Just bought new house, boiler probs

Badgergal

Doozergirl wrote: »

No, you're not allowed to lie, but do you know how much a litigation solicitor costs? Unfortunately, the time and money don't weigh up against going further with the vendor.

I don't think you'll be asked for an installation certificate at sale time. You didn't install the boiler, the boiler will be halfway through its life, or more, by the time you come to sell. It won't be highlighted on the SPIF as new.

Yes, we do know, and hence have no intention of actually suing him. I was thinking more along the lines of getting him to pay for a retrospective certificate, or something, but it seems like that might be impossible to get anyway. In all likelihood, if we can get the bloody thing fixed for not far off the £200 he sent us, we would be pretty happy with that (after a week in a bloody cold house!) and probably won't have the energy to take it much further. Fingers crossed you're right that no one will want a cert when we come to sell this place.

Argghhh

just hope and pray the cheque doesnt bounce after a change of mind

Badgergal

The GasSafe engineers have been.

In their opinion the heat exchanger is corroded, most probably because it was not fitted correctly in the first place (ie not flushed properly). Therefore we need to get a new boiler at a cost of £1.5 – 2K. They have cleaned the heat exchanger and got it working and safe in the mean time but they don’t think it will last long in its current state, they cannot predict how long.

I am absolutely gutted and could cry. We simply did not envisage paying an extra 2K on top of all the other stuff that’s wrong with this house and will probably have to apply for a loan which I really did not want to do so soon after taking on a new mortgage.

I know you’re all saying it’s tough, but it seems wrong that the vendor gets away with this when we thought we were getting a 2 year old boiler that could reasonably be expected to last at least another 5 years before conking out.

pinkteapot

Post about what the engineers said on the DIY board for advice. I thought it was possible to replace the heat exchanger in a boiler for less than the cost of a new boiler. I would, at the very least, get another company round for an opinion/quote. Jumping straight to "replace the boiler" may be OTT.

ess0two

Badgergal wrote: »

The GasSafe engineers have been.

In their opinion the heat exchanger is corroded, most probably because it was not fitted correctly in the first place (ie not flushed properly). Therefore we need to get a new boiler at a cost of £1.5 – 2K. They have cleaned the heat exchanger and got it working and safe in the mean time but they don’t think it will last long in its current state, they cannot predict how long.

I am absolutely gutted and could cry. We simply did not envisage paying an extra 2K on top of all the other stuff that’s wrong with this house and will probably have to apply for a loan which I really did not want to do so soon after taking on a new mortgage.

I know you’re all saying it’s tough, but it seems wrong that the vendor gets away with this when we thought we were getting a 2 year old boiler that could reasonably be expected to last at least another 5 years before conking out.

How have they cleaned it? were talking internals of the heat exchanger.
Drain the system flush it and put some inhibitor in,otherwise I reckon they've got your pants down.

Badgergal

I'll have to wait till I get home for specifics, ie how it was cleaned, my OH took the day off to deal with this and he's phoned me. They were up in the loft some time.


The guy basically said its such a cheap boiler that by the time we pay for a new exchanger and it's installation, we'll be better off getting a decent new boiler installed.


Another company isn't going to take the heat exchanger apart for free though are they? They've charged £200 to get it working.

pinkteapot

Just read your post again properly and realised it's working for now. You don't need to decide to replace it right now. For the moment it's working and the engineer doesn't know how long it will last. It might last months or even longer.

I would still recommend asking for advice on the DIY forum. People over there should be able to give you a very rough estimate for the replacement of the heat exchanger. The engineer may be right that it's the same as a new boiler, but worth finding out.

AdrianC

If it really is a cheap'n'nasty (what brand?), then taking your time over the next few months/years and replacing it with a good brand one may well prove to be a very good long term investment.

If the heat exchanger is corroded internally, then it's almost certainly just been run without corrosion inhibitor in. Get some in now, and it won't get worse. It's been cleaned out, and it's not leaking (yet).

Badgergal

It's a Ravenheat. I'm in agreement that a good brand would be better; in my old flat I saved up for a Worcester and it was bloody brilliant; got it serviced and no trouble in the six years I had it.

To be clear, the plumber's not saying 'You need a new boiler NOW!'. He's saying that seeing as the boiler has clearly been shoddily installed, and there's no knowing that once the heat exchanger is replaced, something else might go, it might be best to cut our losses rather than throw good money after bad, and get a decent make installed by a proper GasSafe person.

This guy was recommended by a friend, and doesn't seem short of work or like he particularly needs to drum it up. He said he could do the heat exchanger for £300-400 if we wanted.

I think the HE is leaking slightly already though, which is why the boiler was cutting out in the first place, which is why the HE is beyond help really and won't go on much longer. He was quite clear that it's definitely on its last legs.

So it looks like we're stuck really, and have been properly screwed over by the fact that the vendor managed to keep this poorly-installed boiler going just long enough to sell it to the pair of us, who were luckily (for him) using a solicitor who didn't bother to check a competent person had installed the thing.

Ray_Alexander

I think the best thing to do is get the boiler fixed / checked by an approved heating engineer and once it's up and running again - you can then discuss the bill with previous owner? Also please get some quotes as some firms can charge a lot more than others.