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New gas boiler, am I being ripped off.

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last week I had a new gas boiler fitted only to find that some of my radiators aren’t getting hot.  I have been told that the system needs balancing and I need new thermostatic controls on the radiators.  I am happy to pay for them as the existing ones aren’t thermostatic and they are rusty and sticking.  My question is should  I have to pay for the drain down or should a power flush have been included in the boiler and fitting cost.  Also the flue is dripping water outside meaning the ground is constantly wet along the side of my house.  Is this something he should sort out free of charge?   Being a single elderly woman I always worry that I’m being fleeced.

Comments

  • Gerry1
    Gerry1 Posts: 10,848 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Unfortunately you have posted in the wrong section, so you may not get many replies.  Try re-posting in Energy.
  • dogshome
    dogshome Posts: 3,878 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    As above, but a system flush is a must when fitting a new boiler + an inhibitor being added during the refill
  • tim_p
    tim_p Posts: 878 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 500 Posts Name Dropper
    In terms of being fleeced, I’d lean towards ‘yes’. He / they would have drained the system as part of the process of fitting the boiler and consequently should have checked / bled each radiator, ensuring all were getting hot properly. You shouldn’t have to pay extra to have them do what they should have done in the first place.  What did it all cost if you don’t mind me asking?
  • Killy
    Killy Posts: 6 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary First Post Combo Breaker
    The cost of the new Alpha boiler (he said that was all he could get at short notice) was £2600 and the cost of drain down, supply and fit 8 new valves is an extra £850.  I don’t know about the flue dripping yet.
  • Gerry1
    Gerry1 Posts: 10,848 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 3 December 2020 at 2:39PM
    You can buy TRVs for less than a tenner each, so £850 looks a rip-off because around £750 will probably be for labour.
    Make sure that bleeding the radiators is included.  It can need doing more than once as trapped air rises to the top of the radiators, so a return visit may be necessary.  However, it's probably not too difficult to do it yourself.
    Get some competitive quotations first.
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