Potterton boiler leaking

Peco141

We moved into our house about 3 years ago. All has been fine with the Potterton Promax Combi HE Plus boiler which was installed in 2006 when the previous home owner lived here. We get it serviced by a heating engineer friend of a friend annually.

Two nights ago, no hot water. Checked the pressure and it had dropped. I realised when turning the valves to re-pressurize there was water on the floor below the boiler.

I phoned my boiler friend of a friend but he seemed reluctant to come look at it. I'm not sure if it's because it may not be a cost effective job for him to do or he's guessing it's a labour intensive nightmare or maybe he is just too busy.

I'm trying to way up my options.

1. Is it possible, and more importantly legal, to take out boiler cover now with a view to getting it fixed or will there be something like a lieu period you have to serve before they will fix a fault?
   
2. Potentially the boiler may need replaced and if so what make/brand of boiler would you recommend?

Thank you kindly for considering my post.

CashStrapped

Firstly was the "boiler friend if a friend" gas safe registered? If not, then that may be why he is relcutant to come out, as he may not be qualified to actually do the repair work.

That aside.....

1) No, you cannot take out boiler cover on a broken boiler to get it repaired. That would be like taking out car insurance after an accident has taken place.

2) Wait till you get an repair person out first before you even consider replacement. If you give the impression you just want it replaced then you are a sitting duck for whoever you get to repair it.

3) Look on the Gas safe register and choose someone qualified from your area.

4)Avoid big firms like British Gas as they will just look for any oppertunity to replace it.

5) It is best to avoid boiler schemes like Homecare. You are best off putting £25 a month aside yourself. That way, when/if a problem does occur you have your own fund to dip into. If you do not use it for a long time, you then have your own boiler replacement fund.

6) Worcester Bosch and Vailent are well regarded brands of boilers. You will get people recommending lots of brands though. It is like asking which is your favorite car.

Peco141

Yes he is Gas Registered. But I think he may prefer to focus on installing bathrooms and kitchens and perhaps servicing boilers as opposed to finding and fixing potential labour intensive faults. I can't really blame him.

1) No, you cannot take out boiler cover on a broken boiler to get it repaired. That would be like taking out car insurance after an accident has taken place.

Understandable. It was a fairly silly question in hindsight.

2) Wait till you get an repair person out first before you even consider replacement. If you give the impression you just want it replaced then you are a sitting duck for whoever you get to repair it.

Good point, thank you.

3) Look on the Gas safe register and choose someone qualified from your area.

Will do.

4)Avoid big firms like British Gas as they will just look for any oppertunity to replace it.

Duly noted.

5) It is best to avoid boiler schemes like Homecare. You are best off putting £25 a month aside yourself. That way, when/if a problem does occur you have your own fund to dip into. If you do not use it for a long time, you then have your own boiler replacement fund.

Brilliant idea! :T

6) Worcester Bosch and Vailent are well regarded brands of boilers. You will get people recommending lots of brands though. It is like asking which is your favorite car.

Excellent advice, thank you.

Makes sense Cashstrapped. Thanks very much for your input.

Pincher

https://www.plumbnation.co.uk/site/natural-gas-combination-boilers/?manufacturer=potterton

2006 to 2016, a ten year anniversary.

My long term heating engineer told me condensing boilers have a ten year life expectancy.

It's the same old banger dilemma: repair or replace.


http://www.baxi.co.uk/customer-support.htm


They used to be called Heat Team.

http://www.heateam.co.uk/


If you had signed up for a Protection Plan, it would have been £100 ~ £200 a year.

I have a floor standing Promax, and called them last year: out of warranty and no Protection Plan. Ended up paying ~£400 for a REPAIR & Protect Plan (one year). Not the boiler at all, just a zone valve . Fortunately the controller (mother board) shorted (water from the kitchen counter above) six months later, so the £400 was well spent after all.

It could be just a leaky joint, but if the heat exchanger is gone, I would just replace it. Ten year of service is fair enough.

Peco141

Thanks for the reply. Did you provide the Baxi link as they are one of the better makes?

Pincher

Peco141 wrote: »

Thanks for the reply. Did you provide the Baxi link as they are one of the better makes?

"Our award-winning customer support team looks after all of Baxi, Potterton, Main and Heatrae Sadia domestic products. Whether your product is still under warranty or out of warranty, we are here to help."

It's like taking a Ford Focus to a FORD DEALERSHIP.

Peco141

Apparently my model only has a 1 year warranty.