Best value for annual boiler service

southcoastrgi

I can assure you there are just as many if not more rogue customers than rogue RGI's

southcoastrgi

George_Bray wrote: »

I agree. My gas boiler hasn't been serviced for over 25 years, and as a result, works perfectly well.

what complete crap, you have no idea if it's working perfectly or not

Southend1

Southcoastrgi... Can you tell us what the engineer is supposed to do on a typical service please? If we knew what they were meant to do we would be able to tell if we have a good engineer or just a lazy one.

southcoastrgi

it depends whether you ask for a safety check or a service, they are different

what i do on a service is different depending if it's a fairly modern boiler (condensing) or an older se (standard efficiency) boiler

modern boiler:
do a tightness test at the meter, gas rate the boiler on max output, check the flame picture, use an fga on the flue gasses (to see if the boiler needs stripping down or needs the gas valve adjusting), clean the burner & heat exchanger (if it does need stripping), check seals & depending on the boiler these may need to be replaced even if the boiler isn't stripped, check & clean the condense trap, check the gas inlet pressure at the boiler, visually check the gas supply pipe, visually check the flue.

older se boiler:
as above apart from the condense, replace the thermocouple (if it has one), also if it's an open flue model, check ventilation, smoke test the boiler & flue, do a co test within the room

you will find the servicing instructions in your installation instructions, btw if you don't have these either in a hard copy or via a electronic version you shouldn't service the boiler until you have access to them, as some manu's require additional tests to be carried out

daveyjp

Had our one year old Vaillant checked yesterday. Nothing more than front off, check it was all clean, gas analysis, clean out condensate sump which had quite a bit of dust in it, fault check, checked cold pressure and increased it slightly. £45.

I asked if it would ever need more than what he did. He said not while in warranty, but at 5 years a seal is changed.

Southend1

southcoastrgi wrote: »

it depends whether you ask for a safety check or a service, they are different

what i do on a service is different depending if it's a fairly modern boiler (condensing) or an older se (standard efficiency) boiler

modern boiler:
do a tightness test at the meter, gas rate the boiler on max output, check the flame picture, use an fga on the flue gasses (to see if the boiler needs stripping down or needs the gas valve adjusting), clean the burner & heat exchanger (if it does need stripping), check seals & depending on the boiler these may need to be replaced even if the boiler isn't stripped, check & clean the condense trap, check the gas inlet pressure at the boiler, visually check the gas supply pipe, visually check the flue.

older se boiler:
as above apart from the condense, replace the thermocouple (if it has one), also if it's an open flue model, check ventilation, smoke test the boiler & flue, do a co test within the room

you will find the servicing instructions in your installation instructions, btw if you don't have these either in a hard copy or via a electronic version you shouldn't service the boiler until you have access to them, as some manu's require additional tests to be carried out

Thanks. Well I now know I've been ripped off by every gas engineer I've ever used.

I probably still won't bother with a service ever again, because I simply don't know where to find an engineer who will do more than just Hoover out the dust and a quick visual.

booty40uk

I probably still won't bother with a service ever again, because I simply don't know where to find an engineer who will do more than just Hoover out the dust and a quick visual.

Then I suggest you find a good one

Southend1

booty40uk wrote: »

I probably still won't bother with a service ever again, because I simply don't know where to find an engineer who will do more than just Hoover out the dust and a quick visual.

Then I suggest you find a good one

Thanks for that pearl of wisdom.

Since every engineer I've ever used, even those that come recommended by friends and colleagues, has clearly been a lazy so and so, I have lost faith that I would be able to find a good one.

Also I'm worried now that by letting a lazy and/or incompetent engineer near my boiler he could do more harm than good and potentially leave it in a dangerous condition.

booty40uk

Has your boiler broken down much or has anyone died if CO poisoning in your house?

Southend1

booty40uk wrote: »

Has your boiler broken down much or has anyone died if CO poisoning in your house?

How would the engineer know if anyone's going to die if he's not checking for CO?!

My point is that if all he does on a "service" is unscrew the cover, Hoover out the dust and put the cover back on, how would he know if the seals are working ok and CO isn't being let into the room? I'm sure he's supposed to check this.