No Heat in Downstairs Radiators/8 mnth old Combi Boiler

plumb1_2

I’d get back onto ideal and tell them you have no heating, just hot water. And they will come and investigate the boiler issue, it could be the pump is failing. With the boiler in the kitchen the upstairs rads might be getting partially warm due to gravity plus pump struggling.

Lizbetty

This is from the installation book they give people  which seems to suggest he did what he was supposed to. I think we will see what he says, and if he tries to charge I'll get onto Ideal and just say we have no heating as suggested and get another fitter's opinion and take it from there.

I'm so cold though it's rotten.  

We found him via Ideal so surely they should take some responsibility? I hope so anyway.

Bendy_House

It should be easy to check that BS number, and also ask Ideal what their requirements are. Then you'll know.
I wouldn't worry as you should be fully covered; IF it's due to sludge, then it'll either be because he DIDN'T clean the system properly, or because he didn't add inhibitor (tho' I doubt it's this). Either way, he's liable.
Of course, it could be a completely different issue

Lizbetty

Bendy_House said:

It should be easy to check that BS number, and also ask Ideal what their requirements are. Then you'll know.
I wouldn't worry as you should be fully covered; IF it's due to sludge, then it'll either be because he DIDN'T clean the system properly, or because he didn't add inhibitor (tho' I doubt it's this). Either way, he's liable.
Of course, it could be a completely different issue

Thanks for this, I do tend to expect the worst with this stuff and get really anxious but it's good to know the onus is on him really. So much is going wrong and costing money at the moment, it's awful timing. 

I was surprised he was quite casual about when he would come and sort it out but he's due tomorrow afternoon so I'll let you know how it goes (if he turns up!).

I'm really grateful for all the replies, I love this forum! You're a fab lot. Thank you. 

Lizbetty

So I've spoken to Ideal and they say a system flush is recommended but not compulsory, and inhibitor isn't mentioned at all in the warranty.

My husband spoke to the fitter and he has said it'll be chargeable when he comes out. Both him and Ideal have said tough, it's a system problem 

I'm not sure where we stand really  

FreeBear

Lucyeff said: My husband spoke to the fitter and he has said it'll be chargeable when he comes out. Both him and Ideal have said tough, it's a system problem

If it is the circulation pump, I would expect it to be a warranty job. A zone valve or radiator blockage, chargeable, but I'd be haggling for a reduced price.

Lizbetty

FreeBear said:

Lucyeff said: My husband spoke to the fitter and he has said it'll be chargeable when he comes out. Both him and Ideal have said tough, it's a system problem

If it is the circulation pump, I would expect it to be a warranty job. A zone valve or radiator blockage, chargeable, but I'd be haggling for a reduced price.

Thanks for the advice. I'm hoping it's the boiler that's nadged by now! We're phoning our usual plumber (he couldn't give extended warranty as he's not Ideal accredited) for some advice on possible cost, he'll know of the lad too. 

I'm regretting going for the extra two year warranty over using someone we know better, but we'll see how it goes. 

Bendy_House

Lucyeff said:

So I've spoken to Ideal and they say a system flush is recommended but not compulsory, and inhibitor isn't mentioned at all in the warranty.

My husband spoke to the fitter and he has said it'll be chargeable when he comes out. Both him and Ideal have said tough, it's a system problem 

I'm not sure where we stand really  

Wow, I'm surprised, Lucy - and was clearly wrong.

So, this boiler has a 12-year warranty? What happens when the P2P or diverter valve or pump becomes sludged up because the system wasn't flushed properly 'because it wasn't essential'? Sounds like 'tough - we won't be covering it, because it's your sludge wot caused it'.

A 'powerflush' usually costs in the region of £300 upwards. If the Ideal filter that was fitted is full of sludge, then it'll not be doing its job and will be allowing sludge to move around and in to the boiler. And yet he said it'd only need looking at with the annual boiler service?

This is just 'wrong'.

Anyhoo, we don't yet know the cause.

Lizbetty

Bendy_House said:

Lucyeff said:

So I've spoken to Ideal and they say a system flush is recommended but not compulsory, and inhibitor isn't mentioned at all in the warranty.

My husband spoke to the fitter and he has said it'll be chargeable when he comes out. Both him and Ideal have said tough, it's a system problem 

I'm not sure where we stand really  

Wow, I'm surprised, Lucy - and was clearly wrong.

So, this boiler has a 12-year warranty? What happens when the P2P or diverter valve or pump becomes sludged up because the system wasn't flushed properly 'because it wasn't essential'? Sounds like 'tough - we won't be covering it, because it's your sludge wot caused it'.

A 'powerflush' usually costs in the region of £300 upwards. If the Ideal filter that was fitted is full of sludge, then it'll not be doing its job and will be allowing sludge to move around and in to the boiler. And yet he said it'd only need looking at with the annual boiler service?

This is just 'wrong'.

Anyhoo, we don't yet know the cause.

I was shocked too! I have the transcript as it was live chat and I even asked her to clarify it I was so surprised!

Our usual plumber has been great (I wish we'd used him and forgone the extra 2 years warranty!) and said he would be surprised if it was sludge even though it's the right symptoms, oddly when we bled the radiators the water was clear too. He's given us some guidance but he would charge £400 if it needed flushing and the bloke who fitted it has said it would be £200. 

It's odd how some radiators are getting lukewarm downstairs, it's really random. I don't know a lot about it but I would think maybe if it's sludge, one would be cold at the bottom and the rest would be cold or OK? It warms up a little bit if we switch the upstairs radiators down too otherwise the downstairs ones are cold. I'm not thinking very rationally though as I don't sleep when expensive things are going on.

I'm dying to have a look at the filter but he's due out tomorrow so I'll let him do that. 

I really wish I'd trained as a plumber instead of going chucking college and doing office work. 

Bendy_House

We obviously don't know yet what the cause is, so we mustn't 'jump'. 'Sludge' partially blocking the main flow or return pipe to the downstairs circuit would do this, but other things could too.

Ok, BS. No, I don't mean anything bovine or smelly, I mean BS7593. This makes it clear that a system must be 'chemically cleaned', checked regularly, and maintained. If your existing system has 'sludge', this must be cleaned out.

So, if your issues are caused by sludge, I would say you are covered - even if it requires 'persuasion' using legal means.

Ie - if your system has sludge, then it either wasn't removed as it should have been, or if has formed since the boiler was installed, which means inhibitor wasn't added. Either way, bang to rights as far as I can see.

Ideal may be technically correct in saying a 'powerflush' isn't needed - a PF uses a pump to powerfully circulate chemicals around your system, and the shifted sludge is collected by magnets - but a 'chemical clean' of some sort is needed. Basically, the installer should do what is needed for that particular system.

It could, of course, turn out to be something unexpected!

Anyhoo, stick with the original plumber since that's who your warranty is through. And if he's done summat wrong, then you should have comeback; if you use someone else you won't.

This is from the Adey website (they produce cleaners and equipment)