I need a man that can.....

[NMY]

I need a man that can advise me about something...
I have a Vaillant ecoTEC plus 428 that keeps cutting out
I get the code F 23.

My question is...will it be OK to keep pressing the little 'flame' button to over-ride the fault code so that at least I can have a bit of heat in my radiators ( I can't have both hot water and central heating at the moment because it wont work at all then..)


Thanks for any replies that I hope you can provide

 

[muggles]

F23 indicates a lack of water in the system - is it at the correct pressure?

 

[NMY]

I had the boiler fitted in July this year, and it's never worked properly.
When they first fired up the system, the F23 code kept kicking the flame out. Not technical speak I know, but I'm not sure of the correct terms.
The installers fiddled about inside the boiler and eventually, the fault code stopped showing and I was able to have some hot water. As it was July I didn't want CH of course, so I didn't expect my rads to get warm.

The day after they finished the install, my hubby and I went on holiday.
When we returned, the house was like an oven. All the rads upstairs were hot even though the control for the CH had been switched off.

I contacted the installers but they told me that it would take some time for the system to settle down and operate properly. I just had to put up with the hot rads or turn each of them off individually.


I used an Installer that I found through the Corgi website.

It's a very long story, but eventually, I had Vaillant send an Engineer to 'inspect' the installation. Several things he picked up on -
The 'flow and return pipes' were the wrong way round
Compression fittings should have been used to connect the pipework not soldered fittings
The gas inlet pressure only 15mbar when boiler operates at max recorded 20mbar at meter gas supply pipe restricted/undersized...

Today, the original installers returned to rectify the flow and return pipes.
They didn't do anything else.
The code F23 kept showing and they admitted they didn't know what they could do and as they had another job to go onto they left...

Sorry about the length of this post, but I'm at my wits end now...I don't know where to turn

 

[doitall]

First thing is to get them to sort the gas out, if the pipe is undersized then they need to correct it, at their expense i should add, if not get onto Corgi after you tell the guy you are going too, he may change his mind

Once the system is installed properly, the manufacturers can sort the problem, it's no good the guy saying I don't know how too, that what you paid him for.

 

[NMY]

Thanks for the reply.

The Installers came out again this morning to check the work their men did yesterday

They switched over some wiring in the boiler ( I think they were something to do with sensors ) and the boiler now fires up and seems to run OK.

I asked them if they were going to do the gas supply pipework, but they said that as the system was now working properly, there was no need

I'm very concerned about the standard of their work and I may just contact Corgi to be reasurred by them.

One other little thing that has me a bit worred, is the wiring that goes into the boiler. It appears to be hanging very loose. The bottom grill of the boiler isn't able to be fitted because the wiring is in the way. I'm attaching a pic...I hope I am anyhow...

Untitled

• NMY
• 24 Oct 2008
• 1

Untitled

• NMY
• 24 Oct 2008
• 1

 

[Agile]

If they have refused to upsize the gas supply pipe then ask CORGI to come and inspect it. If they agree then they will serve a defect rectification notice and they will have to do it at their cost!

Its very disapointing to hear of these substandard installers. Trouble is when we quote to do the job properly they can undercut us and the customer gets a cheaper job but done to a poor standard.

Tony

 

[NMY]

If they have refused to upsize the gas supply pipe then ask CORGI to come and inspect it. If they agree then they will serve a defect rectification notice and they will have to do it at their cost!

Its very disapointing to hear of these substandard installers. Trouble is when we quote to do the job properly they can undercut us and the customer gets a cheaper job but done to a poor standard.

Tony

Thanks for the reply Tony. I have decided to contact CORGI.
I used the CORGI website to contact an installer in my area. They gave me a price and it was £3500 + VAT for the new boiler and power flush, but British Gas had given me a quote of £4,500 + VAT for the same work so I used the 'cheaper' one.

I've just 'bled' the radiators and although there was some air in them, the water that did come out is black Is that the colour of the inhibitor or am I now going to have to replace my radiators as well...

 

[gigz]

Get yourself a testing kit for the inhibitor, but even if there's none showing it'll be hard to prove they didn't put any in. If the waters black its not looking good if its been powerflushed. A more important thing is the gas supply, but i think a phone call threatening them with CORGI will do the trick, especially after what the Vaillant eng said. Good luck.

 

[doitall]

Sounds to me like they skimmed over the powerflush, and you should definitely get the water tested.

Follow gigz post to get the gas sorted.

I would ask about having a magnaclean installed as well.

 

[ChrisR]

Yes call COrgi

Yes do the test kit thing. The boiler instructions state that the system should be flushed. If you can prove it hasn't been, you can claim against them in the small claims court. You might give them the opportunity to do what you've paid for, and it they will not, in a reasonable time, contract someone else to do it and claim the cost back from the original installer.

If you're south east ish of the country, I can recommend a company who can test the water for you and repoirt. They aren't connected with me at all but I know they know their stuff. Email in profile.

 

[Agile]

Anyone can save £1000 off BG prices and still do the job properly!

If the water is really black then they have not power flushed or even done any water treatment at all.

Take and bottle two samples of the system water with the date taken.

I would say that you have been taken for a ride as they say. Nothing at all unusual about that, I encounter others every week in a similar situation.

Tony Glazier

 

[doitall]

Take and bottle two samples of the system water with the date taken.

Preferably on different dates and from different areas.

 

[NMY]

Thanks to you all for the replies.

I did contact CORGI and they are sending someone this Wednesday at 1.30 !! they have requested someone from the installation company to be present (I might have to ask my hubby to stay home from work as I'm not sure what to expect if the CORGI guy leaves first - the installer might be very angry )

Where do I take the samples from and who should I send them to for testing ? The water that was black came from two radiators that had a lot of air in them and when the water finally came through, it was black.. Should I take it from them and/or from the tank in the loft

Thanks again for all your replies x

 

[Agile]

Take the sample from a rad and NOT from the header tank.

CORGI will have little involvement officially in the water condition as their remit is only gas safety which they extend to other safety aspects.

They will be very interested in the undersized gas pipes !

I have not read through the whole thread but if they did not notify CORGI and you did not get the blue Cert sent directly from CORGI then bring that up at the meeting.

I agree that it might be better to have hubby at home too. Some of these installers can weigh 250 lbs and can be quite agressive!

Tony

 

[leakydave]

I am no RGI, just an OFTEC bod, but isnt the flue too close to the window?