GAS ENGINEER REFUSES TO REMOVE old BOILER

[geek84]

Hi Folks



Recently I had a new boiler fitted at my property. However, the gas engineer refused to remove the old boiler stating that he can't touch it since it has asbestos material in it.



How can I find out if he is telling the truth?



Also, isn't it his responsibility to remove the old boiler since I now have a new one?



Thanks in advance for your responses.

 

[cross thread]

If it’s been disconnected carry on .what boiler is it ( photo ) and someone will know it’s got asbestos flue/ seals

 

[Elsa TLC]

Did the Potterton Neaterheat Mk1 contain a bit of Asbestos?

 

[opps]

To be fair, if he has reason to believe that it contains asbestos, I guess he is legally required to leave it to a specialist team. That said. I am only guessing.

 

[Madrab]

Should have been made clear when the quote/estimate was created, that removing all the old materials from site was part of that. Where possible I now leave that to the client as they can take their old boiler to the recycling FOC, whereas a trade now has to pay for a licence to carry any waste that is created as part of their work.

 

[Nige F]

Did the Potterton Neaterheat Mk1 contain a bit of Asbestos?

Yes

 

[polesapart]

It's your property, not his.

Unless his quotation stated that he would remove it from your premises he has neither the right nor any obligation to take it.




He does come over as a bit of jobsworth, though; he could easily douse it in water, remove and bag up any suspected asbestos panels or gaskets and get his scrappie mate to take away the old lump of metal. Might not tick quite all the H&S boxes but would be pragmatic and customer-friendly.

You would then take the (double-bagged and clearly labelled) wet material to a local facility that accepts such stuff.

It's breathing in the dry dust/fibres that can cause asbestosis which is an unpleasant way to die.

 

[kidgreen61]

He should have known that when he quoted, I wouldn't be impressed.

 

[vulcancontinental]

What boiler? There's a list of boilers containing asbestos on the HSE website and instructions on how to safely remove and bag the asbestos then hope your local tidy tip accepts it, some don't.

 

[fixitflav]

What boiler? There's a list of boilers containing asbestos on the HSE website and instructions on how to safely remove and bag the asbestos then hope your local tidy tip accepts it, some don't.

Tidy tip - takes me back to when I lived in Leighton Buzzard