Replace Heat Exchanger in Potterton Suprima 40

A_Nice_Englishman

Title says it all really.

My heat exchanger is leaking and I am advised that it will need to be replaced. I am getting quotes from local firms.
Online price for the part seems to be about £280 :eek:. I have the installation manual and the actual fitting process looks fairly straightforward - maybe an hour's work including refilling the system (it is currently drained down in order to stop the leak)? So I would be looking at say £380 inc parts, labout and VAT

Now, British Gas offer to fix 'any fault' for £154 . No fix, no fee. I have booked a call with them for Tuesday which I can cancel without penalty.

Q1. does my estimate sound about right?
Q2. does anyone have any experience of the BG repair service. On the face of it, it looks too good to be true. Are they really subsidising the expensive repairs out of the cheaper ones?

Any advice appreciated.

A_Nice_Englishman

Update after some ringing around today
Independent plumber - £673
Potterton £239 (to fix any fault)

Appointment booked with British Gas tomorrow. If they fail, will use Potterton

A_Nice_Englishman

BG declined to fix the fault for the fixed price quoted and have charged my credit card £24 without authorisation. Their guesstimate involved four hours' labour.

Potterton came today , changed the heat exchanger (a very simple job - almost diy), refilled system, bled radiators and checked all was well in just over an hour.

Hope my experience will help someone else in a similar position!

mike_the_bike_2

Good old British Gas...Apparently they used to be known as the Gas Board!

Obviously the job involved more than replacing a thermocouple or using a vacuum cleaner or bleeding the radiators so they weren't interested.