Boiler Leaking after Service

anotheruser

I've recently had my boiler serviced.

I turned the heating on and noticed a leak.  It isn't bad but it's on the filer, which is located outside of the boiler.  The engineer came back the other day and said hey'd tightened but it may still leak and to call them again if it is.  It is still leaking.

The service engineer said I'd need a "service repair filer kit" but as the boiler is only 2 years old, it would be covered by warranty.

In a separate incident, last year the service person emptied some black liquid out of the boiler.  This year, they didn't do that.  They also said I am missing the spanner to get into the boiler, so I assume the installer took this with them.

1) If I need a "service repair filter kit" (as advised by the plumber), do we have to pay and claim back from the boiler manufacturer?  Or do the plumbing company claim it themselves?

2) Should I look at buying a spanner thing?  Not sure which one I need or anything, although the previous two services, the service engineer has produced a tool, which they have been able to use.

Thank you

another_casualty

Is an engineer coming back to fix things ?
What company is " maintaining " your boiler ? What make of boiler ? 

Where was it purchased ? 

Sorry about the multiple questions , but once answered someone will come along and advise..

TELLIT01

The 'black liquid' is the residue from a filter on the system.  It is supposed to be cleaned out every year but I have had engineers comment that it obviously hadn't been done for a couple of years.  We have a contract with British Gas. 

I do have the spanner you refer to but it has never been requested.  This is the type of thing the service engineer should have anyway. 

If a leak has been caused the service engineer not tightening something properly, or by over tightening, they should be footing the cost of correcting it.  Unless this item is classed as a 'consumable' it should be replaced under warranty anyway.

Another_Level

Some of those filtering units can leak water if dismantled to cleanout its often the large lid O ring or they just leak water especially if the filter contents are corrosive or originally incorrectly fitted. yes 

To actually service a condensing gas boiler,service parts are required. Cost a little more, around £10.50p
To service/clean  filtering accessories. Some require a service kit. Again cost a little more around £8.50p

Annual safety checks are just that, like having your car mot'ed.  Benchmark has been developed for newer gas boilers but so many service tech seem unable to fill them in. 

Service parts are just that, chargeable to the customer. Sorry to say.

Maybe gas boilers and there accessories are not actually being serviced although safety checked

anotheruser

Well, mini-saga continues...

It's an Ideal Combi + boiler.
Bought and installed by a local tradesman.
Company maintaining it is not connected with the installer.

I guess the installer took the spanner with them thinking I would call them back for servicing.

Servicing company says they have contacted their suppliers, none of whom can supply a service pack for the filter.
The filter is a different colour to the one currently on the Ideal website.  Different design perhaps?
I have contacted Ideal about the spanner and to confirm about the service pack.

Jeepers_Creepers

The spanner comes with the filter kit. You paid for the filter kit. Tell the installer to hand over the darned (insert alternatives depending on mood) spanner that you paid for. 

Are you not using the same folk to service the boiler who fitted it? I ask because 'Ideal' boilers can come with a 10 year warranty if installed and serviced by an authorised agent. That has to be worth checking out, especially if you are the sort of sensible person to have your boiler serviced annually anyway.

As to the filter, yes, these have rubber seals that will be disturbed on an annual basis (ie, when the filter is checked), and will be considered 'consumables'. Having said that, for it to have seemingly failed after only two outings is pretty carp. I lub'e mine with sili grease, and the spare O ring 'repair' kit that came with it has yet to be deployed. 

Again, had you gone to the original installer, then fair chance they'd sort this out without complaint. Ie, foc.

The good news is that the servicing fellow did check the filter. I wonder if there was much 'black' in there?

Another_Level

A clear photo of the filter showing any identifying labels and or the diameter of the lid would help to order and secure a replacement spanner or service spares.

The lid of many filters/dirt collectors can be removed and replaced by hand, some have service valves that need turning off before but adjustable /set spanners are often already in your tool store.

Cleaning the filter unit can be done by the customer but really need some more customer info, is it a sealed system with a digital or analogue pressure gauge ?
Is it accessible, we all have different physical activity. Some of us are not bendy   

Boiler will have a warranty but anything connected to it will have their own idea of warranty if any.

Sometimes its best to get the manufacturer's technician or their service agent to maintain your box of bits 

Self cleaning and monitoring of the filter dirt collector for a few months will show how much is actually being collected. sometimes there is a lot and further cleaning is required, sometimes there is none to be cleared. 

Good luck 

anotheruser

Jeepers_Creepers said:

Are you not using the same folk to service the boiler who fitted it? I ask because 'Ideal' boilers can come with a 10 year warranty if installed and serviced by an authorised agent. That has to be worth checking out, especially if you are the sort of sensible person to have your boiler serviced annually anyway.

No.

There was an issue with a sub-contractor of theirs, but perhaps it was the installer themselves that caused the issue but it sort of put me off them.
They registered the boiler so I got the warranty (7 years on mine, heat exchanger (and perhaps filter) is 10 years though), but I have used the other company for servicing.
However it may appear they could have damaged it while servicing it so perhaps I should have had the original installer do it now anyway.  Better the devil you know and all that.
Next year, will probably just go with the installer.

anotheruser

Well this is turning ugly

After running the heating for some time yesterday, it seems the filter is leaking again.

What annoys me is before the service it was fine.  After the service, I've had problems with it and now likely going to have to pay the £280 for a new filter.

I'm not particularly happy about burdening the cost of this as perhaps the first service person has accidently broken something while getting the lid off (whatever they needed the special spanner for).  We've also used the one and only replacement O ring from the service pack of rings.  Sadly, I don't have the original O ring anymore either.

I wonder if now is the time to call the original installer but I doubt they will want to do anything if another company has serviced it.

Any advice on how I approach the service company about this?

Bendy_House

A photo of the filter would help, showing where the leak is from.

If it's simply a case of a new O-ring required - and it could still be just this - then the person who carried out the servicing should be the one to call back. I'd imagine the original installer would be very reluctant to become involved at this stage...

I wouldn't necessarily expect the service fellow to be fully liable either, tho' - it really depends on what the cause is.

Obviously if he damaged, say, the thread of the filter lid, then he's liable. Ditto for the new O-ring. But, until you know what the cause is, there isn't much you can do, I don't think.

neilmcl

As been asked, please supply a pic of the filter in question so we be better place to help.