Please help -at my wits end

[ani61]

Worcester do have a very good customer service, probably the best in the industry! ( Saying that helps me to get my jacket! )

They will not want to have their boilers described as not working properly.

Unfortunately, as you dont really know who came and on what basis, that makes it a little difficult do do anything official after so much time.

I suppose you could write them a letter ( yes, I said write! ) and perhaps even direct them to this thread ( so they can see about my jacket too ) and they might just possibly get their local staff enginer to pop by to identify the fault that Ian and I are convinced is there.

Tony

That's a good idea Tony! I write a very good letter! So long as I can type it and use a printer!

They may just at least acknowledge the problem. I may have the old paperwork somewhere, it would be worth trying to find it.
Thank you
Ani

 

[ianmcd]

PS
I dont really expect anyone to have a crystal ball and I think that some people are better at their jobs than others, especially when it comes to employees of large companies. There are those who take a pride in their work and knowledge and others that do the least possible to get a wage packet at the end of the week.

At the end of the day it is true in all professions, I think.

Ani xx

Yes you are completely correct, but I think I know what the problem is and I suspect that Tony is thinking the same thing but as its a combustion/flueing problem we cant tell you on here as the site doesnt allow it but not really hard to test and diagnose and certainly a proper direct labour Worcester engineer should be able to sort out easily

 

[ani61]

are you allowed to post an email address?
[email protected]

 

[Agile]

Well I for one are not going to bypass the site's very sensible policy by telling someone privately what is likely to be wrong.

In any case, its not a DIY fix and needs to be properly diagnosed first anyway so it would not be very helpful if I did.

If a Mod saw your email address they will delete it because in their policeman like way they enjoy exercising their powers and will pretend its to protect you from spammers sending you a couple of spams!

Tony

 

[ani61]

Well I for one are not going to bypass the site's very sensible policy by telling someone privately what is likely to be wrong.

In any case, its not a DIY fix and needs to be properly diagnosed first anyway so it would not be very helpful if I did.

If a Mod saw your email address they will delete it because in their policeman like way they enjoy exercising their powers and will pretend its to protect you from spammers sending you a couple of spams!

Tony

OK LOL...thats fair enough but theres no way I would get this done DIY...just would like to suggest something to landlord other than I need to plant conifers!

Thanks guys.
Ani xx

 

[Lusi83]

Sorry can't advise on the specifics of your boiler problem - but I know I had a problem on my worchester when it was first fitted - (safety ignition thing kept cutting out -still does but v. occasionally) I was absolutely convinced it was something to do with wind or drop in temp (we are in an exposed location too) -cos it only really did in those conditions....

Eventually Worchester came out (under guarantee) and sorted it out - something had been misaligned during shipping...

So nothing to do with the wind or temperature...except (especially if your house is a bit draughty -mine is) the boiler had to fire up more often to hold the temperature in those conditions and that increased firing highlighted the problem ...

 

[ani61]

Sorry can't advise on the specifics of your boiler problem - but I know I had a problem on my worchester when it was first fitted - (safety ignition thing kept cutting out -still does but v. occasionally) I was absolutely convinced it was something to do with wind or drop in temp (we are in an exposed location too) -cos it only really did in those conditions....

Eventually Worchester came out (under guarantee) and sorted it out - something had been misaligned during shipping...

So nothing to do with the wind or temperature...except (especially if your house is a bit draughty -mine is) the boiler had to fire up more often to hold the temperature in those conditions and that increased firing highlighted the problem ...

Hi
Thanks for your message.
Yes my house is very draughty and the boiler is situated in what used to be an 'outhouse' attached to the house so it is very cold in there. The guys messages above would indicate that as a boiler is a sealed unit (or should be) this wouldnt make a difference.
I need to be able to ask the 'right' questions of the engineer when he comes again.
Ani xx

 

[ani61]

Guys...I understand why you are not able to give me a diagnosis on the boiler problem. Can you give me some indication of questions I can ask the BG engineer when I eventually get another one come out, please?

The boiler came on of its own accord this morning but I had the heating on until midnight last night. Would having the heating on longer with less time in between it being off and the whole thing being cold make a difference to it igniting in a morning?

Cheers
Ani xx

 

[Lusi83]

The guys messages above would indicate that as a boiler is a sealed unit (or should be) this wouldnt make a difference.

Sorry I should have been clearer - it is the temperature dropping in your house (and if it is windy and your house is draughty - the temp in your house will drop more) - means that your boiler has to work harder to keep the temperature.
Basically when your boiler first comes on, the gas lights (fires) to heat the water going round your radiators to the required temperature to warm your rooms. When it is hot enough it stops heating the water (burning gas) and just circulates the hot water. When the water cools down to a certain level the boiler 'fires' up again and heats it up. (You can often hear it fire - a small, low 'bang' as the gas ignites - or a light may come on).
So if your house is colder, the water gets colder faster and it needs to 'fire' more - and that will highlight any problem you have...
If it is really cold it may be burning gas constantly or almost constantly to try and keep the water hot...
Not a boiler engineer/expert by any means but guess that is something you could look at ...if it is firing constantly (burning gas all the time) it might be some sort of flue issue (not sufficient air to keep burning/not getting rid of the fumes /safety cut out thing) and you could point that out to BG.
Or if it has to keep lighting the gas (so it keep firing up) might be some ignition problem (which it was in my case) ...and maybe you could point that out
But sure the guys on here will get back to you with better things to look out for!

 

[ani61]

The guys messages above would indicate that as a boiler is a sealed unit (or should be) this wouldnt make a difference.

Sorry I should have been clearer - it is the temperature dropping in your house (and if it is windy and your house is draughty - the temp in your house will drop more) - means that your boiler has to work harder to keep the temperature.
Basically when your boiler first comes on, the gas lights (fires) to heat the water going round your radiators to the required temperature to warm your rooms. When it is hot enough it stops heating the water (burning gas) and just circulates the hot water. When the water cools down to a certain level the boiler 'fires' up again and heats it up. (You can often hear it fire - a small, low 'bang' as the gas ignites - or a light may come on).
So if your house is colder, the water gets colder faster and it needs to 'fire' more - and that will highlight any problem you have...
If it is really cold it may be burning gas constantly or almost constantly to try and keep the water hot...
Not a boiler engineer/expert by any means but guess that is something you could look at ...if it is firing constantly (burning gas all the time) it might be some sort of flue issue (not sufficient air to keep burning/not getting rid of the fumes /safety cut out thing) and you could point that out to BG.
Or if it has to keep lighting the gas (so it keep firing up) might be some ignition problem (which it was in my case) ...and maybe you could point that out
But sure the guys on here will get back to you with better things to look out for!

Oh I see what you mean. If the heating is on the gas is ignited all of the time, it doesnt switch on/off. Perhaps I should mention this to the engineer.
Thank you
Ani xx

 

[ani61]

OK, so I rang the letting agents on 6/12/12 to ask them to send another engineer. Still not heard from them this morning so called them back. Engineer is coming tomorrow between 8am and 1pm.
Fair enough but the lad on the other end of the phone (letting agents) tried to tell me it was a problem with the timer and I may have set the 24hr clock incorrectly! Arrrrgh...idiot...the boiler switches on it doesn't combust...how can it be a problem with the clock/timer.
He took it upon himself to tell BG to look at the clock and timer mechanism. I just laughed and said OK. As if an admin assistant knows what he is talking about!!!
Ani xx

 

[Agile]

Thats typical.

But the reality is that in social housing 90% of the reported problems are just the occupier cannot work the controls!

 

[ani61]

The engineers have been out three times now. Still the boiler will not combust/light when it switches on via the timer in a morning, but only when the outside temp is below freezing.
I have another engineer coming out this afternoon but as the temps have been above freezing for the last two mornings the boiler has actually worked.

The last engineer fitted a new air flow sensor and a new gas valve but whilst it was freezing outside this seemed to make it even harder to get the boiler to light...I was having to switch mains on/off just to get water to heat.

I know the outside temps shouldn't make a difference but it really is not a coincidence, the boiler is situated in a place inside where the temps drop drastically inside as well.
Im so fed up with being cold.
Ani xx

 

[ani61]

The engineer has called the meter people in trans-something...says the only other thing it can be is the outside valve/supply system! Makes sense to me.

Ani xx

 

[joe-90]

you nearly get sucked through the flue /quote]

Is that a type of glory hole then?