Have I Been Conned by Plumber?

Dodge78

Just wondering people's thoughts.....

2 radiators stopped working and posted it on a job site.
Chap came and said he believes there is a sludge problem and that by replacing just either 2 valves in these radiators or complete new radiators for these 2, then may make the other 4 in efficient.
The advice was replace all radiators and flush and treat system.
Chap who came was listed as heating and plumbing experience.

We went ahead with the full change of new radiators throughout and the same problem still persists.

Since had another boiler engineer out who believes the issue could be pump on the boiler after trying to balance the system.

My question is should the first chap not have been able to spot the issue being the pump on the boiler rather than changing all rads?

Thanks.

jefaz07

He said ‘could be’ not is? You can test the resistance or listen to a pump to see if it’s on its way out.
Is it only 2 that aren’t working still?
Have you tried to turn off all the other radiators to see if these 2 get hot?

Dodge78

Thanks for your reply.

If we fiddle with other radiators heat seems to flow to the 2 rads that go cold.
Then when turn heating off and on again we seem to get a mix of rads that were working then being lukewarm or the 2 that were not working before go cold again.

We really are not experts when it comes to this hence why we called upon an expert and assumed he would have checked and listened to the boiler and pump......

The second chap said might be the pump and that if balancing didn't work, which he tried and again hasn't worked, that they would then come back and replace the pump to see if this works.
The second chap I should add is from our boiler insurance that we called out after replacing the rads on the first job did not resolve the issue

Should the first chap not have noticed potential boiler issue before suggesting radiator changes, which has resulted in being in the same situation.
Or should the first chap be offering to sort boiler issue also?

The first chap was a private job that we have not paid yet as in limbo

[Deleted User]

You need to pick a chap and stick with him. But you'll need to pay the first one even if you now go with the second chap or any further chaps.

It seems to be apparent that it's not an obvious fix.

Dodge78

Well second chap has been called in via boiler insurance to get a second opinion

But I would have expected first chap to spot boiler issue if that is the problem. Or to offer to come back and help resolve.
His response has been that hopefully boiler insurance can fix and his job is done.
But feels like a job that actually wasn't needed.......
I have paid the payment for the new rads and parts but holding labour costs until we know further.

[Deleted User]

Reduce the chaps in the equation by 50% and pay first chap his labour costs before the cost escalates via the chap at the small claims court.

jefaz07

Ask him to come and look at pump? If he changes and it works then try to negotiate a reduced deal?
You have new radiators and now they have been changed you can’t say the weren’t part of the issue too!!
A dirty system can easily affect pipework,Rads,pumps and other boiler parts.

If I done a job and felt there was a change I’d misdiagnosed or not given the full picture initially then I’d be happy to negotiate to keep a customer happy.

He also gave you an option, of changing just the valves, the radiators AND valves which MAY affect other radiators...there’s lots of maybes here or the whole lot. You chose an option.

hollydays

On the " job site" was he the cheapest.
I've got plumbing and heating experience.
Don't waste any more time on him.He is not a plumber

Shaun_of_the_Dead

hollydays wrote: »

On the " job site" was he the cheapest.
I've got plumbing and heating experience.
Don't waste any more time on him.He is not a plumber

Sound like the op needs more than a plumber.

Dodge78

hollydays wrote: »

On the " job site" was he the cheapest.
I've got plumbing and heating experience.
Don't waste any more time on him.He is not a plumber

Thanks for your reply. He actually wasn't the cheapest but profile and feedback would suggest an expert so felt in safe hands.
Clearly not.

Dodge78

jefaz07 wrote: »

Ask him to come and look at pump? If he changes and it works then try to negotiate a reduced deal?
You have new radiators and now they have been changed you can’t say the weren’t part of the issue too!!
A dirty system can easily affect pipework,Rads,pumps and other boiler parts.

If I done a job and felt there was a change I’d misdiagnosed or not given the full picture initially then I’d be happy to negotiate to keep a customer happy.

He also gave you an option, of changing just the valves, the radiators AND valves which MAY affect other radiators...there’s lots of maybes here or the whole lot. You chose an option.

Been no offer to come back or anything. Basically washed his hands.
I know he offered options and we went for the full change rather than just the affected rads but would have hoped he diagnosed what could be boiler issue first.