Boiler issue

jayjay21

Hi

Mid 2016 I purchased a house, and one condition of the purchase was for the boiler to be serviced, mainly because the seller was unable to state when it was last done.

The solicitor then emailed through confirmation that it had been serviced, and also attached a copy of a document from the plumber(I also have the hard copy now).

Last week we had a serious issue with the boiler, my home emergency sent a local plumbing company, however they have rejected the paperwork and will not return until we can obtain more proof of the service. All we have is a gas safety certificate, the plumber has written on 'xxx valve replaced, in good working order'.

We are currently without hot water, and I am loathed to pay a different plumber to carry out repairs as I don't feel at fault.

Do I have any ground to stand on?

Fosterdog

Does the paperwork you have actually mention a service at all or just a safety check? The two are different things and it sounds like the vendor only had the safety check done rather than a service if that's all that's mentioned.

jayjay21

No just a check, however having not owned a home before, I assumed it was done, as confirmed by the solicitor. (Still have the email)

alumende27

A service or a safety check won't preclude the boiler from failing at a future date. Same as with a car, just because you get an MOT and a regular service doesn't mean something won't fail.*

What is the wording of your home emergency cover policy. Does it state the boiler must be serviced at regular intervals? As an example I've just had a look at the direct line home emergency cover clauses of their home insurance and there is no such caveat.

I've just had a look at the gas safety record from the last time we had the boiler serviced, and it clearly states that the the following was done/checked:

Safety Devices correct operation
Ventilation Provision Satisfactory
Visual Condition of Flue
Flue Performance Test
***Appliance Serviced***
Appliance Safe to Use

Does your gas safety certificate really make no mention of the service?

Depending on exactly what your certificate and your policy documents state, I'd ask the home emergency company for their complaints procedure and not let them or the 'emergency' plumber fob you off.

* As an aside, and I'm sure I've mentioned it on the MSE forums before, I paid for a service for the boiler when we sold our last house and even told the plumber to replace the ignition 'thing' as he said it was on it's way out as a courtesy for the new owners (i.e. when they said has the boiler recently been serviced - I could say yes, here's the docs), and they contacted us a few weeks after moving in to say it had broken down (despite working flawlessly when we lived there). These things just happen sometimes.

bris

A service isn't going to stop components failing.


A service doesn't replace major parts it's just about cleaning mainly the burner, if needed, and replacing the odd seal if needed. A visual inspection, gas rate and combustion analyser reading.


Will a car service stop it from breaking down, no of course not, a service doesn't make an old boiler new.

jayjay21

Thanks for all the replies.

Perhaps I did not make my direction clear, I totally understand that a boiler service won't make it invincible for a year, and understand that it needs a repair.

My issue is, a condition of purchase was for the boiler to be serviced, I have an email from the solicitor with words of 'boiler has been serviced and repaired, documents attached', I have the attached document, however it is only a gas safety certificate.

As far as I was concerned the boiler HAD been serviced in the past 12 months, which is what is required by AXA home emerg.

I have no issues with the boiler breaking down, the plumber etc, I more want to know if I have any case with the solicitor?

pappa_golf

send a copy of the solisitors letter "'boiler has been serviced"


and tell them to argue with a solisitor ,

shaun_from_Africa

AnneWendt wrote: »

if you feel there is a problem in your boiler or you can also visit allweekheating.com for more suggestion.

If you feel the need to try to advertise a business, it makes sense to at least promote that company in the country they are in.
This is a UK based forum and as allweekheating are based in New jersey in the USA, I doubt if anyone here will be calling them.

Hoof_Hearted

" my home emergency"

If you are signed up to one of these service plan companies, they will try to weasel out of anything. Better to save your money and build a relationship with a good local plumbing company.

The one I use has one man doing all the servicing (the main business is installations) and he is so knowledgeable about every boiler. He is never in a rush and does everything properly but he is not the cheapest.

phill99

Whether it was serviced or not, is completely academic. The service will only confirm that it has been serviced. As soon as the engineer has left the premises, every component in the boiler could fail within 24 hours. That isn't the engineers fault. That is simply component failure.


Focus your energy on getting the problem fixed and move on, not whether the boiler was or wasn't serviced.

TadleyBaggie

phill99 wrote: »

Focus your energy on getting the problem fixed and move on

They probably have, this thread was from 7 months ago and resurrected by a spammer.