody would entertain swapping the boiler. Can you tell me why that would be, other than the obvious extra work for the installer?

 

[numpty1]

Playing devils advocate for a minute, I'm guessing from your last line and other peoples posts that nobody would entertain swapping the boiler. Can you tell me why that would be, other than the obvious extra work for the installer?

because i only fit them, not design or build them.most boilers have flaws of some sort so my attitude is let the manufacturers swop it after all they are the ones making the most money out of them

 

[PlanetThanet]

Hi

Would you expect ( or get) a new car if it had a problem?
I bet your installer is thrilled with you .Are you holding back payment??

Thanet.

 

[EliteHeat]

I've exchanged a boiler once about two months after installation. This was because the manufacturers could not give me any kind of date as to when the faulty part would be available.

 

[Onetap]

and then after 4 days the boiler had a fault what would you do??

If it is a boiler fault and not operator error, then the Customer has a contract with the Installer and it is the Installer's responsibility to rectify it.

It may be a warranty problem, then the Installer has a contract with the boiler supplier, but it is still the Installer's problem to sort out.

Typically, the Installer may tell the Customer it is faulty boiler whilst the Manufacturers is telling the Installer that it is a faulty installation and not covered by the warranty. From the point of view of the Customer, that is something for the Installer to sort out. The Customer's one and only contract is with the Installer; the contract is usually for a working boiler in exchange for money.

Would you replace the boiler for the customer or would you tell the customer that they need to contact the boiler manufacturer and arrange for one of their engineers to attend and repair it under warranty?

You can't be certain that the boiler needs replacement until a competent technician has examined it.

Combi boiler? Existing system? Power-flushed? Do tell.
Any get-out clauses( e.g. 'recommend power flushing for £XXX prior to installation', which was declined)?