Damage to ceiling while installing boiler

keystone

MX5huggy wrote: »

I am going to play Devils Advocate.

Fail.

You have swapped from a regular boiler to a combi. This means that the pressure in all your original pipe work is much higher now, and if the job did not include replacing all pipes then its not his fault.

Yes it is. He will have reversed the flow on the hot supply from kitchen to bathroom in order to get it up there so he should have checked pipework. In any event its not that pipe which "leaked". Its the cold feed from CWST to HWC and like as not it was capped off in the roof first and just cut off in the bottom later. What has happened (IMHO) is probably that the vacuum holding the water in that pipe has finally let go and out it all came. That piece of pipework should have been removed anyway as part of the install. If its as the OP is telling it thats sheer poor workmanship.

I would be checking all the central heating joints particularly at the rads for weeping valves.

So would I but there again based on this one example I'd be checking ALL the joints.

Cheers

ziggyman99

Leaks happen. Hazards of the job. However, if you get a leak on any pipe work which you have disturbed then your responsible. So make him pay.
I was installing a full heating system and managed to put my foot through the kitchen ceiling. Can you imagine if I told the customer it's not my responsibility? I had that repaired. A 1 metre sq patch and matched artex - £40.

pippa80

Glad most of you agree!

Apparently the first time they came in they used the old hot water piping that was upstairs, but they have now cut that off and we now have all the piping downstairs in our flat. Not sure if that makes it clearer what has happened.

Just spoke to the legal helpline on our insurance and they agree that we should push again for him to fix it.

Edit - here is a picture of the hole

http://tinypic.com/r/339pwdj/7

DaftyDuck

It might be worth telling the installer's "boss" that you've got legal assistance with your insurance, and they have told you to chase him, adding that if it isn't sorted, you'll put it in your insurer's hands.

pippa80

Righto - have had a reply to my email. Before I phone, does anyone have any further thoughts?

Sorry you are disappointed but please be assured I will do my upmost to restore your confidence in us.

The leak did occur on existing pipe-work in the ceiling and as explained to [my OH] we would always connect to existing pipe-work, that said if you would like to contact me I will explain and we can sort something out to your satisfaction.

keystone

He having previously denied liability you are unlikely to get an admission of poor worksmanship now. However, reading between the lines I believe you can expect a "gesture of good faith" to appear over the horizon together with a plasterer/decorator in tow as a compromise. In that case I would take it and be thankful.

Cheers

pippa80

Yes I don't care if he doesn't accept liability, so long as he does actually fix it / contribute more than £50.

I think my line will be that our impression was that the piping was no longer going to be in the ceiling and we would be completely disconnected from upstairs. But either way, we weren't expecting a hole in our ceiling as a result of the work. And just see what he has to say....

evoke

pippa80 wrote: »

But either way, we weren't expecting a hole in our ceiling as a result of the work.

That's the key.

Go on to Checkatrade to see if the company is listed there. You can leave feedback on Checkatrade.

pippa80

No they're not on there, but we found them through which local, and they had very positive feedback there.

Maybe we seem too much like pushovers!

Just finishing something for my manager (I am actually working not just spending all day on here ) and will then give him a call!

pippa80

Says it is crossed wires and he will fix the ceiling and definitely not to involve the insurance company

Will let you know if this isn't a happy ever after - but otherwise thanks for the support and making me bolshy enough to get a good outcome :beer: