WB greenstar 27 CDI installation query

loulou41

The above boiler WB Greenstar 27CDi was installed last year by a local WB accreditted installer a year ago. Today I had a survey done for insulation and the surveyor was looking around and opened the airing cupboard & told me the gas boiler who is installed in the airing cupboard does not meet the necessary front clearance which should be 600 mm, I have got 450 mm. He is also a heating engineer. I did ask last year about clearance and I was told there is enough clearance for servicing. I am very concerned now, will that make my guarantee void, and why is it the engineer installed the boiler with only 450 mm front clearance. When the guarantee runs out , it is now being serviced by the local WB installer & is guaranteed for 5 yrs I want to know whether I will have problem getting insurance since it does not meet the required front clearance. I intend to go back with BG and they pick on every little thing. Pl advice, now I am aware of this problem, I am going to complain to the engineer who unfortunately is on holiday now!! Is there anything else I can do ? The gas boiler commissioning checklist have been completed and where it says that the boiler and associated products have been installed and commissioned in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions, it is ticked as yes. Now I know this is not correct. The boiler could have gone at the back of the airing cupboard but access will not be easy for me so he said he could put it on the side wall. Thanks

gas4you

If you haven't the stated clearance in front of the boiler, Worcester are within their rights to refuse to carry out any warranty repairs if they were ever needed.

Although 450mm is plenty of room to service the boiler, it is not enough to be able to get at some of the components, as one would probably need to be in front of the boiler to gain access.

I'm surprised that an accredited Worcester installer would have fitted it like this, rather than insist that it was fitted on the back wall.

What did you say to him at the time of installation? Did you insist that he fitted it as it is now?

If so the onus will be on you and not the installer.

There is, as we all know, always two sides to any story.

loulou41

I told him that BG wanted to fix it at the back of the airing cupobard who is long and access will be a bit hard to climb there if I want to regulate the hot water as I like a hot bath and he suggested the side of the wall. If he has told me it needed to be at the back for clearance I would have agreed. At the moment, it is not a problem as he will do the servicing and if need be the repairs for five years. I am concerned what will happen after the five yrs as I intend to go back with BG for homecare 200. As this is not my doing, can I insist he moves the boiler and put it at the back as I was not aware of clearance at time of installation and put my complete trust in him to do the job properly? I would not have been any wiser if the surveyor did noto mention this to me. I can complain to WB as he is an accredited installer, will I get anywhere with this? Thanks

ic

So when you open the cupboard, you are looking at the side of the boiler?

loulou41

I forgot to ask you whether BG will refuse to insure the boiler if he does not meet the required clearance. The surveyor told me his company will refuse to insure it and that means I will be left with the local engineer who is quite expensive as well. Basically I want to know whethere it will be an issue in future for repair with other companies.

loulou41

Yes, when I open the cupboard, I see the side of the boiler and all the controls are within reach. If at the back, I would have to stand on a chair and climb to get into the cupboard. Thanks

gas4you

We all know BG are a law unto themselves, but in this case they would have a legitimate argument as the boiler hasn't been fitted to manufacturers instructions.

Whether your installer will move it, who knows, you can only approach him and talk about it.

Personally, although it would have sounded unpopular at the time, I would have insisted on fitting to the back wall to comply.

There's enough can go legitimately wrong in this job, without creating myself future headaches and cost.

loulou41

The installer should have told me about the clearance requirement. I am not the professional. There was the option not ideally of it going in one of the kitchen's cupboard but would have involved loads of work. He should know better as he is a reputable company and his price was about the same as BG. I went with because of the 5 yrs warranty. I have since emailed WB and was advised I could put a complaint. I do not want to do it until I discuss this further on his return from holidays. Thanks for your post.

garethgas

I wouldn't worry too much about it.
BG will almost certainly accept you on their homecare scheme without any problem. They 'might' include a clause relating to the clearance but thats about it.
There have been many, many times when I've encountered this and all we do is fill out a form that says the installation is 'not to current standards'.

loulou41

Thanks, this is very re-assuring to know. I have emailed WB for advice and of course, they insisted on the recommended clearance. I really do not want to put a complaint, will see what he says on his return from holiday.