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romperstomper

romperstomper

romperstomper

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9 Sep 2007
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1,873
Had a new boiler fitted yesterday ,they had to change all the pipes due to new regulations and add all sorts of things that I did not really want due to new regs ! So has cost me thousands :eek:
Plumber managed to scratch my new silver dishwasher (although I can't prove it ) contaminate my 3 water buts with cement ,brick (which I use to top up the pond,wash my diving gear) and now I have just flooded the kitchen as he did not reconnect the waste pipe to the washing machine :mad:
Feel that I should report him but he his a nice guy so wont ,he is coming back on friday to flush the system ,I wonder what other damage he can do :rolleyes:
I'm starting to think its not a good idea to get friendly with traders as they seem to think its a ok to get a way with shoddy work then !
 
had a new combi boiler fitted on Saturday, two guys did it, they also ripped out the old back boiler and fireplace. one of the pipes to the back boiler weasn't capped off correctly and leaked all over my cellar conversion :(
 
sounds dodgy.

I'm worried as I'm planning moving from oil to gas heating and installing a gas fire in the living room.

A slightly more dangerous thing than simple water leakage.

How to find and decent plumber as well.

I don't mind paying over the odds for a good reliable plumber. When will people in the building trade realise this. I think there are a good few people out there who wouldn't mind paying the going rate to have a good job done.
 
Also I have had two people out to view my installation and both asked me what type of boiler I had in mind. So do you guys and gals generally read all the tech spec on boilers to let the plumber know or what?

To be honest I expected them to have a look then either show me some brochures and give me a choice depending on my needs (rads, hot water consumption etc) then I decide based on budget/needs. Both plumbers expected me to pull a boiler spec out of thin air and looked bemused when I said it was their job to give me my choices. I won't be using either of them of course (think they were more handymen than real heating installers.)
 
jas72 said:
Also I have had two people out to view my installation and both asked me what type of boiler I had in mind. So do you guys and gals generally read all the tech spec on boilers to let the plumber know or what?
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Just get a boiler with a large enough output. Some of the lower end ones won't be able to power all of your hot water needs at the same time (I.e would struggle with a manual shower upstairs + running the hot tap downstairs). However a plumber should know what model would meet your needs.

To the OP. That guy sounds like a cowboy and saw you coming. We had a condensing boiler put in and you would not have know he had been round if it wasn't for the new boiler. Place was spotless. Charged a good price too.
 
LordSplodge said:
To the OP. That guy sounds like a cowboy and saw you coming.
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well he is corgi registered ,just seems to be a bit clumsy although I did buy a new smoke alarm before going to bed last night in case the boiler explodes (not sure if it would do me much good )

It seems to make a loud booming noise sometimes when it fires up ,I reckon its the gas building up and not igniting soon enough !
 
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Did he show you a valid Corgi card with his photo on it, and on the back should say what he is actually allowed to do? (at least that is what my mate has anyway). Some companies put the Corgi cert on the van, then have unregistered people carry out the work and it only needs the finishing touches to be done by a corgi certified plumber. With regards what type of boiler, they should be able to advise what they think is best, but also you can have some input into energy efficiency ratings, makes/models friends/familly have had installed etc.
 
Make sure he flushes it through properly and uses a chemical inhibitor after. If it's a Combi boiler then it'll usually only need a chemical cleaner ran round for an hour or so then a mains pressure flush. If it's a conventional boiler then it'd need a power flush/cleanse with a proper flushing machine (assuming the water's dirty enough, and if it's been a decent re-pipe that's been expensive then it's probably come from a mavity system and so it will be).

Just out of curiosity, what has had to be changed that you didn't want?
 
Cyanide said:
Just out of curiosity, what has had to be changed that you didn't want?
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The chemical flush is being left in until end of week !
They had to change the diameter of the copper pipes going to the boiler from the gas supply ,fit a sludge remover ,a room ,clylinder and wireless thermostat ,7 day programmer , replaced all sorts near the hot water tank !
Not sure if I needed all this really as the ch was only about 13 years old !
A bit late to worry know though !
 
I've been on the internet too long. I read that thread subject as "Plumpers"
 
OP, what did you ask to have done in the first place -- why did you call a plumber?

You seem to be a bit of a mug, or you just have enough spare cash to nod and sound like you understand when this cowboys throwing this bs at you.

Regulations my foot, it was ok when they put it in, and 13 years ago would still be considered modern, plumbing technology doesn't change much in 13 years.
 
people like him are why tradesman get a bad name, I am lucky I have alota friends who are tradesman. call corgi check him out, failing that have a m8 or 2 at ya place when he comes and kick his butt !!!
 
Cyberstrike2027 said:
Regulations my foot, it was ok when they put it in, and 13 years ago would still be considered modern, plumbing technology doesn't change much in 13 years.
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Except if the boiler needed to be replaced then -

They had to change the diameter of the copper pipes going to the boiler from the gas supply - a new gas supply may well have been needed to give the higher pressure required by a condensing boiler. The Zero-Governor on a condenser runs at 21mb, not 8-10 like on old boilers.

fit a sludge remover - Fairly standard practice these days, especially on open vented systems.

a room, clylinder and wireless thermostat - Not sure as they needed to be wireless unless it would be a pig to run the wires but both a cylinder and room thermostat are required by part L regulations to provide a boiler interlock.

7 day programmer - Unless you want it on all the time then it's not a bad idea ;)

replaced all sorts near the hot water tank -Possibly a new pump if the old one was 13 years old, more than likely a new 2/3 port valve if it's been re-wired (and with a new programmer etc it will have been) and probably a new air-separator and open vent.

Sadly all of the above is required these days, the regulations suck and end up costing the customer more but at the end of the day if he didn't fit it as per the regs he'd be looking at a hefty fine or even losing his corgi.
 
regulations due change, flue pos/elec isolation/where the new boiler can go earth bonding, this is all things that have to be put on new installations, on an existion installation these would all be classes as not to current standard but i cant put something in that doesnt meet reguations as he has to sign it off with corgi number and inform corgi its been installed, if he doesnt when u sell the house corgi will charge u £600 to come round and look at it and if its good enought they will sign it, also an old boiler may req a 15mm gas supple and now most modern boilers require a 22mm. if i can be of any more help please ask, also what boiler did he put in, make wise? valiant/worsester bosch? to name decent ones lol
 
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