Boiler problems

loltim

loltim

loltim

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Joined
21 Oct 2002
Posts
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Location
Wellington, NZ
Hi, we have a Vokera compact 29 that's losing pressure after an hour or so. We got a boiler man out who replaced the pressure release valve (I think) but that made no difference. He also re-pressurised the expansion vessel(?)

We haven't been charged for his work or the part yet, but before I ring him back I want to know if anyone has had similar problems. I'm not keen on getting him back to just throw more money at it, guessing which part has failed.

All the rads are at one level (same level as boiler) apart from one in the cellar. I've checked all the rads for leaks and trapped air and can't see anything wrong. Help!
 
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Does it lose pressure when the system is cold? The water has to be going somewhere so the checks are:

1) Turn off the boiler (no hot water or central heating)
2) With the system cold repressurise
3) Does the pressure fall over the following hour?
If yes can you see water leaking from from PRV outlet pipe? If the PRV is not leaking you must have a leak somewhere else in you central heating pipework.

4) Assuming the pressure has not fallen turn on the central heating
Monitor the pressure dial as the radiators heat up. What does the pressure peak at? My hunch is the expansion vessel is knackered and the pressure rises until the PRV activates discharging water. When the system cools pressure will drop below your charge pressure.
 
Thanks for the reply.

I re-pressurised the boiler to 1.5 bar with it turned off and it lost pressure. Water is coming out here (plastic bend, disconnected just for the photo):

IMG_20150929_172318_zpslumfrizv.jpg


I would estimate it took as little as 15 mins to go from 1.5 bar to 0.5 bar.

Any ideas?:(
 
http://cdn0.vokera.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/compact-he-installation-and-servicing-manual.pdf

Page 39 Part no.43

If you want to confirm the failure, then pressurise the system, and isolate the boiler from the system using the F&R valves, and watch the pressure gauge. Boiler has to remain dry (no leaks dripping from the boiler itself) and the PRV outlet needs to remain dry (copper pipe in your picture above). Obviously do this with the boiler electrically isolated. If unsure get your heating man to do it.

Mick
 
I doubt that BG are that stupid.
Their T&C's suggest they are not.

7.1 Design or existing faults
We will not be responsible for the cost
of repairs or gaining access to make
repairs if there are design faults (unless
we are responsible for the design faults),
faults which existed before you entered
into your Agreement with us, faults
which we have identified on a previous
visit or Agreement at the property
or faults which we could not, using
reasonable care and skill, identify on
our First Service or a repair call out to
your system or appliance.
 
We are already with British Gas. Can we still take out the maintenance contract?:confused:

How soon can I make a claim?

FlyingFish said:
http://cdn0.vokera.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/compact-he-installation-and-servicing-manual.pdf

Page 39 Part no.43

If you want to confirm the failure, then pressurise the system, and isolate the boiler from the system using the F&R valves, and watch the pressure gauge. Boiler has to remain dry (no leaks dripping from the boiler itself) and the PRV outlet needs to remain dry (copper pipe in your picture above). Obviously do this with the boiler electrically isolated. If unsure get your heating man to do it.

Mick
Click to expand...

Thanks. I can't see HE written anywhere on my boiler though. It's just a compact 29. Will this part still fit?
 
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loltim said:
We are already with British Gas. Can we still take out the maintenance contract?:confused:

How soon can I make a claim?
Click to expand...

With British Gas as in gas and electric? If so it doesn't matter if you are, you can still take out boiler cover with them.

The cover in the link would be an immediate claim. That contract is there to fix the boiler for £99 and then cover it for the year and service it as well.

So you will pay a fixed price of £99 upfront and get the heat exchanger replaced and the boiler service. Then £22 a month (total £264) which covers the boiler and controls for any further problems with no call out fee or excess charge.

Hope that helps.

Also your boiler would be the HE version as it is the condensing version.
 
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Before you enter a British Gas Service contract they do an initial check of your system to make sure it's up to standard. I'm pretty sure they won't let you enter a service contract with an already faulty boiler.

We have just moved and have a Vokera combi, which is working and is now on a service contract. However we have been advised that they are hard to get parts for and not the best boilers. I'm sure within that there is an element of them wanting to sell me a new boiler, although I do know that Vokera's arent the best out there. Annoyingly our last two houses have had Worcester combis which were great.

Dave
 
divuk83 said:
Before you enter a British Gas Service contract they do an initial check of your system to make sure it's up to standard. I'm pretty sure they won't let you enter a service contract with an already faulty boiler.
Click to expand...

That is for a normal contract where you have a working boiler and want it serviced and covered for a monthly fee.

The link below is for repair and cover. You are paying to have the boiler repaired for £99 and then covered for the year. It is meant for people with a faulty boiler and thus is more slightly more expensive monthly than the normal contract.

Obviously if its not repairable or the parts are unavailable then they would advise this on the initial repair visit.
 
British Gas do repair for the £99 callout and taking the annual contract out. A couple of years ago our cold feed had become blocked and as the system wasn't refilling from the header was pretty much near meltdown - gurgling and kettling. Although strictly speaking the engineer said blocked pipes or sludge wasn't covered he did make a temporary repair and of course that might have had something to do with selling us an overpriced power flush.

However there is a sting as at our last service in April the engineer stated our boiler is now quite old and have reduced cover on the basis they may no longer be able to get parts. In addition, despite the powerflush being a "one-off" (ha!) and would be redone if the system gets clogged again, this years contract quite implicitly stated repairs or callout due to sludge build up are not covered. Which is why I have a bottle of X400 + fresh X100 sat in the loft ready to do a drain and clean once the radiators are on a bit more.

So just be mindful before signing up to BG. £22 x 12 is an expensive annual service, yes there is the peace of mind you won't be waiting days for an indie to come out - if you can recruit one - but we are thinking of cancelling after next years service.
 
Vern1961 said:
British Gas do repair for the £99 callout and taking the annual contract out. A couple of years ago our cold feed had become blocked and as the system wasn't refilling from the header was pretty much near meltdown - gurgling and kettling. Although strictly speaking the engineer said blocked pipes or sludge wasn't covered he did make a temporary repair and of course that might have had something to do with selling us an overpriced power flush.

However there is a sting as at our last service in April the engineer stated our boiler is now quite old and have reduced cover on the basis they may no longer be able to get parts. In addition, despite the powerflush being a "one-off" (ha!) and would be redone if the system gets clogged again, this years contract quite implicitly stated repairs or callout due to sludge build up are not covered. Which is why I have a bottle of X400 + fresh X100 sat in the loft ready to do a drain and clean once the radiators are on a bit more.

So just be mindful before signing up to BG. £22 x 12 is an expensive annual service, yes there is the peace of mind you won't be waiting days for an indie to come out - if you can recruit one - but we are thinking of cancelling after next years service.
Click to expand...

That's misleading.....

If you have had a powerflush with british gas then providing there is no break in contract (i.e you didn't go elsewhere for a year) then the system is guaranteed for life regarding a powerflush

Repairs due to sludge buildup are only not covered if the customer is advised and they do naff all about it, as you took the advice previously and had a powerflush that doesn't apply to yourself

If the system is sludging up again then a reflush is required and is non chargeable
 
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