Sludged up boiler

[alliceH]

Hi,

Wonder if anyone can give me any pointers?

I have a 6 year old boiler that has been annually serviced by British Gas since it was fitted. It wasn't working very well so they came and replaced some parts under the Homecare plan, then it broke down again a few days later and they said it couldn't be fixed as it was sludged up and we need a new boiler.

Do I have any other options? It seesm odd they serviced it and passed it 3 mths ago and now say its so corroded it'll have to be replaced. Is that possible? Could it be power flushed and then the parts replaced?

I'm getting a second opionion but any advice gratefully received.

Thanks!

 

[petit_pablo]

Call them back and ask for a second opinion from another engineer. Customer complaints get dealt with vey well these days.

Unless they have previously advised you there is a sludge problem then they have to fix it under the contract. Once its been repaired they should advise you of the sludge problem and how to rectify it. You can then make an informed choice of what to do.

The guy either doesnt know whats wrong or doesnt want to do the repair.

Incidently, whats the boiler and whats the problem?

 

[alliceH]

Thanks for the advice - that's really helpful. Its all a bit complicated as tenants live in the house and its 5 hours away and British Gas say I can't talk to the engineer so I'm reliant on a scrappy note from the engineer and what the tenants tell me. Apparently its working and they have hot water but the heating is randomly coming on in the middle of the night...wouldn't surprise me if the thermostat is broken or incorrectly set and this is unrelated to the boiler issues!
I've got a plumber I know up there going to try and sort it all out and then as you say I'll get British Gas to look again. They have never mentioned sludge before but are saying it wouldn't get picked up through a normal service.

 

[petit_pablo]

Sludge wouldnt normally get picked up on a service visit no.

I would hazard a guess that the diverter is passing and the preheat is coming on and warming the radiators. Is the boiler an ideal by any chance?

Request BG take a water sample if they insist its sludged up. It may well be the water is dirty but sludge is often used as a cop out.

I work for BG so am well aware of how certain guys work.[/b]

 

[alliceH]

Yes it is an ideal! You obviously recognise its annoying ways. It was tempermental when first fitted but has settled down and been Ok for the last few years. I know the engineer groans when he comes out to us...
BG were really good when I lived there but obviously getting info via the tenants is tricky and they probably weren't that interested when they came so might not have got the best out of them.
Thanks for the advice - I'll ask more questions and not just automatically cough up for a new boiler.

 

[Agile]

British Gas say I can't talk to the engineer so I'm reliant on a scrappy note from the engineer what the tenants tell me. again.

Thats one of the advantages of an independent. They are happy to discuss the problem with you.

With BG you only have the engineer at the property. After that all you can talk to is a non technical booking clerk!

Tony

 

[petit_pablo]

With BG you only have the engineer at the property. After that all you can talk to is a non technical booking clerk!

Tony

Depends on the BG guy attending. I will ask to speak to the landlord if there are issues or leave a contact number. If the call centre really wanted to they can put the customer through to the engineer via the main switchboard. Ive spoken to a few people in that way. Call centre will contact the engineer and ask of they mind speaking to the customer.

alliceH - If they are blaming sludge for the diverter sticking its rubbish. The honeywell valve fitted in ideal isars is prone to seizing, even in the cleanest of systems. Ive the same valve in my own boiler and its seized before. The water in my system is cleaner than tap water!

 

[bengasman]

I have a 6 year old boiler that has been annually serviced by British Gas since it was fitted.

More likely that it was checked for dangerous faults annually; nothing to do with real servicing. Read your contract carefully to find out.

...they said it couldn't be fixed as it was sludged up and we need a new boiler.

Total nonsense. If the system is sludged up, it needs cleaning; replacing the boiler won't change that.
It sounds like you are one of the many people that are the victim of the target system that BG force upon their engineers to produce leads for overpriced boiler installs.
Had somebody on the phone a couple of days ago who said BG man told him parts for his boiler were obsolete and he was quoted 5 grand! by BG for a boiler swap in a 2 bed flat. Turned out he didn't need a new boiler in the first place because the parts are on the shelf at a supplier in walking distance from where he lives.

Wast the quote you got excessively expensive by any chance?

 

[petit_pablo]

I have a 6 year old boiler that has been annually serviced by British Gas since it was fitted.

More likely that it was checked for dangerous faults annually; nothing to do with real servicing. Read your contract carefully to find out.

...they said it couldn't be fixed as it was sludged up and we need a new boiler.

Total nonsense. If the system is sludged up, it needs cleaning; replacing the boiler won't change that.
It sounds like you are one of the many people that are the victim of the target system that BG force upon their engineers to produce leads for overpriced boiler installs.
Had somebody on the phone a couple of days ago who said BG man told him parts for his boiler were obsolete and he was quoted 5 grand! by BG for a boiler swap in a 2 bed flat. Turned out he didn't need a new boiler in the first place because the parts are on the shelf at a supplier in walking distance from where he lives.

Wast the quote you got excessively expensive by any chance?

 

[Agile]

Just imagine a rather unhappy BG employee at your boiler.

He can either spend a hour to fix it?

Or he can say its beyond repair, take ten minutes, arrange a no obligation quote for a new boiler and get about £25 commission!

Now can you consider how many would opt for the second choice?

 

[petit_pablo]

take ten minutes, arrange a no obligation quote for a new boiler and get about £25 commission!

£25 that would be nice, however, wrong.

BG engineers get half that figure.

 

[Agile]

Even if they only got £10 and avoided an hour on the job that still seems to me to be an incentive NOT to do the job!

 

[petit_pablo]

Even if they only got £10 and avoided an hour on the job that still seems to me to be an incentive NOT to do the job!

For some maybe. It does happen and they are the golden boys unfortunately. Being able to repair boilers competantly day in day out means nothing.

 

[bengasman]

We all know what happened after the beancounters took control of BG.

When you know that the lay-off clouds are gathering at the horizon, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out what the better option is for most guys on the road.
You can save yourself some time, make some extra money, and stay in the good books of the suits in the office if you use every opportunity to slag an existing boiler. Your other option is to be good at your job and honest about what you find, in which case you are working more hours for less money and risk the wrath of your boss.

You can't blame guys for choosing option 1.

 

[adlplumbing]

peti when serivce i always fired up heating and checked for cold spots
and advised it they have build up
mainly as hated telling people that need power flush when it was broken
but always confirmed with temp diffrentail and checked the rads