Boiler service engineer broke my boiler!

JC417

I had a boiler engineer come round this morning to complete a routine service and he left having completed the service but having also broken the boiler.

He says turning it off-to complete the service- and then back on again at the end has created a power surge which has broken a micro-switch in the boiler system.

I had paid for the service when I booked it and the company are not accepting it is their fault and therefore will not offer a refund of the service charge and will not be offering to fix the problem for free.

Is there any way I can pursue this or is it just bad luck that servicing the unit put some old parts under strain? It looks like the new part and the labout involved could be very pricey! Thanks, JC Edinburgh

uk_messer

He says turning it off-to complete the service- and then back on again at the end has created a power surge which has broken a micro-switch in the boiler system.

Sounds like complete and utter cobblers.

Addition: Has he said which microswitch and provided a quote to repair it? Did you observe what he was doing during the 'service'?

JC417

Seems to think it is the air pressure switch. Boiler gives ten seconds of hot water then goes back to running cold again. Don't want to order the part myself until I am sure this is the case and certainly won't be paying them any more money to come and fit it!

uk_messer

I don't see how it would give you any hot water at all if the electrical part of the air pressure switch was knackered. It shouldn't fire up at all.

uk_messer

What's the model number of your boiler?

JC417

Glow worm Hot water express 100 or E-100. GC No. 47 313 06. Seems to think that it is firing up and producing hot water for a few seconds and then when it feels the fan isn't operating at max power to clear the combustion fumes it stops producing hot water.

Part he says needs replaced is the air pressure switch.

Glow-worm S202133 Air Pressure Switch

uk_messer

The part sensing the fan requirements is mechanical, not electrical so how could the 'surge' have affected that? This guy is just making crap up.

I would get this company to put in writing this very explanation that they're giving you - that a surge caused the APS to become faulty. Then call up and ask for the engineer's Gas Safe Registration number and speak to them about it.

JC417

Thought as much, back to square 1, down £100 for service and now don't know why the boiler is broken! Not a great morning!

Mr_Ted

JC417 wrote: »

I had a boiler engineer come round this morning to complete a routine service and he left having completed the service but having also broken the boiler.
He says turning it off-to complete the service- and then back on again at the end has created a power surge which has broken a micro-switch in the boiler system.
I had paid for the service when I booked it and the company are not accepting it is their fault and therefore will not offer a refund of the service charge and will not be offering to fix the problem for free.
Is there any way I can pursue this or is it just bad luck that servicing the unit put some old parts under strain? It looks like the new part and the labout involved could be very pricey! Thanks, JC Edinburgh

:eek: The response from the engineer is complete rubbish and so is that of the company who employs him:eek:

However, you have made a fatal mistake in paying up front, as their attitude now there is a problem is we have your money and now we are washing our hands of it, bad practice but you have no leverage now unless you can find someone who can positively identify they are at fault and that could be costly itself if you fail to prove neglect or bad practice

TBH a good company would give you a free call back to investigate, and then after a report it may then need to be argued on the basis of what they find.
I would certainly ask for a manager to call to investigate!

I would also ask the question, who are they, name and shame, they might take a bit more notice if you are prepared to blacken their reputation, which is your right under the circumstances!
Others should be aware of companies who practice this sort of response?

As for the diagnosed problem, NO it would not be a surge that has caused the problem, our electrical supplies are pretty stable so as to prevent that, and a boiler has preset procedures that it goes through for safety, and IF the air pressure switch had failed the boiler just would not fire AT ALL!

What it may well be is that in the process of servicing, it is possible that an air tube that goes to the air pressure switch has been disturbed or damaged which could cause an initial fire up and then cut out?

Unless it is investigate by someone REALLY capable you are not going to have a correct diagnosis!

uk_messer

There's the thing - was this an accidental bodge which is now being covered with bull or is this firm so dodgy they have used this ruse a number of times. A google might bring up other stories from customers that have used them. If it's Ltd - check the director's name - they may well have various Ltd names and previous collapsed ones as well as a ton of trading names.

macman

A company that requires you to pay for a boiler service at the time of booking just has to be dodgy. Why on earth would you agree to that?