2nd fix Central Heating

heating-eng

keystone wrote: »

If any of the installers that you have had round have NOT measured the pressure/flow rate before recommending a particular boiler then the OP should kick them into touch right now.

Cheers

when i go round to customers and check the water they ask me what i am doing, because none of the people before me have checked.
i even quoted a job the other day where BG had quoted and the customer said he didnt check.
Funny thing was he had quoted for a 532 with a flow rate of 13l/m and when i checked they were only getting 9 l/m on the cold.
as keystone as said this must be checked.

gas4you

Most quality combis will work down to 0.5bar pressure, whilst still giving plenty of flow.

The flow is what is needed to get your monies worth.

I test pressure and flow, but only take notice of the pressure when fitting anything with a pressure reducing/balancing valve fitted, as in an unvented cylinder.

typeractive

Right - well now I'm worried as not one of them has tested anything! :o

My mate who is a plasterer has said, in all the time he has worked with other trades he still can't find a plumber who is worth recommending! I'm getting that much mixed advice from the different sources about boliers and not one of them has checked this which seems a fundamental. I feel like giving up before I'm even started.

keystone

Yes it is fundamental. If they don't know what the flow rate actually is how can they suggest an appropriate boiler? Experience and a little bit of guesswork thats how because only "one in a 100" (wet finger of course) will have problems. But it only takes a couple of minutes to check the flow rate provided by the mains and stick a pressure guage on it.

Cheers

heating-eng

typeractive wrote: »

Right - well now I'm worried as not one of them has tested anything! :o

My mate who is a plasterer has said, in all the time he has worked with other trades he still can't find a plumber who is worth recommending! I'm getting that much mixed advice from the different sources about boliers and not one of them has checked this which seems a fundamental. I feel like giving up before I'm even started.

Keep getting quotes until you find someBody that does check.
How can they advise you what is best for you if they don,t know your flow?

typeractive

Hi all,
Well I’ve had quite a few people call round now with quotes. Some recommended, some from rated people, some through friends etc. Of the quotes I’ve had, I’ve narrowed it down to 2 people. The difference in price is rather considerable.


Quote 1:
Boiler: Broag Remeha 39c
Cleaner / Filter: Fernox TF1
Inhibitor: Sentinel X100
TRVs: Pegler Terrier
Control Stat: Honewell Chronotherm
Lime scale reducer included: yes
Rads: made by stelrad, but crosco branded.

Parts: £2,433.89
Consumables: £234
Labour: £840
Total: 3507

Quote 2:
Boiler: Broag Remeha 39c
Cleaner / Filter: Fernox TF1
Inhibitor: yes (but not sure if sentinel)
TRVs: Bulldog
Control Stat: Drayton RF601
Lime scale reducer included: yes
Rads: stelrad softline
Parts: £2,436.88
Labour: £540
Total £2990

Quote 3
Broag boiler, stelrads, filter, limescale reducer etc (same as the 2 above really)
Parts £2600
Labour: £1000
Total: £3600
(change pipes to chrome extra £250 inc parts)


Swaying towards the second quote obviously on the price. The lad originally quoted a Worcester boiler, though I asked him to change it for a fair comparison. With any of these guys it’s going to be a punt. I know cheaper doesn’t mean a safer bargain, though I don’t like how quote 1 has included consumables when really there aren’t any direct ones – no need to fix walls for me etc. They are very close on price for parts. Has anyone heard of some of the parts I’ve listed? Honeywell and crosco branding?


Anything else I should be asking these guys / changing? I’m still tempted to ask for the drayton valves, but they ain’t cheap! :S


Getting closer.



Thanks!

heating-eng

typeractive wrote: »

Hi all,
Well I’ve had quite a few people call round now with quotes. Some recommended, some from rated people, some through friends etc. Of the quotes I’ve had, I’ve narrowed it down to 2 people. The difference in price is rather considerable.


Quote 1:
Boiler: Broag Remeha 39c
Cleaner / Filter: Fernox TF1
Inhibitor: Sentinel X100
TRVs: Pegler Terrier
Control Stat: Honewell Chronotherm
Lime scale reducer included: yes
Rads: made by stelrad, but crosco branded.

Parts: £2,433.89
Consumables: £234
Labour: £840
Total: 3507

Quote 2:
Boiler: Broag Remeha 39c
Cleaner / Filter: Fernox TF1
Inhibitor: yes (but not sure if sentinel)
TRVs: Bulldog
Control Stat: Drayton RF601
Lime scale reducer included: yes
Rads: stelrad softline
Parts: £2,436.88
Labour: £540
Total £2990

Quote 3
Broag boiler, stelrads, filter, limescale reducer etc (same as the 2 above really)
Parts £2600
Labour: £1000
Total: £3600
(change pipes to chrome extra £250 inc parts)


Swaying towards the second quote obviously on the price. The lad originally quoted a Worcester boiler, though I asked him to change it for a fair comparison. With any of these guys it’s going to be a punt. I know cheaper doesn’t mean a safer bargain, though I don’t like how quote 1 has included consumables when really there aren’t any direct ones – no need to fix walls for me etc. They are very close on price for parts. Has anyone heard of some of the parts I’ve listed? Honeywell and crosco branding?


Anything else I should be asking these guys / changing? I’m still tempted to ask for the drayton valves, but they ain’t cheap! :S

Did they check the water pressure and flow


Getting closer.



Thanks!

Did they check water pressure and flow ?

typeractive

heating-eng wrote: »

Did they check water pressure and flow ?

Haha! I forgot to mention that when I wrote my post as I was in a rush, but no, not one of the people has! And trust me I've had a bunch of people now!! I have even asked them in a kind of 'rogue builders' actor kind of way - "should you not check the the flow rates", and none of them have!

I know what you're thinking - keep on searching!!!!

However, I just have no faith in any plumbers / CH engineers. It's terrible to say, but it just seems impossible to find one that does everything 'correctly'. If only I lived close to the good people on here!

typeractive

heating-eng wrote: »

you really do need to keep looking or at least tell them that you want them to check it before buying the boiler.
I would not trust any of them in my house,

Yeah. I've looked and looked and looked. Seriously - plumbers / CH eng are just such a pain!! I think I should train as one as there is definitely a niche in the market here!

Whoever I do decide upon (and it is leaning towards option 2 at the moment) I will make sure checks the flow rates. Now - the question is - what results should I be looking for?

Also, any opinions on the 'bulldog' trv's? Are drayton really worth the extra?

heating-eng

typeractive wrote: »

Yeah. I've looked and looked and looked. Seriously - plumbers / CH eng are just such a pain!! I think I should train as one as there is definitely a niche in the market here!

Whoever I do decide upon (and it is leaning towards option 2 at the moment) I will make sure checks the flow rates. Now - the question is - what results should I be looking for?

Also, any opinions on the 'bulldog' trv's? Are drayton really worth the extra?

You match the boiler to the results you get.
Bulldog are ok. I wouldn't pay extra for Drayton in my house.