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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2009 12:24:37 GMT
Got up this morning to find water all over the kitchen worktop. Couldn't work out at first where it had come from but eventually discovered it was p****** out of the boiler. We've got a service contract with British Gas so we've rung them and someone is coming out this afternoon to have a look. However, we've been told by my FIL that it's likely to be the heat exchanger (whatever the hell that is !!) and we've been told before that the bolier is now obsolete so if it goes wrong, getting parts for it are impossible. Looks like a fortnight before Christmas we may have to get a new boiler. Bang goes next year's trip to Disneyland Paris with the children. I suspect we're probably too early to take advantage of the boiler scrappage scheme that was announced this week but British Gas are doing 3 year's interest free credit is you have a new boiler before 3 Jan. Might have to look into that scheme because we can't afford the £1500 to £2000 it'll probably cost. In finest Victor Meldrew voice "I don't belieeeeeeeeve it"  FA x |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2009 13:04:40 GMT
Worst fears confirmed. Heat exchanger is completely rusted and the boiler has been obsolete for a good few years so parts aren't available. New boiler it is then. No heating or hot water until the new one is installed. Just what we need.  FA x |
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Post by Missredhead on Dec 12, 2009 15:33:03 GMT
How long before they fit a new one FA?
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Post by Tig on Dec 12, 2009 15:38:59 GMT
What make is it FA? I only ask because ours is 'ancient' (well 1970's) and also obsolete, but OH managed to source parts to get if repaired. Rotten time of year for such a problem though, at least you were at home when it happened, could have been a lot worse if you had been away  x Tig |
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Post by snowowl on Dec 12, 2009 16:00:04 GMT
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Post by Spruance on Dec 12, 2009 16:17:40 GMT
Yes that really is bad luck FA but at least you had the British Gas warranty to fall back on.
Our old boiler was 1973 vintage and when it was replaced in 2008 we opted to have the new one in the garage as it then made room in the kitchen to have the freezer in there instead of the utility room which is far more convenient. Not only that any boiler leaks now won't cause any problems. That's the theory anyway.
I hope BG can get you up and running before Christmas.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2009 17:20:50 GMT
Yeah, it could be a lot worse, I know. Had a text message earlier to tell me a friend was burgled last night and had all their Christmas presents etc nicked. I think given a choice, I'd have the boiler pack up to be honest. BG are coming on Monday to discuss the new boiler and we'll see what sort of a deal they'll do. Hopefully they'll be able to give us a pretty good deal and also get it done before Christmas. I can't imagine Christmas without heating  FA x |
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Post by Ruthie on Dec 12, 2009 18:01:00 GMT
Oh FA! What bad timing! Hope you get it sorted soon.
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Post by Ladygardener on Dec 12, 2009 22:33:09 GMT
Hope it works out for you FA, I'm sure they'll be able to get it done as an emergency when there are Children around. Good luck.
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Post by Jasmine on Dec 13, 2009 7:12:29 GMT
What a complete pain FA - hope you get it sorted and get the house warmed up quickly.
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Post by Auricula on Dec 13, 2009 15:42:02 GMT
What a shame Andy, but the new one will be much more efficient and probably cost less to run.
Hope it is all sorted out soon - and not too expensively
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Post by farmersboy on Dec 13, 2009 16:36:54 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 14, 2009 12:45:30 GMT
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Post by carolann on Dec 14, 2009 12:52:05 GMT
Oh FA what a mess £4000 WOW thats a bit steep is it solid gold or something, they no how to charge dont they, I hope you can get hold of your usual guy soon. |
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Post by Tig on Dec 14, 2009 14:37:47 GMT
Blinking eck FA!! I'd expect a whole new central heating installation for that sort of money! Find someone else to give you a quote at least - then you have a bartering tool x Tig |
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Post by JennyWrenn on Dec 14, 2009 17:21:42 GMT
4K good hell - I would wait for your guy I had a new boiler - a Combi - fitted a few years ago - I was surprised as the house was only about 10 years old at the time Apparently they dont last that long  I thought like yours 20 years would be the norm for its life span |
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Post by Barbara on Dec 14, 2009 17:24:49 GMT
Aboiler is about £600. to buy at places like builders yards, he's charging a hell of a lot for the work he's doing,
do these sort of things always happen to you FA.
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Post by JennyWrenn on Dec 14, 2009 17:27:01 GMT
I was quoted just under 2K for a boiler to be moved upstairs - from the kitchen including labour and all the pipework, electrics etc This is my Mums house that i am selling - by a private plumber so I think 4K is a bit high - almost double Do they think people have that sort of money just like that |
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Post by Ruthie on Dec 14, 2009 17:54:47 GMT
Poor you FA! That does sound a bit steep but I guess BG do charge top dollar. Thing is you may well not be able to find anyone else to do it before Christmas so they've got you over a barrel in a way.
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Post by Jasmine on Dec 14, 2009 18:05:26 GMT
That's going to be the thing isn't it - finding someone who can do it quickly. Have you got another form of heating FA like plug in radiators so that you could wait if you can get a cheaper quote?
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Post by Deleted on Dec 14, 2009 19:17:46 GMT
The soonest our usual guy could do it was the 2nd week of Jan  Unfortunately we tried a couple of other locals and one said he couldn't even come round to look at it until Jan and the other said he would be able to come "somtime before Christmas" to do the quote but he was so booked up, it would be "mid Jan" before he could do it. Sadly, we didn't feel like we had a lot of choice but to stump up for BG (actually I felt like they had us by the short & curly ones) so it's booked and they will be here on Wednesday. If they can get their previous job done Tuesday evening then it'll be Weds morning but otherwise it'll be Weds lunchtime. It probably won't be finished until Thursday but when I suggested to Mrs FA that we could manage until mid Jan, it's fair to say the look/reception I got was decidedly frosty ! FA x |
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Post by Jasmine on Dec 14, 2009 19:22:40 GMT
I'd have given the same look FA ;D
At least you will be warm for Christmas and the kids will be warm for the school holidays.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 14, 2009 20:15:47 GMT
Put it this way Jas, I don't think I'd have seen much of Mrs FA & the children over the Christmas holiday if I hadn't agreed to it. Come to think of it, that may not have been such a bad thing....... ;D
It would've been so much better if it had happened in the summer because we don't even have the heating on from the end of March (ish) to mid Sept (ish) so we could've made do with the immersion heater for the water for a couple of weeks but hey ho, these things happen when they happen. There's not a right lot we can do about it and it's not the absolute end of the world so I guess we just get BG to sort it out and then we move on with our lives.
If there's any good to come out of it, at least we'll have a nice new, fuel efficient, fully guaranteed boiler which under the terms of our homecare agreement, BG will replace free if it goes wrong within the first 7 years. Cue boiler blowing up in January 2017......... ;D
And at least we should save a bit on heating bills. Our old boiler was only working at 65% efficiency the last time it was tested which means that roughly a third of all the gas we used was being wasted. Shocking really.
FA x
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Post by Spruance on Dec 14, 2009 23:47:55 GMT
Yes it is unfortunate to put it mildly that this has been forced on you at a time that makes it virtually impossible to get anyone else FA. I wonder if BG are playing on this with their quote?
On the other hand the old lady opposite us had a BG heating installation last summer and they made a very good job of it by all accounts and it took two men three and a half days for a three bedroom bungalow. I don't know what she paid though.
You will certainly notice the difference on your heating bills. My usage has been consistently lower on every quarter since July 2008 and yet the house seems warmer than before.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 16, 2009 18:49:35 GMT
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Post by Jasmine on Dec 16, 2009 18:52:39 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 16, 2009 19:40:03 GMT
Oh yes ! As we haven't had any heating for 5 days and as the doors have been open all day while the engineer was working, it's still quite cool but we've got the boiler in and working and it's gradually getting the house up to a nice warm temperature. Having seen the forecast for the next couple of days, it's a bloomin' good job they could do it today too !!
FA x
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Post by Tig on Dec 16, 2009 19:49:14 GMT
Glad you know you are sorted FA - nice cosy Christmas now  x Tig |
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Post by Ruthie on Dec 16, 2009 20:18:21 GMT
That's a relief FA. Don't know about Suffolk but it's hardly got above 0c all day today in Norfolk.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 16, 2009 21:52:55 GMT
Much the same here Ruth. And a promise of freezing temperatures and snow for the next couple of days FA x |
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. To have a new one will mean that we have to have it put in the airing cupboard upstairs, meaning lots of fiddling around with pipework, floorboards up etc etc etc etc etc etc etc. Oh, and they want £4000 to do it. 
Unfortunately we tried a couple of other locals and one said he couldn't even come round to look at it until Jan and the other said he would be able to come "somtime before Christmas" to do the quote but he was so booked up, it would be "mid Jan" before he could do it.
