Boiler and Noisy Pipes - Who is Responsible?

Jeepers_Creepers

jimbojambo1234 said:

Hi southcoastrgi, thanks for your response. The boiler had an initial 12 months warranty with an extension if I had it serviced within 12 months. I booked and paid for this within this 12 months and then Ideal cancelled it but said as they cancelled they would extend it for another 12 months. They kept cancelling until doing this first service 

I did not want anyone in my house during the lockdown last year and even this year. Even now it will take a lot to let someone in my house, especially with cases rising but that's another issue. In hindsight, the only thing I would have done differently is inform the developer of the banging pipes within the two year warranty period. I wrongly assumed that Ideal would be able to fix it so this is a learning lesson for me.

I think, under the bizarre and unusual circumstances over the past 2 years, that's perfectly reasonable and understandable.

Section62

Jeepers_Creepers said:

I think, under the bizarre and unusual circumstances over the past 2 years, that's perfectly reasonable and understandable.

Which is fair comment, but you aren't the developer, installer or boiler manufacturer.

The OP should be aware that any of the parties involved could take a different view, and "99.999%*" (+0.001) doesn't come with any form of guarantee.

That matters if the OP has to consider employing independent engineers and/or expert witnesses, with the associated costs.

You might personally have that level of confidence, but anything 'legal' has a much greater degree of uncertainty.

Reporting the problems and/or getting the boiler serviced could be regarded as an essential part of mitigating your losses.

Although it is understandable that folks didn't want other people coming into their homes, there would be a judgement of 'reasonableness' - for example if the boiler stopped working completely, would people go without heating at all until the end of the pandemic?  There is a fine balance involved here, not the 'slam dunk' that "99.999%*" (+0.001) suggests.

jimbojambo1234

Abbey have responded to my message today to say that as the warrantable period has passed they are unable to instruct the plumber/installer to look at my boiler/pipes and said that I will need to contract and independent plumber to resolve this issue. Once it has been proven that there is an installation issue, my cost will be reimbursed and the plumber held accountable. They said that I will need to provide a full documented report with images to support the findings for their CMS (not sure what that is) to review.

NSG666

jimbojambo1234 said:

Abbey have responded to my message today to say that as the warrantable period has passed they are unable to instruct the plumber/installer to look at my boiler/pipes and said that I will need to contract and independent plumber to resolve this issue. Once it has been proven that there is an installation issue, my cost will be reimbursed and the plumber held accountable. They said that I will need to provide a full documented report with images to support the findings for their CMS (not sure what that is) to review.

Sound like a fair response. Do the checks I mentioned earlier and if the symptoms are still there get a Gas Safe registered plumber in asap - even if you have to wear an anti contamination suit and deep clean the house after he's been.

Jeepers_Creepers

jimbojambo1234 said:

Abbey have responded to my message today to say that as the warrantable period has passed they are unable to instruct the plumber/installer to look at my boiler/pipes and said that I will need to contract and independent plumber to resolve this issue. Once it has been proven that there is an installation issue, my cost will be reimbursed and the plumber held accountable. They said that I will need to provide a full documented report with images to support the findings for their CMS (not sure what that is) to review.

Yeah, that seems fair enough, since we don't know if it was an install issue, and that Abbey would have been effectively liable as the folk you had the contract with. Good of them to acknowledge they'd cover the cost in this eventuality, tho' this what they should say, so they've been as good as you had a right to expect

CMS? Child Maintenance Service? Um, content management system? I presume it's just the way they need to evidence claims. The only thing now is, you need to be able to either trust or observe what the guys do Just make it clear to them that this is something you have to do - they insisted, along with photos.

Keep us posted.