Boiler fan problem

sare_2

After some advice on a problem I have with my Ideal Classic boiler. Quite some time ago the fan began making an awful grinding noise and a few days later stopped working. From what I've read it's highly likely the bearing went as it was so bad.

I wasn't in a position financially to have it repaired so it was some time until I got a heating engineer round to look. That was a few weeks ago and he confirmed the fan had gone and would need replacing. He did this and gave it a full service.

Now since yesterday the boiler has begun making the exact same grinding noise, mainly on start up, as when the fan failed before. But it's supposedly a brand new fan. I;m going to call him back to look but wondered what might be causing a fan to fail within 3 weeks.

We also suspect we have a problem with sludge as two radiators don't work, and they were cold at the bottom, hot at the top before they stopped working. Could the sludge problem be connected to the fan in some way? I thought not but know very little.

Thanks.

southcoastrgi

no there isn't a reason a new fan should fail after 3 weeks are you sure it was a new one & not 2nd hand ?
what model of classic is it ?
no the sludge (if you do have it) has nothing what so ever to do with the fan.

sare_2

Thanks for your reply. It's a Ideal Classic LX260 ff. It's about 12 years old.
There wasn't a breakdown of charges on the bill but he said "we'll order a new fan then" when he inspected it and he charged me £240 excl VAT for a boiler service, gas fire service and the new fan. Only got his word for it though.
If the fan has failed am I right in thinking it should be replaced free of charge? His website says all work is guaranteed.

gas4you

If it was indeed a new fan then it will be under warranty. There are 4 types of fan depending on your model.

However, my price for replacing with a genuine new Ideal fan would be around what he has charged for everything.

Saying that. I have had quite a few new Ideal fans fault quickly and 4 faulty straight out of the box.

southcoastrgi

i'm not suggesting that a new fan hasn't been fitted but it is very strange that a "new" fan fails after 3 weeks sometimes a sticking fan is sorted by using wd40 however if the windings are failing (which is normally the prob) then this is only a temp measure, yes it will be under warentee & should be changed foc, just for your info retail for the fan is around £145 + vat.

sare_2

Had to turn the heating off as the grinding is so bad. Just like it was with the "old" fan. Not managed to get hold of the engineer yet.

Thank you for the replies. Interesting about the prices, although we are in a "cheaper" area and he doesn't charge vat.

macman

Did he ask for a cash payment by any chance?

southcoastrgi

sare wrote: »

Interesting about the prices, although we are in a "cheaper" area and he doesn't charge vat.

the retail price i quoted should be universal however that was just the price from one place & prices do vary, wether he is vat reg or not he will pay the price plus vat at the merchants so you will pay the price inc vat for the materials it just won't be listed seperatly

keystone

macman wrote: »

Did he ask for a cash payment by any chance?

I don't charge VAT on labour either but that's because I deliberately trade below the VAT threshold. What are you implying?

Cheers

macman

I'm not suggesting that anyone not reg'd for VAT is not declaring income. But I would have thought that most RGI's (unless they don't actually install) would be turning over enough to be above the threshold.
That and the fact that he appears to have fitted a secondhand fan, given the low charge made.
But we await further info from the OP.

keystone

macman wrote: »

I'm not suggesting that anyone not reg'd for VAT is not declaring income.

Oh goody. I thought that was probably the case. My thought was that, no doubt, someone will pick up on your post and trundle out the usual uninformed and speculative prejudices about defrauding the taxman.

But I would have thought that most RGI's (unless they don't actually install) would be turning over enough to be above the threshold.

Each individuals business model is his own conern I feel.

That and the fact that he appears to have fitted a secondhand fan, given the low charge made.

Well yes.

But we await further info from the OP.

Indeed.

Cheers