problem with boiler

[mrsmcq]

I've just had to call Scottish Hydro to arrange for an engineer to come out and hopefully fix my gas boiler. Its over 10 years old and at the last inspection I was told that it was too heavy for the wall its attached to and it is now starting to come away from it. He said that it was still fully functional and safe but would either need to be reinstalled or replaced at some point. I asked for a timeframe and he said 2 years maybe 1.

Anyway, sometimes I've noticed that the heating/hot water doesn't come on when it should. I've just assumed that this is an intermittent issue with the timer.

Obviously as its Summer not using heating but hot water did not come on yesterday morning. Didn't think anything else of it until I tried to go for a bath lastnight and there was no hot water. It was past 8pm so didn't expect boiler to be on heating water so set it to 'ON'. Nothing happened and the boiler didn't go on. I switched it off but then thought I'd try again. This time there was a zap noise and I quickly switched it off and have kept it off since then.

Also over recent months I've noticed that our overflow pipe outside for cold water has been dripping more than usual (not constant).

Not really sure what to expect from tomorrow. Hope it can all get fixed but worried that now will be the time I'm told we need to replace it. The Scottish Hydro guy said that whilst it still works and passes all of the tests, that it might cost more to remove and reinstall it than it would to replace it.

 

[Agile]

You dont tell us the make and model!

Its difficult to imagine a boiler coming off the wall which is still safe to use!

I wonder if he is making it all up to encourage you to have it replaced!

Tony Glazier

 

[D_Hailsham]

at the last inspection I was told that it was too heavy for the wall its attached to and it is now starting to come away from it.

But a boiler doesn't sudenly get heavier! So, if it's too heavy for the wall now, it was too heavy for the wall when it was installed and would have come away from the wall years ago.

Which make and model boiler do you have?

What is the wall made from?

I know this doesn't solve your immediate problem. But it does appear, at first glance, that the engineer is angling for a new boiler (£££ commission ) and this is a tall tale to persuade you to get one.

 

[mrsmcq]

Sorry don't know the make and model off the top of my head but will check when I'm back home tonight and post the details.

I did wonder how the boiler could pass the safety tests etc after the engineer had slapped an 'at risk' sticker on it and said that it was still fully functional. He said that he'd only put the sticker there for info to state that it was coming away from the wall, that they would switch it off etc and refuse to service it if it was unsafe and illegal but apparently its not. Naturally, I was highly concerned when this happened and had a rather exasperating conversation with him trying to get him to tell me what the bottom line was. That's when he said it either had to be reinstalled or replaced and he would only committ to saying "2 years maybe 1" before I had to do something about it.

I was a bit suspicious when the engineer started come out with that sort of stuff about it being too heavy. Basically he was saying that at the time of the house being built (about 12 years ago) that the boilers they were installing were too heavy for the modern materials being used and it was a common issue. He demonstrated the boiler coming away from the wall by pushing on it gently and you could see some movement but not much.

I assume the wall is made from whatever houses are built from these days. This was the second inspection and the first engineer didn't say anything like this.

Many thanks for your replies chaps! I just don't want to get conned but also want to make sure that my heating system is safe.

 

[londonpuma]

if all that is wrong is it coming away from the wall,how about putting a strap around it and secure the strap to the wall on both sides.
re ur hw,turn ur whole boiler system of completly,and restart,check the little switch/spring slides along the top of the motorised valves upstairs and that they spring back,no spring back,then its stuck,take the front cover off and have a fiddle about inside,worked for me

 

[D_Hailsham]

He demonstrated the boiler coming away from the wall by pushing on it gently and you could see some movement but not much.

So they used the wrong fixings when the boiler was put up; that's not surprising!

I rarely find that the screws and rawplugs supplied with something which needs to be fixed on the wall are adequate. Sometimes they don't even go through the plaster into the brickwork.

 

[misterdubya]

take the front cover off and have a fiddle about inside,worked for me

What sort of advice is that?

 

[londonpuma]

take the front cover off and have a fiddle about inside,worked for me

What sort of advice is that?

not advice,just a tip for a sticky mororised valve,defo not for the boiler

 

[Agile]

I rarely find that the screws and rawplugs supplied with something which needs to be fixed on the wall are adequate. Sometimes they don't even go through the plaster into the brickwork.

Do you imagine that boilers come with a selection of fittings so that you select whatever is appropriate for the particular wall construction?

That is the task of the installer.

Tony

 

[mrsmcq]

Back at home now. Boiler is a potteron prima f.

 

[D_Hailsham]

Do you imagine that boilers come with a selection of fittings so that you select whatever is appropriate for the particular wall construction?

Some boilers do come with rawplugs and screws.

The point I was making is that you can't automatically assume that what the manufacturer supplies will be suitable in all cases.

 

[mickyg]

if all that is wrong is it coming away from the wall,how about putting a strap around it and secure the strap to the wall on both sides.

quality, i love it.

 

[Agile]

Do you imagine that boilers come with a selection of
Some boilers do come with rawplugs and screws.

The point I was making is that you can't automatically assume that what the manufacturer supplies will be suitable in all cases.

Ideal used to supply some round head screws with some of their boilers.

But its up to the installer to ensure that he uses something suitable regardless of what the manufacturer supplies.

In this case it seems very odd that the OP seems to feel that she is behoven to this one firm and should not consider that she is the customer and can choose someone else if she wants to!

Tony

 

[gasafengineer]

Back at home now. Boiler is a potteron prima f.

Those Nheat/prima/profile boilers use a bracket on the rear to support boiler , these particular type boilers will 'rock' from side to side if persuaded. , especially so if the bracket was configured for max rear clearance , just the nature of the beast.

 

[mrsmcq]

Apparently its just the timer thats gone bust. Getting it replaced this morning. Hopefully that will be it fixed. I'll mention to the engineer about the boiler 'coming off the wall' and see what his opinion is. I find it hard to believe that its a real issue especially as its been on the wall for at least 12 years.