2yr old boiler broke - guarantee ran out - help!

moneysavingplumber

robowen wrote:

I have a look...see no replies...start typing away....click post...and..

...find msp has got there before me....and done twice as many words :eek: :rotfl:

I'm fast, I was a plumber's secretary in another life, although my fingers weren't as fat then :eek: . It's Bestyman that you have to watch, he sneaks a reply in when you least expect it.

bestyman

moneysavingplumber wrote:

I'm fast, I was a plumber's secretary in another life, although my fingers weren't as fat then :eek: . It's Bestyman that you have to watch, he sneaks a reply in when you least expect it.

Speak of the devil....................

Anyhow, The sale of goods act states that goods must last a reasonable amount of time, possibly up to 6 years.

I think that if a heat exchanger fails after 2 years that isnt a reasonable amount of time considering the cost of the boiler.

link here http://www.dti.gov.uk/ccp/topics1/facts/salegoodsact.htm

I once quoted this when my 2 year old microwave blew up and got a replacement..

Bestyman

EDIT this may also help http://www.dti.gov.uk/ccp/topics1/facts/supplyofservices.htm

kelly4509

Many thanks for all your replies; especially moneysavingplumber, robowen and bestman - you have been most helpful.

It was Ideal we contacted as soon as we noticed the problem and it was their engineers that came out. After reading your posts i am more determined to take this further and will call their customer service dept first thing tomorrow. Will keep you updated with the outcome.

Kelly

StephenB_2

If you do a google search you'll find that this is a fairly common problem with the boiler. Some folk seem to think it's cheaper to chuck it out than to replace the heat exchanger.

SJB

kelly4509

StephenB wrote:

If you do a google search you'll find that this is a fairly common problem with the boiler. Some folk seem to think it's cheaper to chuck it out than to replace the heat exchanger.

SJB

Thanks StephenB, certainly makes for some interesting reading. Will be very helpful for gathering evidence for when i contact ideal customer services.

Yoshii

kelly4509

you mention interesting reading.what did you type in to see all the articles on google.
thanks yoshii

kelly4509

Yoshii wrote:

kelly4509

you mention interesting reading.what did you type in to see all the articles on google.
thanks yoshii

Hi Yoshii, i just clicked on the google link (in blue) kindly supplied by StephenB

SilverFox

Sorry if I'm coming in at the End(??) of this thread, but I've only just found this site.
I'm currently having probs with a 6yo Vokera Linea Plus combi boiler; In Sept I decided that it had better be serviced before the winter.
Mr Sod and his famous law then clicked; 'my' plumber (at least he is the guy who did the original installation) spent quite a while with the boiler handbook and after speaking to the manufacturers, it was decided that the main PCB was faulty. This was replaced but the same fault (failure to complete the ignition cycle, i.e. auto ignition spark, a flame for 1-2 seconds then flame out)
A new PCB was bought from my local stockists (PHC in Cowbridge Rd. 1st class ) result -- same fault! Vokera's tech. dept. stated that we must have another fautly Board (my instinct said yuk!) but a 2nd (and later issue)new board was obtained with partial success so it was suggested by the Tech Dept that the small PCB behind the contol panel should also be replaced!!
A result, however . . until 2 weeks ago!
Same fault again.
This time I used my household insurance emergency breakdown cover (forgot about it first time round!).
The engineer found a (slightly) damaged ignition electrode; this was duly changed 3 days later when he returned and fitted the replacement.
Result --success for 6 hours.
Another visit (after another 2day wait), fan removed and serviced, venturi cleaned and tubes to the air pressure valve also cleaned/cleared.
Result -- success but for only 3 hours this time around.
With some persistance I could get the beast to fire up and maintain the flames -- it was a real pain because I had to do this frequently.
This state of affairs lasted for 36hours and then we lost the hot water . :mad:
After more discussions, last Friday, with Vokera they suggested a visit from their local, recommended engineer (they have reduced their own in-house guys to a very minimum level like many big companies).
Colin came out yesterday and after testing the diverter valve and its motor, concluded that the circuit board was (again) at fault and considering my previous expenses and inconclusive changes suggested a serious discussion with Vokera Customer Service(?) Dept.
I've had some degree of success in-as-much-as they will send one of their in-house engineers, next Tuesday, for an £85+VAT call out charge and (after some persistant negotiation [and whinging] no parts charges.
I've lost all confidence in this unit and in the mean time I'm exploring the costs of replacing the whole shooting-match for a new boiler -- a condensing type combi boiler and am looking at a Worcester 30CDi.

Anyone out there with comments on my situation so far? and what about the boiler change??

moneysavingplumber

SilverFox wrote:

Sorry if I'm coming in at the End(??) of this thread, but I've only just found this site.
I'm currently having probs with a 6yo Vokera Linea Plus combi boiler; In Sept I decided that it had better be serviced before the winter.
Mr Sod and his famous law then clicked; 'my' plumber (at least he is the guy who did the original installation) spent quite a while with the boiler handbook and after speaking to the manufacturers, it was decided that the main PCB was faulty. This was replaced but the same fault (failure to complete the ignition cycle, i.e. auto ignition spark, a flame for 1-2 seconds then flame out)
A new PCB was bought from my local stockists (PHC in Cowbridge Rd. 1st class ) result -- same fault! Vokera's tech. dept. stated that we must have another fautly Board (my instinct said yuk!) but a 2nd (and later issue)new board was obtained with partial success so it was suggested by the Tech Dept that the small PCB behind the contol panel should also be replaced!!
A result, however . . until 2 weeks ago!
Same fault again.
This time I used my household insurance emergency breakdown cover (forgot about it first time round!).
The engineer found a (slightly) damaged ignition electrode; this was duly changed 3 days later when he returned and fitted the replacement.
Result --success for 6 hours.
Another visit (after another 2day wait), fan removed and serviced, venturi cleaned and tubes to the air pressure valve also cleaned/cleared.
Result -- success but for only 3 hours this time around.
With some persistance I could get the beast to fire up and maintain the flames -- it was a real pain because I had to do this frequently.
This state of affairs lasted for 36hours and then we lost the hot water . :mad:
After more discussions, last Friday, with Vokera they suggested a visit from their local, recommended engineer (they have reduced their own in-house guys to a very minimum level like many big companies).
Colin came out yesterday and after testing the diverter valve and its motor, concluded that the circuit board was (again) at fault and considering my previous expenses and inconclusive changes suggested a serious discussion with Vokera Customer Service(?) Dept.
I've had some degree of success in-as-much-as they will send one of their in-house engineers, next Tuesday, for an £85+VAT call out charge and (after some persistant negotiation [and whinging] no parts charges.
I've lost all confidence in this unit and in the mean time I'm exploring the costs of replacing the whole shooting-match for a new boiler -- a condensing type combi boiler and am looking at a Worcester 30CDi.

Anyone out there with comments on my situation so far? and what about the boiler change??

It's hard to comment on your own case but it's true that all too often PCBs are changed when it's often something else at fault. Other causes of your type of problem are often reversed polarities, cracked spark electrodes, faulty air switch, faulty overheat thermostat, or sometimes it's a system fault causing overheat lock-out. With Vaillant Turbomax combis, for example, if the PCB is changed the solenoid has to be changed also, otherwise it will likely blow the brand new PCB. On Baxi 105e if the polarities are the wrong way round the burner will light for a few seconds and then go out.

If in doubt I always call the manufacturer, and ask to speak specifically to a senior technical advisor and give them all the information and let them guide me through the various tests, as these are usually the only people that really know the product. All too often I have called a manufacturer's engineer out under warranty and been sent someone fresh off of a training course that knows less than I do about that product which is always frustrating. I never change a PCB unless I am absolutely certain it is the problem as they are non-returnable. Have other basic checks been made i.e. that the appliance fuse is correctly rated at 3 amps and not 13 as so many are? Is the boiler in a damp place?

If looking at replacements, look at the Alpha CD32C, http://www.alpha-boilers.com/products/CD24CCD32C.html

I think you'll like the single PCB and I've never had an Alpha PCB go on me yet, in fact I've never had a faulty Alpha at all.