Boiler died again

Cerro

I posted about 3 months ago about my boiler repeatedly failing (pump keeps breaking) and it has died yet again.

The Viessmann engineer claimed that I had to have my system flushed or they wouldn't replace another pump. They didn't mention that until we had gone through 3 pumps. So 4th time around I had another engineer come in and flush the system at the sametime and install a filter. The Viessmann engineer replaced the pump and filled the system (water comes out of the boiler when the pump fails) but he didn't bother to bleed the air out or check that anything worked.

In the end it cost me over £700 to flush the system, get a filter and have various other checks done to make sure everything was working. But lo and behold I here again with the same problem, in the middle of winter. My tenants are currently freezing in a snow storm because I can't get anyone to come out on a Saturday, so it will be Monday before anyone even looks at it.

Does anyone have any idea as to what the problem actually is? I'm not forking out several hundred pounds more on this based on the blind guesses made by these so called "Viessmann certified engineers". I'm still under warranty, is there anyway to force them to replace the boiler? I'm getting to the point where I just want to bash someone's head in :mad:

System

At the rate that you are spending money on this boiler it sounds like the cheaper option (in the long run) is to get the complete boiler replaced with a, preferably, different make

Cerro

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2693583 - previous thread to save the same questions coming up.

I now wish I had binned the boiler because I've spent half as much keeping this one running. As I discovered afterward, there is only one service agent for Viessmann in my area. It's a shame because Viessmann haven't been that bad, it's the service agents they have in the area that are the real cowboys.

Is there any way to get some compensation for all this? If I could get even part of the cost of flushing my boiler back it would be better than nothing.

Canucklehead

Hi,

I would be curious to know why a boiler would leak when the pump fails.

Where is the filter fitted?
Is the system piped in copper, plastic or a mix.

From this end of the country I can only guess that (from the sound of it) your system has flaws in it and for a boiler to eat so many pumps there must be a fundamental problem/s until these problems are dealt with changing the boiler won't help.





If I were to be presented with this boiler I would:

Check the system to see how clean it was/is .
Is it piped properly with proper controls (TRVs, roomstat, programmer) and sound (no leaks)
Fit a Magnabooster 2 on the boiler heating return pipe.
Strip down all the internal parts and make sure they are clean and clear.

Fill up and fire.


GSR

Cerro

How much would all that cost? It worked fine for two years without any problems and the previous boiler (a really old baxi) never had any problems. It's only the past year where it's chewed through 4 pumps. Everytime the pump goes water comes pouring out from the bottom of the boiler, until the entire system is dry.

I just had it flushed 3 months ago and I had a magnaclean fitted. I couldn't tell you where as I haven't seen it since it was fitted. It's an old house so as far as I am aware it is all copper pipes. The old water tanks were removed and a new shower fitted when the combi went in. Other than that no work has been done on the system. All radiators have thermastats, the programmer and controls are all analog but they are attached directly to the boiler.

Canucklehead

Hi,

Have you seen any or these broken pumps? Are you 100% sure it's the pump?

From your description it would suggest that there is something causing the pump (or it's housing) to split. A failed pump usually just dies as in the motor fails to turn.

When you say all the rads are fitted with TRVs do you mean each and every one?

The room or area containing the room stat should not be fitted with a TRV.

Not much else to say without seeing it. (therefore I have no idea what cost would be.)

Unless there is something else you can think of which may be relevant .
Eg why was it ok for 2 years?What changed.

Was the boiler adjusted to suit the property for c/h output. (only the installer will tell you, that unless you interrogate the boiler settings.)



GSR.

1984ReturnsForReal_2

Canucklehead wrote: »

When you say all the rads are fitted with TRVs do you mean each and every one?

Agreed. More than likely a bypass issue somewhere .

Cerro

There are 5 radiators in the house each with a TRV, the boiler is located in the kitchen (no radiator in there). There is no room stat, just the standard Viessmann controls on the boiler itself.

I haven't seen any of the pumps, they took them away after showing them to the tenants. I'm no expert so I have no idea if the pump is the real cause - I just have to go on what the engineer is telling me. The first couple times it happened they said the "pump failed and they replaced it".

Nothing's changed since the system was installed. It ran fine for two years and then suddenly it starts eating pumps. At first I thought it might be my tenants as this only started happening after they moved in but I can't imagine anything they are doing to it. Could the shower be the cause? The only thing I ever remember is that there was a high pitched noise when the shower was in use but it ran fine for two years with us using it.

I just get the feeling the service agent is replacing the pump and not checking anything else.

1984ReturnsForReal_2

Cerro wrote: »

There are 5 radiators in the house each with a TRV

Who fitted them then?

Because that is more than likely your problem.

Canucklehead

Hi,

I think you should be looking to achieve the advice in post No 4.


GSR

1984ReturnsForReal_2

Canucklehead wrote: »

Hi,

I think you should be looking to achieve the advice in post No 4.


GSR

Or firstly check if the pump is pushing against what can be a closed system & that is probably why its failed about 4 times in 12 months.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2693583