Never had central heating serviced in 6 years...

Canucklehead

espresso wrote: »

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

:rolleyes:

And I see your percussion instruments are still in working order.:rotfl:

Stay safe.

Canucklehead

Cardew

Mr_K wrote: »

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.

There is very little to servicing except cleaning - yet we have to pay a great deal of money for something that is very simple.

Yet when the 'safety card' is played!!!

As espresso asks, why not mandatory inspections every year for all owners if it is so risky?

Get your boiler serviced today and what is to stop the flue getting blocked tomorrow? - by a dead bird, rodent etc. Perhaps we should have weekly inspections!

Gas cookers? gas fires? - surely far more dangerous than boilers - I don't know of anyone from my parents or grandparents who would have even thought about getting them inspected.

Nah? get it serviced - the safety card applies!!

seven-day-weekend

Is that all it is Cardew? Because it is difficult to get anyone to service the boiler in my Spanish house (only one qualified person in the area!), so my husband hoovers it out every so often. We actually had a bird's nest in the flue for ages and didn't know why it kept going out, so we watch for that now and also my husband has tied some wire mesh over it to stop the bird getting in.

So hoovering it out and keeping the flue clean is all that is required?

It runs on bottled gas, I don't suppose that makes any difference?

gasbag1602

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....

You say "that is what these schemes are really for" Well my friend your wrong that is just your oppinion and if you want to put your family/yourself's life at risk thats up to you but dont encourage others to follow your lead.. Thats just the most rediculas comment i have ever heard!

Cardew

gasbag1602 wrote: »

You say "that is what these schemes are really for" Well my friend your wrong that is just your oppinion and if you want to put your family/yourself's life at risk thats up to you but dont encourage others to follow your lead.. Thats just the most rediculas comment i have ever heard!

Could you explain exactly why you are of that opinion?

What are the reasons that make boilers dangerous?

I am assuming that your name 'gasbag' means you have some qualifications in this area?

Cardew

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

Is that all it is Cardew? Because it is difficult to get anyone to service the boiler in my Spanish house (only one qualified person in the area!), so my husband hoovers it out every so often. We actually had a bird's nest in the flue for ages and didn't know why it kept going out, so we watch for that now and also my husband has tied some wire mesh over it to stop the bird getting in.

So hoovering it out and keeping the flue clean is all that is required?

It runs on bottled gas, I don't suppose that makes any difference?

I read the full servicing instructions for both my boilers, and the servicing essentially consists of cleaning and visual checks.

However it is up to you to determine what is involved with your boiler - I wouldn't dream of offering anyone advice.

It will be interesting to see the response to the post above!

seven-day-weekend

[quote=Cardew;17795961]I read the full servicing instructions for both my boilers, and the servicing essentially consists of cleaning and visual checks.

However it is up to you to determine what is involved with your boiler - I wouldn't dream of offering anyone advice.

It will be interesting to see the response to the post above![/quote]

It's in technical Spanish!!:eek::rotfl:

Since my husband has started hoovering it at regular intervals, making sure birds do not nest in it and seeing that the flame burns correctly, we have had no trouble.

We have a CO alarm which has not been triggered.

So I will assume all is fine!

djohn2002uk

Cardew, I'm surprised by your statements here. Normally your posts make good sense but to advise people to forgo aspects of safety is downright dangerous and totally iresponsible.
You may have read about the servicing of a gas boiler but to sugest it is mostly just a clean is pure nonsense. What about the measurements taken from the flue to check the efficiency (which can impact on safety) and the checking of the seals on the casing, and the gas pressure in the boiler. That's only 3 items that I know of, could you check those?
If I were you I would leave advice on this subject to people who know what they are talking about such as Eliteheat, Canuckleheads OH and Gasbag.

Better add that I'm refering to post 23 where you are virtually implying that a quick suck with the vacuum cleaner and a quick glance around constitutes a service.

Cardew

djohn2002uk wrote: »

Cardew, I'm surprised by your statements here. Normally your posts make good sense but to advise people to forgo aspects of safety is downright dangerous and totally iresponsible.
You may have read about the servicing of a gas boiler but to sugest it is mostly just a clean is pure nonsense. What about the measurements taken from the flue to check the efficiency (which can impact on safety) and the checking of the seals on the casing, and the gas pressure in the boiler. That's only 3 items that I know of, could you check those?
If I were you I would leave advice on this subject to people who know what they are talking about such as Eliteheat, Canuckleheads OH and Gasbag.

Better add that I'm refering to post 23 where you are virtually implying that a quick suck with the vacuum cleaner and a quick glance around constitutes a service.

Djohn200uk

I am advising nobody!(and made that point in post 27) I am commenting!

There is very little to servicing except cleaning - yet we have to pay a great deal of money for something that is very simple.

I have read my servicing schedules fully, and watched the BG fitters and other CORGI fitters service both my boilers; and previous boilers.

I am making the point that there is no 'tuning' required to keep it running at top efficiency.

There is no requirement in either of my servicing schedules to measure flue gases and the CORGI fitter(or whatever they are now called) don't.

I have tried on previous threads to get some informed discussion on this subject - but none is forthcoming from the experts.

My boiler is serviced today, what can go wrong in the 12 months that will make it unsafe? If I leave it 18 months? 2 years?

But the 'safety card' is played and we go on paying through the nose for very simple procedures.

So less there be any misunderstanding - get it serviced - monthly if you wish!!

gasbag1602

Cardew if you dont know what problems you are looking for how do you know your boiler is safe! I know what i am looking for thats why people pay me and other corgi's to service appliances. Anyway good luck playing Russian roulet with your familys life!