Problems with gas central heating

clutton_2

i had a new gch system put into my house for the first time in April of last year (had electric storage heating before). It has never been right. The Corgi gas engineer who did it has consistently refused to come back. The boiler needs topping up with water most weeks, sometimes when i have topped it up, it wont light for a couple of hours; the rads will be ragingly hot on 6, but, then they turn off all heat when i put them down to 3; there are leaks that i can find in 3 rads. He is an astonishingly rude man.

When i first switched it on in October last year, and it did not work properly, he claimed that he only gave a warranty for 3 months; next time i phoned his wife told me to get an electrician in.

Any ideas, as i dont want another cold winter ?

Ken68

http://www.corgi-gas-safety.com/

First check if he is registered, and if so, make a complaint, and if not see your local Trading Standards office.

http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/

Browntoa

small claims court....get an estimate to put it right , get them to put it in writing and then claim that at least + expenses for your time

clutton_2

thanks, i contacted corgi about a year ago, and they dont give a tinkers cuss unless there is gas leaking from the system - they dont care if it works or if it leaks or if it looks like a dogs dinner, just so that you dont have a gas leak. There is no statutory body which cares whether a system has been correctly installed.

i will contact trading standards thank you

christabell

Why don't you contact your local council's Trading Standards department?
This man must be registered to be in business.........Good Luck

Ken68

"..Quote.. I contacted corgi about a year ago, and they dont give a tinkers cuss unless there is gas leaking from the system - they dont care if it works or if it leaks or if it looks like a dogs dinner, just so that you dont have a gas leak...Unquote"

As I've thought for some time, Clutton, a trade protection society.

clutton_2

""As I've thought for some time, Clutton, a trade protection society.""

utterly - i had to contact them about an illegally installed gch system recently on a clients property and they didn't care one jot. This was a system where the flue carrying exhaust gases out of the premises was right next to a opening window, allowing toxic fumes back into the kitchen. There was a single parent mum and a 6 month old baby living there. CORGI defended their "Gas engineer" to the hilt.

Razor

Actually u will find that most of the decent installers are terrified of CORGI as they can and do take licences away, its the 'dodgy' and unregistered ones that are most likely to be at fault, in the case u mention I would contact the boiler manufacturer to find out if the installation meets their standards as the manufacturers instructions override the gas regulations, if they feel the installation is unsafe and CORGI don't listen report it to the HSE, anyone installing gas appliances in a dangerous manner, CORGI registered or not should have the book thrown at them, that veiw is shared by most of the installers I know.

clutton_2

Razor - thanks for your helpful comments - "gas safety" seems to be the only thing that CORGI is interested in (that and making sure their members are not sued). If the system is designed poorly, leaks, goes out, does not heat the house - CORGI dont care one jot. The boiler manufacturer also came out 10 months after installation and could not find a fault with the boiler - they did not care about the pipework leaks !!!

i have just had the printed circuit board replaced by the manufacturer at a cost of £185 - well beyond the first years guarantee.

molerat

clutton wrote:

"gas safety" seems to be the only thing that CORGI is interested in (that and making sure their members are not sued).

....... and ensuring members pay their extortionate fees.

prudryden

Clutton -
Get another or two Corgis to come by and take a look at it. If anyone or both state that it was installed completely wrong, ask them if they would give you a signed statement to that effect. Then get it fixed and head off for the court house.