Gas Meter Change Broke My Boiler

ellisplace

On Friday I had my gas meter changed at the request of Npower.
Alongside I have had a regulator installed where there was not one before.
We returned on Saturday to run the hot water for the first time and found that after 15 seconds the boiler makes a rumbling sound as if the gas is not lighting properly and the water only runs luke warm.

I have rang the national grid centre who directed me to Npower as they said it was Npower's responsibility. So I rang Npower and explained the issue, to which the customer service representative said that the likely fault was with my boiler therefore it is my responsibility to get it fixed.

I find it difficult to accept that my boiler, which was working fine immediately before the meter change, is at fault. I believe that whatever changes have been made to my supply, via the meter change and regulator fitted, have in turn caused the current fault with my boiler.

Npower refuse to send an engineer out to check the system and advise me to get a registered engineer out to check my boiler. What are my rights here?

spiro

After they changed your meter the engineer will have 'relit' you boiler as part of the work. If that happened OK then they will probably say that it was OK when they left. Your only option would be to get an engineer to check the boiler and if he states (in writing) that the fault has been caused by the meter exchange then you may be able to claim against them.

Same as an MOT on a car, it only means your car is road worthy at the time of the test and that it may not be the second you leave the testing station.

ellisplace

The engineer did relight my boiler, he turned the water on for a few seconds to see the boiler light up. If he had waited slightly longer he would have heard the noise.

lemontart

what do you mean by gas not lighting properly are the flames small or does it light up and go out with in a couple of minutes after doing so? trust me there is a reason for these questions I work for the gas emergency service and your answers may help me establish your problem, we do not normally attend noisy boilers as that is most likely a water pressure problem that needs to be looked at by a gas safe engineer, but the gas not lighting properly may indicate another problem so let me know and I can see if I can help or at least point you in the right direction also is there any smell

ellisplace

The rumbling noise only occurs when the hot water is running, not when central heating is on. The rumbling noise sounds like a blow torch popping, rhythmic and constant.

Despite if there is now something wrong with my boiler it is far too suspicious for me to say the connection between the breakdown and gas meter change is pure coincidence. Looks like the utilities company wins again, I now have to pay out for something they most likely broke.

bambibashercol

It's not a gas problem. If the boiler lights and it not rumbling when central heating is on its a boiler problem. The engineer would of checked the working pressure at the meter to make sure the regulator was working correctly.
I would advise you get a boiler engineer to look at your boiler.

lemontart

yep blr prop

ellisplace

Don't you think its too much of a coincidence.

Everything is working fine.
Gas meter changed.
Boiler not working properly.

This is highly improbable. Could the new regulator be restricting the gas supply to my boiler, or could there be air in the system. I will get an engineer in to have a look, It looks like I have no choice, but this still does not explain how having a meter exchanged can cause my boiler to break.

bambibashercol

What boiler model do you have?
Have you got a gas fire or gas cooker? do those appliances work ok?
As i stated in my post if the central heating works then its a boiler problem.
If the gas had air in it the boiler would not light. or if a modern boiler just go to lock out.
You said the old meter had no regulator? This could not of been correct. All meters have always had them to drop pressure to 20 mb.

lemontart

op you do state that rumbling sound when hot water on that is most likely to be the water pressure in the pipes as heating

Smillie_2

Hi,

Obviously if your boiler has failed or been damaged by the work Npower did they will be liable to replace or repair your boiler.

However the burden of proof in any claim rests firmly in with the Claimant (ellisplace) you will have to provide Npower with conclusive proof that the Boiler is faulty and that the fault was caused by them.

I'm a liability adjuster and spend my days defending Insurance companies and corporations like Npower from claims like this. My first question to you, if I were defending would be prove Npower broke your boiler.

As your boiler isn't working I would think about calling out an engineer so at the very least they can check its safe and they can try and establish why its not working.

Sorry it thats a bit gloomy but unless you provide proof that Npower are at fault they wont do anything.

Hope it gets sorted.