My boiler has just been slapped with a - "Danger Do Not Use" Warning Notice

GSDMum

We moved into our new build home last September. Last week I discovered the boiler's first service was due 21st June, so in order not to have any issues should we need to call on the two year guarantee, I booked a gas engineer to service the boiler. He came recommended and I agree, he's a gem.

Baring in mind I'm no engineer, I'll try and explain the engineers concerns.

The installation of the boiler:

It appears that where the flue goes outside, the pipe is not cemented in, there's only a rubber gasket. Fumes therefore can easily enter the cavity walls and into our property. Quote on the Notice:  "Flue not secure to fabric of the building on the outside".

The flue pipe on the inside of the property is secured by expanding foam. The engineer has no idea if the foam is fire-proof, and the foam stops him testing for any leaks.

The boiler itself:

The engineer was unable to test the boiler ie gas in / fumes out because..... he stated the boiler was way too big for the system at 40kw. While trying to test the system with radiators at full bore, the boiler kept cutting out. So with the help and advice from Baxi, the first of the three sensors was disengaged. This didn't make any difference so the 2nd sensor was disabled, and the system was tested again. The boiler still cut out. There's another sensor but Baxi and the engineer believed it too dangerous to disengage this one.

As the engineer was unable to test emissions, he couldn't finish the service. 

I'm hoping the house developer will contact me next week, but meanwhile I'm on a fact finding mission to discover my rights.

1. Obviously the flue pipe will need fixing, and no doubt this should be part of the building guarantee.
2. Can I insist on a smaller boiler? This 40kw one must be heavier on gas than I need, it's hardly efficient.
3. My husband is very ill, he has stage 4 lymphoma, so we do need constant hot water, can we use this to expediate 'a fix'?
4. Can I claim for some of the gas (unnecessarily (?) ) used last winter?
5. Can I claim for the engineer's fees? (btw the engineer said he'll not charge me, but I do think I should pay him and get a refund from the developer).

My neighbours will probably have the same problem as me.

Engineer thought that last June boilers were in short supply due to covid etc., and so he imagined the developer took what stock they could, that was an oversized boiler.

Any thoughts and advice would be gratefully received. Thanks.

Mstty

Is the developer a national housebuilder/local medium sized or small local?

Do you have the original installation paperwork as part of your "home" pack.

What warranty did your home come with NHBC etc?

Some advice here from which

https://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/advice/my-boiler-hasn-t-been-installed-properly-what-can-i-do-aeNLn2y5eoCp

Luckily it's the time of year when a boiler is not required and I presume you have an immersion switch for your hot water?

GSDMum

Mstty said:

Is the developer a national housebuilder/local medium sized or small local?

Do you have the original installation paperwork as part of your "home" pack.

What warranty did your home come with NHBC etc?

Some advice here from which

https://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/advice/my-boiler-hasn-t-been-installed-properly-what-can-i-do-aeNLn2y5eoCp

Luckily it's the time of year when a boiler is not required and I presume you have an immersion switch for your hot water?

Thanks Mstty, we've got a combi boiler so no immersion heater. Yes, we've got all the paperwork including the certificate when the boiler was 'signed off'. 

The developer isn't one of the 'big boys', it was one I hadn't heard of before. Think they are a medium size family run business.

Our property came with a ten year NHBC guarantee. We're due for a one year 'snagging' meeting in August. 

Thank you for the link, it's reassuring. 

markin

How many baths and showers are the? Combi's are always matched to the hot water demand and are always over sized for heating system, Did he try running all the hot taps?

alanwsg

You might want to try posting on a specialist c/h forum.
These guys know their stuff and always seem to be pretty helpful...

https://www.diynot.com/diy/forums/plumbing/

markin

I think the are some plumbers over in In my home  where i think a thread like this belongs and should be moved to.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/categories/in-my-home-includes-diy-moneysaving

daveyjp

markin said:

How many baths and showers are the? Combi's are always matched to the hot water demand and are always over sized for heating system, Did he try running all the hot taps?

Combis should be matched to the cold water flow rate as it can't produce more than that, regardless of what is demanded.

GunJack

Take it up with the housebuilder and NHBC, not another local plumber - they may try and use that to wriggle out of fixing it at their cost. And be firm.

[Deleted User]

GunJack said:

Take it up with the housebuilder and NHBC, not another local plumber - they may try and use that to wriggle out of fixing it at their cost. And be firm.

The NHBC warranty doesn’t kick in until Year 3. The builder is responsible for rectifying all defects for the first two years - even if the work was carried out by a sub-contractor. Based on my recent experience, sub-contractors can get very grumpy when they are forced by the builder to rectify mistakes.

GSDMum

markin said:

How many baths and showers are the? 

There are 11 radiators = living room x2, hall x1, kitchen/diner x1, landing x1, one in each bedroom x3, bathrooom x1, ensuite x1, downstairs cloakroom x1.

All hot water comes from the boiler.

Thank you for your answers, and suggestions. I've been told the developer will be in touch on Monday to arrange a visit. 

Mstty

So normally a 40 kw combo boiler would be more suited to a 5 bedroom house maybe a large 4 bed but definitely oversized for a 3 bed property.

I am not sure you will get the housebuilders to change the boiler or refund extra running costs as stated before the in thread they can probably quote supply issues at the time.

Have you made contact with the housebuilder yet? What did they say?