BG condemned 25yr old Johnson & Starley Hot air Boiler

amtrakuk

Earlier in the week I got a panic call from mum to say her boiler has packed up. After speaking to her she had BG home care around to fix it. It is quite well known around the area amongst engineers as the boiler is 25 years old.

She had 3 engineer visits and neither times could they work out why after about 15 minutes the boiler shut down. The engineer said it was time she scrapped the boiler and went for a new boiler. In a worry she said she will go for a new boiler.

The salesman came round within a couple of days and discussed options, where radiators are required etc. The bill came though at over 5k to change form a forced air system to a radiator central heating system. There was a bit of concern when she said the man told her, her life assurance and house insurance will be null and void if the boiler blew up!

I was also concerned when my mum was told getting parts for the J&S J25-32 mk3 was hard to come by. Logging onto the J&S website, parts appear to be available.

Hearing this and worried about mums health I forced myself down to somerset this weekend with an oil filled radiator so at least she could have warmth.

Asking and listening to what the engineers did, (Mainly stripping the boiler and scratching their head as they said nothing appears to be wrong). Between us, doing some brain storming, I asked if they looked at the room thermostat (also 25 years old). Taking off the cover we discovered 25 years of dust and nicotine. I switched the boiler off at the wall and giving the thermostat a good clean with a brush and white spirit and let it dry before reassembling.

Hey presto, the boiler appears to be working fine and now warming the house and not cutting out. At the worst it appears to just need a new room thermostat. Might be worth checking the most neglected part of the heating system

wallbash

Have the same boiler .
Moral of story , never let BG anywhere near boiler .
Have an independent firm ( father of engineer actually originaly installed in new build) look after it. They specialise in warm air. Last years service ... £61.

amtrakuk

Do you know any companies around Somerset who service them? BG have upped the home care rate, clearly trying to price her out

dacouch

amtrakuk wrote: »

The salesman came round within a couple of days and discussed options, where radiators are required etc. The bill came though at over 5k to change form a forced air system to a radiator central heating system. There was a bit of concern when she said the man told her, her life assurance and house insurance will be null and void if the boiler blew up!

The home insurance or life insurance would not be void if the boiler blew up, no doubt you are aware he was talking bull but no doubt this probably scared your mother.

This is terrible way for a salesman (Even a BG salesman) to get a sale and I belive it will fall foul of the Unfair Business Practices under the following section

"11. Scare tactics
Making a materially inaccurate claim concerning the nature
and extent of the risk to the personal security of the
consumer or his or her family if the consumer does not
purchase the product"

http://www.oft.gov.uk/shared_oft/business_leaflets/cpregs/oft979.pdf

If it does not fall under section 11 it would fall under the general ethos of the Unfair Business Practices which are the law. A complaint to the local Trading Standards office could mean the salesmen could be retrained to prevent him using this method on another trusting BG customer

jcorbygas

I hope the BG 'engineers' who came round had the actual qualification to work on warm air units as it is another part of the ACS qualifications you have to have! Its worthwhile checking the back of their GasSafe card to make sure otherwise they shouldnt be having anything to do with the system. As previous poster says Johnson and Starley still do spare parts for the systems, as we look after many customers old systems and obtain spare parts from them.

ormus

its the standard BG sales method im afraid. ive heard this story so many times now, its getting to be a joke.
i wouldnt mind so much, but the BG quotes are more like telephone numbers.

amtrakuk

Well been on the phone to Johnson & Starley (01604 762881) they couldnt be more friendly and helpful. They obviously take pride and are passionate in their products. More to the point I now feel relieved and confident about them.

- Giving the model number the man straight away knew excactly what boiler I was going on about even though its 25 years old!

- Was told ALL parts for that boiler are available for next day Delivery

- They do not have a service/maint plan however he guided me on their website on where to find a SAFE certified hot air boiler engineer.

- As you fokes have said BG were selling her a few porky pies to bag the sale and a replacement boiler can be fitted without having to change the asbestos flue (dependant on its condition). However was warned the boiler may outlive the flue.

Can't wait to give her the good news. Have to phone her tonight to make sure she has cancelled the BG installation.

gas4you

BG will often say parts are no longer available, but what they actually mean is the parts have been removed from their system/list, rather than not available full stop.

Perhaps one of the BG guys on here will clarify if I am correct or not.

keystone

gas4you wrote: »

BG will often say parts are no longer available, but what they actually mean is the parts have been removed from their system/list, rather than not available full stop.

Thay aren't the only ones.

Cheers

keystone

Apart from another misdiagnosis by a major leading to the "you need a new boiler" solution why did the saleman try and flog a complete system change to a radiator solution when if the boiler was shot a new J&S unit would do quite well thank you very much.

Cheers

EC12345

We have exactly the same system and have our serviced every year. Our whole street is warm air vent and use the same J & S company. We had to order a new part this year and the chap who serviced the boiler (an expert in warm air vent heating and GASSAFE) did it within a week and it is absolutely fine.

Good for you and your mum is sorting it.:)