Plumber damaged boiler + property and wont pay...

spikeuk30

Hi any comments appreciated....would like some advice...

We had problems with our boiler only working for hot water - no heating and its freezing we have a baby so would like fixed asap…

We called a heating engineer who visited and diagnosed the fault.

So far so good...

A few days later said engineer visited to install part. (sensor switch to change from hot water to heating)

As I am sitting downstairs I hear loud gushing of water for 20-30 sec - as nothing was said I thought he was trying the taps….

Suddenly engineer calls down to turn off water main... so did...a bit latenow!!!!?!?!

Went upstairs to find carpet drenched, hoover was still in place under boiler - soaked. ....a LOT of water went through the floor..

Boiler is above chimney breast - water must be inside the redundant breast directly underneath the boiler - because nothing came out below......could cause damp?

Engineer apologises and said it was an accident; shows me a pipe which he'knocked' directly next to when he was fitting sensor..

Dawns on me the boiler PCB is dripping wet as he had the back exposed whilereplacing the sensor?

Engineer said the 'pin' was not on properly to hold the pipe - but how does he know when it has burst off with high pressure in his face? - did he see this and not fix the problem first? Or did henot check the pipework before working on the boiler…

After much apologising - our ceiling was still in place, water disappeared insidewall/chimney - he said he would be back next day when it had dried out to trythe PCB hopefully it would be ok.

Next day he tried PCB and it’s not working, so now no hot water and no heating at all, new PCB is £200.

As he left he said don’t worry, it’s my fault, I will source the part, and get it sorted for you for free, and free installation.

Next day get a call to try and charge us £200...They are disputing saying it was an accident.

Where do we stand?

- The way I see it before the call the PCB, the carpetand hoover work all OK.

- They should replace the PCB free of charge and I willpay them for the original part (sensor) they quoted for.

- If the engineer had done the relevant safety checks hewould have noticed that one of the pipes had the clip not on properly andresolved the issue if indeed this was the case?

He should have taken the necessary precautions, draining the water perhaps,he had already visited once previously and not noted problems with the pipe- I am paying him as an expert to visit my home and diagnose problems with myboiler, I expect basic checks on the boiler before he starts work.

And if he damages my property I expect him to replace or pay for said items.

Public liability insurance - if they do not check the boiler before working on it they are taking a risk, risks have consequences that’s why they have to be insured.

The excuses so far are coming thick and fast… ‘it was an accident’ and the pipe which was not clipped properly hehas said now moved to the other side of the boiler to be not in his way?... andI have also now been creeping up behind him to scare him as the pipe came off -Leaving my 1 yr old son downstairs by himself?..

His boss seems to be missing the point and more concerned with what the engineer has said to us about a ‘free part’ rather than resolving the issue and they are trying to say the fault was existing – but that’s why we called them in the first place - to check the boiler and resolve any issues/faults..

Ectophile

If the Hoover's been soaked in water, don't try to use it until a competent person has tested it to see if it's safe.

You need to work out how much damage the plumber's caused. That means quotes for repairs and replacements. I would include any damage to the boiler other than what was already wrong.

Then claim the money off them, and don't take "no" for an answer. They will have insurance to cover this, but won't want to claim if they can fob you off instead.