NEW central heating problems

ran123ran_2

How long would it take to install a new heating system?
14 radiators, condnesing conventional boiler, hot water tank all new pipes (is a pressurised system - also sealed?).

What happens if there is a leak whole installers test the system that leaves carpet so wet that it takes about 1 week to dry out? Can I inisist the company to replace it? They offered to clean it by hiring a machine & sending their own guys to clean it. Am worried that carpet could shrink as its wool mix.

Dont know if there be in damage to ceiling through the leak that is not apparent yet. Or to the sofa where the water also leaked.

Radiator in kitchen takes an hour to get SLIGHTLY warm...not even hot. Could this be cause theres a leak? Or cause the TRV is fixed upright rather than sideways as with the other radiators?

Also became apparent yesterday that some radiators are leaking.

Had it installed through Scotlands Energy Assitance package..they chose the company to carry out the above work & now there are problems apparent they are sending out their guys to look at these issues under the Central heating maintenance contract.

macman

If you've already had it installed, why are you asking how long it would take to install?
Re the carpet, they're entitled to try and clean it first. if it doesn't work, or shrinks, they'll have to replace it or give you an equivalent discount off the install cost-I presume you have not paid the balance yet-or have you already received the certification?
Have you tried bleeding the kitchen rad? It may just need balancing.

gas4you

Depending on the layout of your home I would think 7-8 days, one man.

They should have tested with air only first, that way no leaks if there is a joint loose or forgotten to be soldered etc.

I never fill a newly fitted heating system with pressure testing with air to 3.5 bar for at least 20 mins. (before anyone reminds me that health & safety say no more than 1.5 bar, I like to test higher than the 3 bar that the prv opens at. That way the prv is the 'weak point')

ran123ran_2

When the surveyor came round he had said it will be finished within 2 days as there will be 2 teams that will be working on it (each teams has 1 qualified installer & 1 "junior" person).

On the original day of install the installer called in sick. The job was then reallocated to another team the following day. When they turned up they said that there is no way it can be done in 2 days with just the 2 of them....they were trying to get their company to send in another team....it didn't happen. The next day 1 extra person came to help them.

They kept saying that if they had to come in the next day (saturday) they would not get paid for it as they only get paid per job which is always manageable within 2 days.....they rarely do larger houses.

I think they were just rushing to get the job finished so they didnt need to work the next day.....they were working until 830pm on friday and were here by 8am on both days and worked nonstop.

BG sent their guy in today who balanced the system so kitchen radiator getting hot now.....he also tightened all the radiators to stop the leaks.

Most the cost was covered by a grant managed by scottish gas but we did need to contribute nearly £2k towards the cost and it was all paid upfront.

I spoke to scottish gas re the leak last week, they contacted the company that did the installation who in turn contacted me to ask about how the installation went. I advised them of the leak, they asked what I wanted them to do about it...I said that if cleaning the carpet does not fix the problem or makes it worse (ie shrinks it) (carpet all "bouncy" in the area of leak) I want them to replace the carpet and underlay if that too damaged (which unfortunatley is a very large piece without any joint as it goes into dining room too).
But before they went ahead and cleaned the carpet I want them to provide me something in writing to say that they will do this. They had said they would email me but I have not had anything so far.
No one has even been around to inspect the damage.

Also where they cut out "hatches" to get pipes in.....these have not been properly laid down again....some of them are very uneven & broken in corners where they tried to screw them down again...with a dip of atleast 1cm.....how can I fix these? Is there a product I can use for floors like polyfiller for walls? Or should the installation company be correcting these?

I am just dredding something else going wrong.

gas4you

The installation company should put right any discrepancies in floor levels, especially if they are about 1cm.

1 or 2mm can be normal. Perhaps they should have put some batons under the floor to sit and fix the cut out bits on, to give strength and level them up.

I would insist that Scottish Gas send round an audit or quality control person to see the problems you have been left with.

Pincher

Top priority is to stop the leaks so you can start using the central heating this winter and dry out the carpets.

The approved installer scheme is full of corruption, my plumber wouldn't pay the bribe to get on the list, as he gets plenty of work from old customers.

The company that sent the surveyor is a front that farms out the work to "teams" of independents who will work for peanuts. The company pays them for two days, so of course they are not going to work three so the job is done properly. The middleman takes all the profit, it's the installer and customer who lose out.

You need to get the Gas Safe Register number for the company as well as the installers. Complain to the Gas Safe Register and the subsidy scheme administrator. Compensation claim and remedial work will of course take years. The middleman company will of course offload the blame to the subcontractor, etc.
They have the money, so they just delay as long as possible.

You should be able to appoint your own installers, especially when you are paying part of the cost. If you were getting the installation free, because you were disabled and old, you actually need MORE protection. These f***ed up subsidy schemes should have independent inspectors on EVERY job.

It's the same as third world charities, you need an army stationed around a village to make sure the villager keeps the food you give them. If you just drop the bag of flour, the militia just comes in later, beat up the villager, and take the flour. The villager was just starving, now he's beaten up and starving. You had a cold house, now you have a cold house with wet moldy carpets and uneven floors. Call that help? Why don't they just send in some football hooligans to smash up your house, it would cost the tax payers less, but with the same result.