Advice please - attaching radiator

Glasgowkiss84

Hi,

I have searched for this, but can't seem to find something similar.

I had new GCH installed about 3 months ago. When the CORGI plumbers were there, my dad (house sitting for me) told them that my hallway radiator did not seem to have the correct brackets to install it to the wall. So plumbers put all pipework in place and left so it could be attached when the new brackets arrived.

Turn out it was the correct brackets :rolleyes:

Anyway so asked the plumbers to come back and he wants to charge me. He didn't mention there would be a charge at the time. So what would be reasonable, and exactly what work would need done. He was taking about adding something to the CH etc.... I really didn't think that would be necessary - it was all newly installed in Dec! With new pipework!

(It was a WB combi boiler, not sure if that matters)

What would be a reasonable cost for this?

Please help:o

Rosebery_2

Of course its correct he charges you for another visit. The pipes may be there but they have to be finished off so that the pipework fits the rad. He can't do that until the rad is hung on the wall.

I suspect what he wants to add is inhibitor - anti corrosion chemical. Any thats in the system will disappear when he drains it so he needs to put more in.

Fair cost probably £ 50/60 ish plus cost of inhibitor.

Glasgowkiss84

Rosebery wrote: »

Of course its correct he charges you for another visit. The pipes may be there but they have to be finished off so that the pipework fits the rad. He can't do that until the rad is hung on the wall.

I suspect what he wants to add is inhibitor - anti corrosion chemical. Any thats in the system will disappear when he drains it so he needs to put more in.

Fair cost probably £ 50/60 ish plus cost of inhibitor.

Thank you for your reply!

Yes, I understand they will charge - but I think they are looking for around the £100 mark. I was shocked at how much it would cost. They also guessed how long it would take (a few hours was his guess) and then wants me to pay on a time basis - per 1/2 hr. So a call out charge then more for every half hour. I just think they should have a better idea of time it will take etc..... they put all the boiler and pipework in! What could go wrong?





I'm not plumber/tradesmen bashing or saying everyone over charges, I just want to know what people -including anyone who does this kind of work -thinks is fair. Fair timewise and moneywise.

Rosebery_2

Well AFAIC it is NOT acceptable to charge by the 1/2 hour for this job - that just sounds like an opportunity to take his tme and ramp the price up. The clue there is "a few hours". Sorry but I'm moving away from his side to yours very quickly. Its hardly rocket science. He should be giving you a fixed price for it - he knows the system and what extras could there possibly be?.

Bear in mind that the inhibitor will probably be costing HIM around £ 15 and its not unreasonable that puts a mark-up on it.

Tell him you want a fixed price. It should be around £ 70 - £ 80 all in I'm guessing.

HTH

jockster211

Hiya Glasgowkiss

How has the pipework been left? Is it capped? Or are the radiator valves on the end of the pipework?

If the pipework is capped then I'd expect it to take maybe 2 hours. The system will be drained, so as previous poster says make sure they renew the inhibitor. Maybe £70.

If all the valving is in place then it should only take 45 minutes or so to fit the brackets, attach the rad, bleed & top up the system. Around £30. Don't think this scenario needs extra inhibitor, but maybe someone like canucklehead can advise?

Jockster

Glasgowkiss84

Thank you again for both your replies.

I think (knowing NOTHING about DIY in general) that they have capped it off.

Like you both said - I feel he should be able to say its 'this' much. Especially as they put the whole system in.

Would you advise trying someone else? They would have to be WB approved anyway, as I got an extended warranty with the boiler. I don't want to null and void that!