Never had central heating serviced in 6 years...

Keeping_Motivated

So obviously it is time I did! Never had any problems until recently, it was a new build 6 years ago. Recent problems are just that the water is not working on the gas so we just use the immersion heater instead so not really been a problem but might as well get it serviced and fixed. Also the controls on some of the radiators don't seem to be working. One radiator in the house never gets as hot as the others.

So I wanted opinions on what I should do please:

1) Join a scheme such as BG or Eon which would include fixing all the above? Keep this scheme just for the year then switch to an independent service company? I would use a cashback site for this.
Eon - £14.68 per mth (£25 cash back) includes everything except states you get an inspection not a service.
British Gas - £17 per mth (£40 cash back) includes everything and states you get an annual service.

2) Go straight to an independent company and pay for a service and any labour and parts needed as a one off? I would then need to do some research to find someone recommended in my area.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

worried_jim

I got my engineer thru check a trade and he does the job all in £50 cash. had it serviced twice in 5 years- interesting chap, used to be in bad manners with busta blood vessel so when he's here has loads of fantastic stories about life on the road etc.

Cardew

BG, and I suspect all the others, will not let you join a sceme with a pre-existing fault on your system.

If you can find a good plumber that will be the best bet in the long run.

What controls on the radiator are not working?
As your system is only 6 years old I suspect you have Thermostatic valves(TRV) fitted to all radiators? Sometimes the 'plunger' sticks and needs to be 'exercised'. You just unscrew the top half of the TRV and free the plunger(pin)
You can get diagrams and instructions of the TRVs off the Web - it is very easy - no plumbing involved.
Are you sure all the radiators have been bled?

The HW problem is possibly the valve that diverts water to the Hot water tank. Not a DIY job(for most) but not a major job for a plumber.

Mr_K

My system is 28 years old (!), I haven't had it serviced for 10 years (!!). Its old, its noisy, but it works and is cheap to run. I know if I joined a service scheme they'd immediately condem it and try and flog me a overpiced system. That is what these schemes are really for.
I know it will breakdown one day, at which point I'll buy new boiler. The money I've saved on not joining these schemes will more than pay or it. If it ain't broke, don't fix it....

worried_jim

What have you decided to do ?

Fire_Fox

Mr_K wrote: »

My system is 28 years old (!), I haven't had it serviced for 10 years (!!). Its old, its noisy, but it works and is cheap to run. I know if I joined a service scheme they'd immediately condem it and try and flog me a overpiced system. That is what these schemes are really for.
I know it will breakdown one day, at which point I'll buy new boiler. The money I've saved on not joining these schemes will more than pay or it. If it ain't broke, don't fix it....

If it's a gas system it could as easily kill someone by either exploding or carbon monoxide poisoning as just stop working. Find an 'old school' service engineer who will tune your system and tell you they don't make 'em like that any more.

Cardew

Fire_Fox wrote: »

. Find an 'old school' service engineer who will tune your system .

How do they 'tune' it then?
i.e. what do the adjust/change?

1carminestocky

New carburettor?

[Deleted User]

gas ch, not serviced. Phew!!! that`s called playing with fire

Kane99uk

Cardew wrote: »

BG, and I suspect all the others, will not let you join a sceme with a pre-existing fault on your system.

I had a fault on my boiler a week before Christmas. Tried to join E-On via their website and then rang up to report the fault, wouldn't let me join their cheaper Care packages and would only send someone out if I paid £145 for the visit!! Called up BG & told them the problem - after a brief chat I signed myself up to one of their Homecare schemes and the problem was solved within a couple of days. Engineer serviced the boiler while he was there - very pleased with the service, only cost is a monthly DD for the next 12 months, after which they'll service the system again - all costs & visits in the next year are covered too!

dwigg

"One radiator in the house never gets as hot as the others."

Could be a stuck Thermostatic valve or needing bleeding as Cardew says.
For me it was that all rads were fully open (not the thermo valve - the other end) so by the time water reached the living room rad, all the heat from the water had already been dissipated elsewhere.
I balanced my system by restiricting flow to certain rads (with some pliers) and now every rad gets too hot to touch, and warm up real quick.
Actually means I can have my boiler on less, using less gas and leccy!