Never had central heating serviced in 6 years...

foreign_correspondent

Please do not put off servicing your central heating if it is gas - I was almost carbon monixide poisoned last year - my life was probably saved by a loud carbon monixide alarm from Wilko's which cost about £15 quid - otherwise I would have had no idea - no fumes, no smell, no problems with how the boiler was working....

When the engineer came out and tested it, he said the levels in the kitchen would have killed anyone who was in there for more than an hour... and as they may well have passed out much earlier than this, the fumes posed a huge risk. As I was often in there cooking, it appears I had been very lucky indeed. Without an alarm I have no doubt I would not be here now.

Honestly, its not worth the risk - I think when I last had my gas CH serviced it cost just over £100.

seven-day-weekend

We have just had a new boiler fitted and as the Engineer has serviced everything and is qualified to give a Gas Safety Certificate (the house is lived in by my son and a lodger), I have cancelled my service contract with British Gas, which I have had for ten years. Although I have been pleased with their service it will save me £300 this year.

I reasoned it thus: the boiler is new and so if it breaks down it is under guarantee. The CORGI registered engineer has just serviced and replumbed the whole system as well as fitting the boiler. I have a valid Gas Certificate.

This time next year I will re-assess whether to take another service contract out - EON seem to be the best value at the moment. That's if the CORGI engineer who has just fitted it is not available for regular services.

Not having it serviced at all is not an option, even if I didn't have to get it done for the Gas Safety Certificate.

Mr_K

Fire_Fox wrote: »

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.

I appreciate what you're saying about safety. If I could find someone reliable locally I'd get it serviced. However if you ring one of the main companies you're more likely to get a salesman than an engineer. I'm sure the system is safe, its just old and noisy, a service wouldn't make much difference. As a precaution I do have and CO detector and don't leave it on when I'm out of the house.

Canucklehead

Mr_K wrote: »

I appreciate what you're saying about safety. If I could find someone reliable locally I'd get it serviced. However if you ring one of the main companies you're more likely to get a salesman than an engineer. I'm sure the system is safe, its just old and noisy, a service wouldn't make much difference. As a precaution I do have and CO detector and don't leave it on when I'm out of the house.

Good afternoon: Do you have a CO detector or a CO alarm? Try and find a independent RGI, preferably one recommended to you by a source you trust, to service your gas appliances. The OH would not recommend replacement of any boiler if it is safe, adequately heats your home and provides sufficient DHW: his behaviour is in the majority. Unfortunately, you rarely read about honest/competent tradespersons on this forum and more is the shame.

Stay safe.



Canucklehead...still banging that drum;)

foreign_correspondent

Mr_K wrote: »

I appreciate what you're saying about safety. If I could find someone reliable locally I'd get it serviced. However if you ring one of the main companies you're more likely to get a salesman than an engineer. I'm sure the system is safe, its just old and noisy, a service wouldn't make much difference. As a precaution I do have and CO detector and don't leave it on when I'm out of the house.

the detectors are b*gger all use if it starts churning our CO whilst you are asleep, and I would not rely on an alarm over servicing it.

There is no way you can be sure the system is safe, mine made no noises, worked well, was efficient and reliable.. and I believe had been serviced about three years before it nearly killed us.

if you ring one of the main companies you're more likely to get a salesman than an engineer

I appreciate what you are saying but is that really a fate worse than death?

Ask neighbours, friends and relatives for a recommendaton, or ring a few from the yellow pages and ask for a quote...

Sadly, I was told that a lot of deaths from CO poisonging occur becuase people start to feel a bit tired, and either go for a kip, or just become too confused to leave the house and die there instead...

Do not rely on not haveing any of the symptoms of CO poisining -when we were being CO'd, my OH had been suffering from headaches, but I was in the flat a lot more than he was and had no symptoms whatsoever that I was aware of... I felt fine, and had no inkling if the vast amount of CO that the system was churning out...

Mr_K

Canucklehead wrote: »

Good afternoon: Do you have a CO detector or a CO alarm?

I meant a CO alarm.

Mr_K

foreign_correspondent wrote: »

There is no way you can be sure the system is safe, mine made no noises, worked well, was efficient and reliable.. and I believe had been serviced about three years before it nearly killed us. ..

You've convinced me (!), I'll get try & get it serviced.
But why is so difficult to find anyone local,independent & reputable ? the CORGI thing doesn't seem to say much more than you've paid to go on a course (or forged a badge).
When I did get it serviced (several years ago !), when I rang up the conversation went something like:-
'I'd like my appliance serviced'
'Whats wrong with it ?'
'Nothing, that I know of'
'Oh (surprised), people don't usually ask for 'service' unless there's something wrong'.
When he came he didn't spend more than 5 mins and didin't seem to do much more than take the cover of and put it back on again (!) The small guys aren't all angels either. Thats why I'm so sceptical; but I suppose I should be on the safe side.

espresso

Canucklehead wrote: »

Canucklehead...still banging that drum;)

I'm surprised that your drum is not worn out by now!

If servicing a boiler was really such a safety issue, it would be law that they must be serviced annually! It is not.

Of course you personally have a vested interest in advising that annual serviciing of gas appliances should be done, so it's hardly unbiased advice.

:rolleyes:

foreign_correspondent

Mr_K wrote: »

You've convinced me (!), I'll get try & get it serviced.
.

I am glad to hear it its one of those things that you dont expect to happen, but it can, and you almost certainly wont know about it!

When I last got mine done it was just before I let my house out, I think the letting agent recommended the guy - may be worth asking anyone you know who is involved in letting houses, or even anyone who rents, as by law their gas appliances must be serviced.

foreign_correspondent

espresso wrote: »

I'm surprised that your drum is not worn out by now!

If servicing a boiler was really such a safety issue, it would be law that they must be serviced annually! It is not.

Of course you personally have a vested interest in advising that annual serviciing of gas appliances should be done, so it's hardly unbiased advice.

:rolleyes:

..hmmm - and my vested interest is...?? oh yes, almost getting killed by a boiler that needed servicing. When the guy came out to sort it he showed me the cause of the fault - dust and fluff!

I never believed it would happen either - till it did - and I realised I am lucky to be alive as soon as I saw the numbers rocketing up on the CO meter the gas board chap brought out with him - to fatal concentrations.