British Gas install unreliable components

MoneySavingMole

I haven't replied because I've changed internet providers and had an absolute nightmare in doing so.

But that's another issue.

With regard to what else is going on in this thread, I can not give an accurate diagnosis without obviously seeing the entire heating system, and spending some time diagnosing it, however, myself and some others are attempting to help, and it'd be nice if you appreciated it a little bit more.

The fact that you've been told off '6 BG and 4 independants' the same thing, makes me believe it must be the valve.

Have you at any point had your system water quality tested? is the central heating water passing the valve in poor condition?

MoneySavingMole

birkee wrote: »

To date, 4 independants have had a look, and ALL have quoted for replacing the valve with a Honeywell. Not ONE has any idea why the valve should keep failing.
One suggests the vent is in an odd place, but is not sure, and another thinks that air may be getting in the system, allowing the valve to dry out and causing sticking.
Personally, I think that if air was getting into the system, then the pump (just below valve) would be cavitating and making a noise.
Another is suggesting ripping out the BG installation, and fitting a new boiler.

So, six BG engineers and four independants so far of no help.
Think that's enough don't you?
New boiler installation coming up?

Thanks BG! :mad:

And another thing, if you've been told you need a Honeywell valve by independant heating engineers, as apposed to the BritishGas labelled valves, which aren't a 'cheap alternative' but infact a reputable brand, sold to BG without their labels, packaging etc.

Then why would you then believe it is infact the system?

Follow your system, does your CH Flow pipe go like so;

Boiler --> Open Vent --> Cold Feed --> Pump
(with no more than 150mm between the Open Vent & Cold Feed?

or is it any different?

The OV btw, is the pipe heading up into the loft, into the smaller header tank and the CF would be the pipe coming back down again.

birkee

Thanks Bluemoonmole, I'll check that out.

It seems that many now seem to be finding me ungrateful for sensible input, but when they keep telling me to do things which have already been done.....!
Why multiple independants?
Because Trading Standards advised me to get several independant quotes, get the work done, and then take BG to the small claims court.
Why 4? Because despite asking just ONE has supplied me with a written quote, so I have no evidence of getting quotes to substantiate my actions.

And cummon fellers!!! Telling me to change the valve again, having had SEVEN fail, are you really serious? Is this the sort of expertise that has caused all my grief in the first place?
BG repaired it FOUR times in 14 days, and you suggest I just keep repairing it using tradesmen at £200+ a time.

Even after all these discussions, bluemoonmole is the only one that has given me any new or sensible input. I do appreciate some of you are trying to help, but telling me to do what has already been done doesn't really help at all.

birkee

ihateyes wrote: »

!!!!!!...... still bashing BG after 4 independents dont know either.

And you would blame who?
The boiler manufacturer? The valve manufacturer? The installer, ME ? !!!

birkee

bengasman wrote: »

If an engineer tells you the valve needs replacing with another one, there really is no reason to get somebody else to look at the same thing.
Any particular reason why you think it is ok to waste people's time by getting them around whilst you have no intention of letting them earn some money by actually doing the job?
Very rude.

See post #34.
Four asked for written quotes, and only one obliged.
The fourth asked because one took so much time to answer a message on his answerphone, and I thought he wasn't going to bother.
Yes! Very rude indeed!

And not to forget, not ONE has been able to say "THIS, is the problem, and THIS is what I can do about it".
All say, fit the EIGHTH valve!

ollski

birkee wrote: »

And not to forget, not ONE has been able to say "THIS, is the problem, and THIS is what I can do about it".
All say, fit the EIGHTH valve!

YOU said Birkee in the post title that 'BG install unreliable components', that sounds like a diagnosis to me.

I have fitted hundreds of ACL valves and also lots of other makes, the honeywell is superior but not by a mile and I have never had multiple failures like this with either make.

It is still very unclear at what you had replaced / installed and no it's not 'self evident' you had a flush or a sytem cleanse, or a chemical clean or new rads, new pipework etc etc.

Your ACL valves have a part warranty of 3 years and BG labour warranty of 1 year.

Has the system had inhibitor in for the last 6 years?

birkee

ollski wrote: »

YOU said Birkee in the post title that 'BG install unreliable components', that sounds like a diagnosis to me.

I have fitted hundreds of ACL valves and also lots of other makes, the honeywell is superior but not by a mile and I have never had multiple failures like this with either make.

It is still very unclear at what you had replaced / installed and no it's not 'self evident' you had a flush or a sytem cleanse, or a chemical clean or new rads, new pipework etc etc.

Your ACL valves have a part warranty of 3 years and BG labour warranty of 1 year.

Has the system had inhibitor in for the last 6 years?

Honeywell valve via ebay £53 (Screwfix £100) Flushing liquid and inhibitor bought today.
I've given up. amd I'm going to do the job myself.
(I'm disabled (back) and old, that's why it's difficult.)

Yes, I've been in electrical since 1960 (Aircraft Electrician, Auto Electrician / Electronics Technician & Engineer / Production Engineer.) so I'm quite capable of dealing with five wires in a chocolate block connector.

Thanks for trying ollski!

p.s. I've noticed how different the Drayton and Honeywell valves are.
The Drayton has a large remote actuator mounted above the valve body, and the smaller Honeywell actuator mounts directly onto the valve body.
Wonder if that will have any effect?

I'll try and remember to let you all know, but it's a week running with the flushing liquid first, before I change the valve. :T

bengasman

birkee wrote: »

And not to forget, not ONE has been able to say "THIS, is the problem, and THIS is what I can do about it".
All say, fit the EIGHTH valve!

The answer is as simple as it is obvious: get somebody who is good enough to guarantee his repair. Clearly, that is unlikely to be the cheapest quote, but it will be the most cost effective in the long run, not to mention the end of all the agro.

As for getting written quotes: not a snowflake's chance in hell that you'd get anything more than an email out of me, unless you were prepared to pay my diagnostic fee. Most engineers will recognise sending written quotes for what it is: 80% chances of wasting their time in a very optimistic scenario.

bengasman

birkee wrote: »

... so I'm quite capable of dealing with five wires in a chocolate block connector.

5????????
Last time I checked, a 3-port wiring centre had about 20.

ollski

bengasman wrote: »

5????????
Last time I checked, a 3-port wiring centre had about 20.

Alot of the bg guys use a 5 pin inline push connector to connect up the new actuators.