Thank heavens for the internet and patience!

mandarinduck

I am so relieved. Our boiler has been on the fritz since June and so we have had no hot water for five months and only sporadic heating. The first plumber (a relative) let us down badly. Because it was a family member it kept going on and on as I felt obliged to give him more time/another chance to sort it etc and eventually in August blew my top and said enough.

I was then unwell so it wasn't our biggest priority and before we knew it September had arrived. We started looking again and received a recommendation for a plumber who was 'very reliable'. Not with us. He came for a visit very quick and seemed great but never called again. My OH left it a week and followed up. Then left it another week and gave up. We've struggled to get a good recommendation since.

Finally, in absolute desperation I found the installation and maintenance manual online and after searching multiple forums decided it could be worth emptying the condensation trap. I checked with my dad that it wasn't illegal for me to do this (obviously I'm not gas safe) and he said I could because I wasnt' touching electricity or the gas supply.

So when my OH came home, I dragged him in to the cellar with my instructions and tools. It took me four hours, with the help of my stunning assistant Mr B. I'm sure a plumber would have been much quicker! However, when we switched it on it worked! We now have a much stronger flame, the heating is lovely and hot rather than lukewarm and the error message is gone. Haven't dared to try the hot water yet but keeping my fingers crossed.

If you'd have asked me four months ago if I'd have resorted to this I would have looked at you as if you were mad. But I'm so glad I did. After months of frustration, I feel like I've got some control back. It's probably only a temporary fix but it's made me feel brilliant.

Hooray

kmmr

Well done! Great achievement to fix your own boiler. And while you say someone who knew what they were doing would do it quicker - the fact that two so called skilled people couldn't find it says it isn't that easy. Well done on having the patience and confidence to give it a go.

I fixed my Sky tonight. I am proud enough of that achievement.

prosaver

I fixed my gas cooker too, the hose was loose.
but ive got a problem now I think theres a snake behind the cooker as ican hear a hisssing noise and it smell like brussell sprouts..

mandarinduck

kmmr wrote: »

I fixed my Sky tonight. I am proud enough of that achievement.

Every little helps. Am sure Sky would have charged a pretty penny to do it for you.

mandarinduck

prosaver wrote: »

I fixed my gas cooker too, the hose was loose.
but ive got a problem now I think theres a snake behind the cooker as ican hear a hisssing noise and it smell like brussell sprouts..

I'd never touch the cooker. Once went for a month without a cooker due to store delivery muck ups and then being unable to get a plumber. Remember the man from the store offered me £20 to take my family out for a meal!! I wasn't particularly impressed.