British Gas repair - can I expect more?

paff_2

Hi, I'm in a bit of a quandary.
I have British Gas Homecare Cover for my boiler and central heating with a £60 excess. I've had cover for about 8 years and only needed one repair to the combi boiler in this time.
I had the annual boiler service this month and all was fine but this week I had to call the engineer out as the hot water would only get hot when the central heating was running. As he left yesterday, he told me that he had replaced the diaphragm which he said costs about £12.

Please can anyone tell me if the diaphragm he mentioned is likely to be part of the diverter valve? If it is then I feel it would have been more sensible to replace the whole unit as this is at the end of its life span. Does this sound reasonable? I appreciate this is a more expensive option for British Gas but for me it means a £60 excess payment for the diaphragm visit and then another £60 when the diverter valve fails.
I have tried calling British Gas to enquire about all this but they say the only option is to book a recall visit. I'm sure this won't impress the engineer at all and I'm guessing he will just say they only have to replace the part that will get the boiler functioning again, which he did!

Also, I'm also now wondering if the perished diaphragm is the cause of the mysterious small black rubbery dots that have been appearing in my bath water for a number of months now. And, the thermostatic mains shower sometimes losing temperature. Does this sound likely? The shower problem may be solved now by the boiler repair but I don't know what the implications are of having the rubber in the hot water system.

Any thoughts or advice from the forum would be very much appreciated. Thank you.

villieb

This reply probably won't help with your question (sorry) but why don't you self insure?

Rather than giving British Gas money for this cover which you've used only once in the last 8 years, put aside the money you're paying BG, earn interest on it and then find a local, more competent person to service and fix any issues with the boiler.

societys_child

Replace the whole unit because the diaphragm has worn?

That'd be like replacing your car wheels because the tires were worn.

glasgowdan

Villieb x 100. Companies offer these services because £premiums>£repairs. Also the amount of times bg just slap a "condemned" sticker on a boiler.

I doubt you'll get anywhere trying to get a larger repair done. As you say, they've got it going again.

ST1991

As mentioned above, put money aside. Also, we have home insurance that includes emergency cover (if our boiler breaks down) instead of a separate policy.

Anyway, that comment isn't helpful now the problem has arisen!
The problem i think here is that they weill repair something that is broken, but they won't do work on the boiler that doesn't immediately need it as a precaution to it breaking down in the future...

katejo

villieb wrote: »

This reply probably won't help with your question (sorry) but why don't you self insure?

Rather than giving British Gas money for this cover which you've used only once in the last 8 years, put aside the money you're paying BG, earn interest on it and then find a local, more competent person to service and fix any issues with the boiler.

I do the same. I got a bad impression of BG over 11 years ago (previous owner of my house had a contract with them). I already knew a competent local firm so they service for me and do any repairs needed. In 11 years this has cost me the annual service charge plus about £300 for 1 repair.

paff_2

Sorry, I can't work out how to reply to individual posts so ......

I do agree with the comments about not having cover. I would much prefer to engage a competent person as and when needed. I did this before taking on the cover but, after a few bad and very costly experiences, I went for this option just for peace of mind.

paff_2

societys_child wrote: »

Replace the whole unit because the diaphragm has worn?

That'd be like replacing your car wheels because the tires were worn.

I do see the logic in servicing the diverter valve rather than replacing it. I suppose I just wanted to find out whether a perished diaphragm on an old diverter valve is a signal that the whole unit is on its way out and, if it is, whether an engineer would then recommend replacing it altogether - rather than have the cost of two visits and fittings. But I see that this is not how BG will view it and I'll just have to wait and see, and have it replaced when it fails altogether.

McKneff

I had a new boiler installed last year for my warm air heating. Service by an independent, the original installer, £130 so £156,00 inc vat...

Service by British gas £79,30....Inc Vat

Pick the bones out a that

glasgowdan

McKneff wrote: »

I had a new boiler installed last year for my warm air heating. Service by an independent, the original installer, £130 so £156,00 inc vat...

Service by British gas £79,30....Inc Vat

Pick the bones out a that

No need...do you know what a British gas "service" involves?

bridgedino

please do tell us what's involved?