Any heating engineers on here?

Discussion in 'Bulletin Board' started by Sestren, Jul 26, 2024.

  1. Ses

    Sestren Well-Known Member

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    Called somebody out to look at my boiler this morning, which had been broken and showing a fault for a few days. Only took half an hour to fix.

    However, the guy then told me that it was heating up "too quickly", and there was a danger of some metal part inside basically exploding if I didn't get the whole system flushed. Apparently this is a problem with certain Vaillant models, of which the Heatline which I have is a variant. He gave me a quote of £750 which he then managed 'to get down to' £650 by changing some things in the app, and said he could do it straight away.

    By this point my bull**** alarm was ringing, so I said perhaps next week, and he said to try and avoid using the heating and only take short showers in the meantime. The whole thing was pretty odd. I don't mind paying for it to be done if I really need it, but I get the feeling he thought I was a bit of an idiot (I'm not at my best at 9:00 in the morning!) and it felt like a really hard sell. I've also never heard of a system flush as the remedy for a boiler heating up too quickly...

    Any thoughts? I just need to know if the story makes sense. If this is even possibly a thing then I'll obviously get somebody else in to look at it and quote, but frankly don't even want to have to do that if I don't need to! Can't shake the feeling that there was commission involved, or that he just wanted a couple of extra hours' work.

    Boiler's about five years old, but can't vouch for the quality of the installation because my landlord has never found a corner not worth cutting.
     
  2. Redhelen

    Redhelen Well-Known Member

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    Initial thoughts of a non heating engineer are that Valiant are considered a good brand of boiler. Surely there'd be a recall if this was a known fault?

    Isn't this your landlords problem?
     
  3. Deafening Silence

    Deafening Silence Well-Known Member

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    Not a heating engineer, but any company that can knock you £100 off a price within seconds of offering you a higher one are definitely smacks of a scam.

    https://www.vaillant.co.uk/advice/u...e caused,to higher temperatures than expected.

    Few notes about Vaillant there, but nothing about a flush for heating up too quickly. A 5 year old Vaillant boiler may also still be under warranty. Sure they give 7 years if installed by a accredited engineer.
     
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  4. Ses

    Sestren Well-Known Member

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    Unfortunately not. I rent a shop unit and the flat above it on a commercial basis. This seemed a much cheaper and easier option than splitting it into a commercial and SHT lease at the time; not sure I'd make the d same decision now after five years of having experienced the quality of the "brand new refurbishment" on the flat! Still, at least the price hasn't changed.

    Thanks for that. Looks to me like it might be a rather overblown rendition of that 'kettling' issue, but dealing with a whistling noise as an when it happens is a lot more palatable than the imminent risk of a metal plate being ripped off and water pouring out everywhere!
     
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  5. Red Mist

    Red Mist Well-Known Member

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    Please don't fall for this .My mum got semi conned about 5 years ago.Stupidly we went through yellow pages.He went into the loft did some clattering and banging for half an hour and charged £180.He then proceeded to say we need a system flush about the same money as you have said.What he did didn't solve the problem.We went with a local heating engineer/plumber who was recommended who solved the problem at a fraction of the price.

    They are two guys that work together,you won't go wrong.
    Jonathan -07976710381 or Stuart-07968350213.
    Good luck.
     
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  6. Bossman

    Bossman Well-Known Member

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  7. Redstone

    Redstone Well-Known Member

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    Echo this massively.
    Instant knocking down of quotes and the price only being available today are instant red flags.

    I stay well away from these sorts of businesses.
     
  8. Red

    Red-Taff. Well-Known Member

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    Agree! Stuart been servicing our boiler for years - no complaints - does an excellent job.
     
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  9. Ses

    Sestren Well-Known Member

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    Sadly I'm nowhere near Barnsley, but hopefully it'll help some others out!

    I think I'm coming round to thinking that it doesn't seem urgent enough that it can't wait until my next service. A shame really, because the same company have done good work for me before.
     
  10. Jack Tatty

    Jack Tatty Well-Known Member

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    If it's Stuart Priestley then I can also recommend him. Good and reliable
    Used him for years on my rental.
     
  11. Red Mist

    Red Mist Well-Known Member

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    Yes it is Stuart Priestley
     
  12. jud

    judith charmers Well-Known Member

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    If it’s ’heating up too quickly’ I can only assume he’s referring to the main heat exchanger or plate heat exchanger being furred up hence heating up too quick. A new plate is around £100, if he’s after doing a system flush then that should be around £300 - £400………£650-£750 seems like he’s trying to dry bum you
     
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  13. Allendale-Red

    Allendale-Red Active Member

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    Gas man here, load of b0llocks. Don't worry so many safety devices on new appliances nothing like that can happen. What i would say is if your water starts running hot and cold then your plate heat exchanger will be blocked which can't be sorted out with a powerflush anyway.
     
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  14. sadbrewer

    sadbrewer Well-Known Member

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    We had one from British Gas, he came to do our annual service..which all went smoothly, just before leaving he said he wanted to check the flue emissions, with the flue outlet being on the first floor he (surprisingly) asked to use my ladders to get up and check it, when I said I hadn't got any that long he asked me to borrow my neighbours which were laid down in plain sight. He went up...put his probe into the flue, and came down and called us both into the kitchen. He then told us the boiler needed condemning and we were lucky we hadn't died from nitrogen poisoning in the night..and that he would cut the gas off now and send a boiler salesman out first thing in the morning as parts were no longer available from Worcester/Bosch. Obviously being so close to death, I was concerned, and said I would take a photo of his meter readings...suddenly the death trap was borderline, he could leave it connected and would get the Sales people out within 24hrs. To cut a long story short I insisted on a second opinion, the next bloke fitted a new part...job done.
     
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  15. Jay

    Jay Well-Known Member

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    Nitrogen poisoning? The air in my flat is around 78% nitrogen and I'm not feeling any effects.
     
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  16. Stephen Dawson

    Stephen Dawson Well-Known Member

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    I'm a diesel fitter.
     
  17. tosh

    tosh Well-Known Member

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    Do you work for Pats for Pants on the market?
     
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