Loss of pressure and leaking boiler in new build house

Lottyhasquestions

I'm having lots of problems with my boiler and desperately need some advice. I bought a new build property in June 2014. Just after Christmas the boiler began losing pressure. It's a Potterton boiler. The E119 error code began appearing and I'd have no hot water or heating.

I called the housing developer straight away as I have new build cover on the boiler and they arranged for the plumber to visit and have a look. They came out twice and found a leak beneath the boiler and supposedly fixed it.

The boiler continued to leak and lose pressure so they sent the manufacturer out to look at it, twice. They also told me they'd fixed it. That was 4 visits.

Last week the pressure went again, and I had a 5th visit, this time from the plumber again, who couldn't find a problem and said the next time they came to look at it they would put a dye in the system. I asked if I could have a new boiler installed but he laughed and said they would replace every piece of the boiler rather than replace it.

I work full time and have to take time out of work to keep letting the plumbers into the house. I feel they are fobbing me off and nothing is getting fixed. I've complained to the housing developers and they just pass me onto the plumbing company.

I've heard that new build developers employ cheap plumbers to install boilers, often badly, then the manufacturers won't touch them or want to fix them.

I don't know what to do next. Do I demand a new boiler and threaten them with small claims?

The leak on the boiler has come back twice since the plumber visited last week and I woke up this morning to a cold house because once again the boiler had lost pressure.

Any advice would be gratefully received.

macman

Claim in writing under the NHBC? Forget phoning or emailing. If Potterton have already failed to fix it under warranty then you have exhausted most of the options.
Then a letter before action to the developer.
PS: they're not plumbers, they are RGI's. Or at least I hope they were.

Seronera

Being an RGI and having bought a new build property myself three years ago, you have my sincere sympathy. In my case none of the paperwork that validated the boiler warranty had been completed (The Benchmark) and neither had the boiler been registered with the manufacturer. I did all the commissioning and registration myself...because I can...but that is no use to the mass of people who buy new properties and find themselves in a limbo between the developer and the boiler maker when things go wrong. Its a disgracefully common situation, and really you have to pursue the developer as its their responsibility to see its commissioned and working properly and that this is evidenced with correct paperwork (though some you see filled in are full of fantasy readings and obviously invented). You may have to register the warranty as the owner/first user.

There should be nothing wrong with a Potterton boiler as such. I would guess the actual problem is very minor and it just takes a competent person a bit of time to adopt the problem and see it through until the leak or whatever is identified. The boiler manufacturer is only responsible for the boiler, and loss of pressure may be caused by a small leak elsewhere on the pipework. It might be a flat expansion vessel, or a leaking pressure relief valve...but somebody competent in fault diagnosis has to do it.

I'm afraid you have to put your biggest boots on and stamp your feet harder to get results and make them take it seriously. You shouldn't have to, but thats what gets results. Be a nuisance.