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Boiler help...
My mother has a Potterton Puma 80e combination boiler that was installed in 1997. There are often little problems with it, and she uses her British Gas boiler cover fairly frequently. The engineer came to repair some burning electrical wire in the boiler the other day, and recommended changing our boiler because it is 10+ years old and because not all of the parts are available for it anymore.
Now, I have absolutely no clue about these things. Could anyone kindly advise me?
1. What are the various options for replacing a boiler? I get fairly worried about small independent fitters as we have had some really bad experiences in the past (with electrics, wallpapering, bathroom fitting, anything really!). Are British Gas worth going with? Thought I'd ask here before calling them out for a quote. A friend of ours recently had their boiler and central heating system/water pipes entirely replaced with them for £6,500.... (a lot more than the £1,445 my mum paid in 1997, although my mum did not change the radiators etc!)
2. Would my mum be entitles to any help from anywhere/any scheme? She is 64, registered blind and receives a state pension, pension credit and DLA (mobility and care component)? She doesn't have much in savings at all.
Thank youuuuuuu
Now, I have absolutely no clue about these things. Could anyone kindly advise me?
1. What are the various options for replacing a boiler? I get fairly worried about small independent fitters as we have had some really bad experiences in the past (with electrics, wallpapering, bathroom fitting, anything really!). Are British Gas worth going with? Thought I'd ask here before calling them out for a quote. A friend of ours recently had their boiler and central heating system/water pipes entirely replaced with them for £6,500.... (a lot more than the £1,445 my mum paid in 1997, although my mum did not change the radiators etc!)
2. Would my mum be entitles to any help from anywhere/any scheme? She is 64, registered blind and receives a state pension, pension credit and DLA (mobility and care component)? She doesn't have much in savings at all.
Thank youuuuuuu
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Comments
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BG are notorious for telling you that parts are not available, when they often are. You are aware that the engineers get a referral fee?
BG typically charge 40% more than an independent GSR RGI for an install, if BG say they can't fix it then ask an independent for a quote or an annual service/maintenance contract.
If it's now fixed and working OK, then leave it be.No free lunch, and no free laptop
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Thank you macman I was quite suspicious of British Gas...
I guess I was worrying if I go away this winter -I didn't want to leave my disabled mum in a potentialy tricky situation after a breakdown that BG say they can't repair. Do you think it's best to wait until it completely goes?
Does anybody know if my mum would be entitled to any help from anywhere/any scheme if the boiler did need changing? She is 64, registered blind and receives a state pension, pension credit and DLA & doesn't have much in savings.
Thank you!
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No free lunch, and no free laptop0
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Potterton Puma you say...? >puckers lips and makes worrying sucking sound<Feudal Britain needs land reform. 70% of the land is "owned" by 1 % of the population and at least 50% is unregistered (inherited by landed gentry). Thats why your slave box costs so much..0
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C_Mababejive wrote: »Potterton Puma you say...? >puckers lips and makes worrying sucking sound<
Oh dear. Whyyyy?!
I have no clue about boilers so please enlighten me!0 -
Oh dear. Whyyyy?!
I have no clue about boilers so please enlighten me!
Only kidding...!
They are getting on a bit and were only made for quite a short time. T
I wouldnt worry too much about it. They are not overly complex and the time to think about replacement is the day it dies and potterton say they cant supply the part.
Theres a heck of a lot worse boilers than that out there.
Found this...a bit of a blast from the past for me..
http://www.acwilgar.co.uk/Boiler-Manual-PDF/Potterton/POTTERTON%20PUMA%2080,80C,SAVER.pdf
Edit ..having perused the manual i think im thinking of another similar boiler by the same manuf..either way,its simple enough technology and a quick google reveals all the important bits are still available.Feudal Britain needs land reform. 70% of the land is "owned" by 1 % of the population and at least 50% is unregistered (inherited by landed gentry). Thats why your slave box costs so much..0 -
Hahaa, thanks Mababejive 0
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Pumas can catch fire when the pcb dry joint melts the cables around it, I have experienced 2 which have had a fire brigade call!. Wax capsules are an awkward job which no gas engineer looks forward to doing...horrible units really.
All bg engineers have the parts lists for all boilers on their laptops which lists available parts and obsolete parts, ask to see it if you don't trust him. The list is supplied directly by the manufacturer not bg stock. There is a referral fee of about a tenner but this is only really to cover time of setting a quote up due to the measurement and payment structure at bg.
You can get a quote, wave the guy away and never have contact again without spending a penny but at least you will have an idea of your options.0 -
If you end up looking for a new one, Which rate Worcester and Vaillant as best for reliability and customer satisfaction.0
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