Central heating question

jennifernil

I remember them! Had them in our very first house.

So why do these warm front guys want to change all his rads etc? Surely wasteful if it is not necessary?

EliteHeat

jennifernil wrote: »

I remember them! Had them in our very first house.

So why do these warm front guys want to change all his rads etc? Surely wasteful if it is not necessary?

Because Warm Front is (allegedlly) a scam, using public money to massively inflate the real cost of work needed, especially for older customers who won't necessarily question the prices or specifications.

Now, where is that WF subcontractor application form .......

sebastianj

I think Eliteheat is right, I hope you have been using a different name here otherwise u r in their bad books. This is the impression I have, contractor says you are getting it for free so be grateful for what we give you.
Frankly, I have no idea of what is best for my house, I just want a cost effective system that does not break down frequently. I have only heard of Combi systems as being good.
Can the water pressure no be checked? may be it needs to be turned up somewhere.
rgd
seb

Canucklehead

sebastianj wrote: »

Can the water pressure no be checked? may be it needs to be turned up somewhere.
rgd
seb

Good evening: Yes it can
Pressure testing should be part of a site survey when a combi or unvented cylinder is being considered.

HTH

Canucklehead

sebastianj

Thanks canucklehead, What I mean is that there may be a valve or two in the system which needs opening. Contractor only touched the water with his fingers, may be he is an expert. Water board told me that the supply they provide is 2bar, not sure what that means.
thanks again
seb

mike_the_bike_2

Whats wrong with your existing boiler apart from the fact some people seem to see it as an opportunity to make a lot of money at the tax payers expense?

Canucklehead

sebastianj wrote: »

Contractor only touched the water with his fingers, may be he is an expert. Water board told me that the supply they provide is 2bar, not sure what that means.
thanks again
seb

Good evening: The contractor is incompetent...exactly what we've come to expect from many of the Warmfront 'approved' installers More on water pressure and its implications here and here

HTH

Canucklehead

27col

Have a look at this. The complaints about the Warm Front scheme are endless.
http://www.helptheaged.org.uk/Discussion/forums/thread/947.aspx

linclass

Evening all, what follows is an ongoing fiasco that's happening to a pal of mine. Lets call her Ann. Now, Ann's mother is in her 80s, and Ann is her primary carer. They live in an old (small) property in the Lincolnshire countryside. The older persons Welfare Officer (probably got a different title now-a-days!) warned over 20 MONTHS ago that Ann's mum is living in a home that's too cold. She suggested they apply to Warm Front to see what can be done.

So - 20 MONTHS ago, the first named fitters came to inspect the property. They agreed they could convert their 5 year-old Rayburn from solid fuel to Oil. Ann paid a few hundred pounds up front, and waited. And waited and WAITED. Months down the line, they said 'sorry - can't get the parts needed to convert'. They returned her money - without interest of course.

Warm Front sent the 2nd named fitters along, to start the process all over again. Carbon copy!!!! the same thing happened!

Ann almost gave up but Warm Front suggested a 3rd named firm of Fitters be contacted. Same survey, Ann paid £1500 up front, and after some weeks nothing happened so ANN searched online and found the manufacturers of the parts needed - she put the fitters in touch with them.

Anyway, this week, after Ann's called every couple of days to be told 'give us a couple of days', 'we'll call you back' etc etc, these 3rd fitters have said because they don't have a fitter that has done a course on exactly HOW to fit the conversion, the manufacturers have REFUSED to supply them with the parts!!

She's getting on to Warm Front in the morning. I suggested contacting the newspapers, Leave it to Levy (local TV), local newspapers etc etc.

Ann's mum is 82 next birthday, has Cancer, Osteoporosis, Arthritis, and IBS.

Is THIS how Britain's older people have to be treated in 2008?

I just CANNOT get my head around this situation. It's almost as if Warm Front/Fitters are waiting until her Mother dies, thus saving them the effort!!

I'm soooo annoyed...

52alan

Hi, Yes sadly Warm front will not prioritise people who really need the work urgently.
I am a registered gas installer and my sons girlfriend has been without heating and water for nearly approx six months, she has two young children and still no nearer to getting a result.
As for rip off costs a boiler change ( condensing removed and condensing replaced with 4 radiators ) no upgrading required.
Labour charges alone are over £2,300 This job would take me two days maximum on my own at a fraction of that cost.
Time for the Warm Front rip off merchants to be brought to task !!!!!!!!!!!!
The Warm Front as a Goverment backed scheme should be vetting these installers.
Just to say the Warm Front scheme has brought much help to a lot of needy people , but it is being abused.