British Gas install unreliable components

bengasman

birkee wrote: »

Bengasman: The valve fails with the heating in the 'on' postion,

In what way?

birkee wrote: »

and heats up the radiators when the water comes on,

Does everything work 100% when a new valve is put in?

birkee wrote: »

and is uncontrolled by the thermostat.

Why? It should be.

birkee

(1) Heating comes on, even when turned off. It comes on when the hot water tank is being heated.

(2) Yes.

(3) Because the demand is for water heating, and will only turn off when the tank is up to temperature, not when the central heating thermostat setting is reached.

or, the valve seizes up with the heating output open at ALL times. There is no way to turn the heating off except by closing radiators.

birkee

Final chapter.

BG don't want to know. They want me to pay for an engineer (joke) to come out and repair it again. Same as the last time!
The fact that it is pointless to keep repairing something which keeps failing escapes them.
I'm just going to have to pay to get the system modified with seperate valves.
In touch with Trading Standards now.

ihateyes

birkee wrote: »

Fair point, but BG chose to locate it there, in the bottom of the airing cupboard. If that was a bad choice for location, it's still BG's fault.

I can access it, but it means removing lots of screws, and disturbing decorating which runs up to the strips around the outside of the panel.

BG installed the boiler that come from the manufacturer.
The fact you have boxed part of it seems stupid to me, especially as it will disturb decorating!!!

DVardysShadow

birkee wrote: »

Seems the knowledgable have gone quiet now I've proved that the problems are the fault of BG.

I've gone quiet because you are insistent on keeping it boxed in and decorated over. There is no helping you on this one.

ollski

birkee wrote: »

Final chapter.

BG don't want to know. They want me to pay for an engineer (joke) to come out and repair it again. Same as the last time!
The fact that it is pointless to keep repairing something which keeps failing escapes them.
I'm just going to have to pay to get the system modified with seperate valves.
In touch with Trading Standards now.

Then you will have two valves to go wrong instead of one!

Perhaps the fault is lack of ventilation over heating and prematurely ending life of components, perhaps something that goes back in place as part of the covering presses on part of the valve and causes premature failure?.

Bg don't install substandard components and the fault is not necessarily theirs, best to prove this before attempting to lay blame.

birkee

Following the comments above, don't jump to conclusions!

The bottom of the airing cupboard was already panelled in, and BG chose that location to install the valve.
I did not choose to panel in the valve after installation.

If 'panelled in' is unsuitable, then BG should not have installed it there, or should have created ventilation when it was installed.

If they install it in a panelled in section, and don't choose to tell you, that ventilation is required, then that AGAIN, is BG's fault.

Why have 6 BG engineers repairing the valve, failed to mention that ventilation is required?

Sorry, but all the sarky comments, won't get BG off being responsible for failures.

birkee

ollski wrote: »

Then you will have two valves to go wrong instead of one!

Perhaps the fault is lack of ventilation over heating and prematurely ending life of components, perhaps something that goes back in place as part of the covering presses on part of the valve and causes premature failure?.

Bg don't install substandard components and the fault is not necessarily theirs, best to prove this before attempting to lay blame.

No, panelling is 14" clear of the valve from the front, but the valve is closely surrounded by insulated pipes and the tank.My guess is proximity to tank. About 4".
Tank insulated by moulded polystyrene jacket from new.
Valve also, about 1.5" from rising hot water input from the boiler on the other side.
There is about 8" of clear space behind the valve.

Have emailed Drayton valves to ask if they want any input into my dispute with BG, and await their reply.
Plan to change the valve for a Honeywell anyway, as there seems no point in using a Drayton for the 7th time. If I do, I will fit ventilation section into the airing cupboard base cover, but where will it vent out?
Leave the airing cupboard door open? Saw a hole in it?

In that case (and I agree to a point) the installation is faulty. They installed the valve in an unvented area. They DID start with a clean slate after all, and I didn't panel it in, after the event.

birkee

DVardysShadow wrote: »

I've gone quiet because you are insistent on keeping it boxed in and decorated over. There is no helping you on this one.

See posts #18 & 19

ollski

Birkee where was the valve prior to replacement?, I can't see it so I can't say if it's right or wrong or this or that or the other is causing the problem. My gut instinct would be that the system is dirty but you haven't really given an explanation of the actual fault. I just think that this type of comment:

More of a rant, than advice seeking, but felt that BG shouldn't escape public awareness of their crap products, crap engineers, and A1 prices.
Anywhere but BG is my advice. :mad:

is best made after a diagnosis.