Boiler written off because insurance repair engineer said part was unobtainable because of age. 5 January at 12:38PM in Energy 34 replies 1.9K views

SallySunshine

yes, our boiler is about 18 yrs old, always paid for boiler cover, and over the years it has needed the odd part, fan etc. air pressure switch
Was told last time the boiler failed to blow through a tube to clear it if it happened again!
Boiler packed in again during freezing weather, and knew it was the switch again and needed a new one.
we did eventually get an engineer who was very good and knew it was the faulty switch and obviously would have to order one, but said all we could go do was  clear the air block by blowing through it, sounds mad especially since then, we’ve both come down with virus everyone seems to have.
climbing up a stepladder in a cold garage is not what we want to be doing.
heard the other day from the local company who came out, the part is unobtainable so we’ve had it. Ironic when the part is available through trusted supplier for less than £50.
do we buy it ourself, could even fit it, only 4 small screws., can we cancel the monthly payments for boiler cover?

We will be getting a new boiler anyway in the Spring, but not bothering with boiler cover company again.

macman

You can obtain the part yourself and get a GSR RGI to fit, or get him to source and fit it.
Is the boiler cover BG by any chance? Their RGI's get commission for install referrals, so it's often the case they that they are 'unable' to source parts that others can,
Your new boiler will have at least a 5 year warranty, so no need for any cover.

FreeBear

macman said:

Your new boiler will have at least a 5 year warranty, so no need for any cover.

Shop around, and you can find boilers with a 10 or 12 year warranty. Even without a long warranty, I personally wouldn't bother taking out boiler cover. Rarely do they offer value for money.

Miser1964

>do we buy it ourself, could even fit it, only 4 small screws.<

Go for it. The Safety Sally's will weep and wail you'll blow up half the street by touching the boiler case, of course.

SallySunshine

It’s actually Domestic & General, who have just sent us a cheque for £40 for faffing us about.  Not heard from them yet about not being able to get switch. Just waiting, and will convey about being able to source switch ourselves, no doubt that will invalid their insurance policy, for which we are paying  £29 monthly, actually just gone up this month from £26.
wonder if I can cancel this now as it looks like they have written the boiler off?
Have been looking at new boilers for a while in-depth.

diystarter7

FreeBear said:

macman said:

Your new boiler will have at least a 5 year warranty, so no need for any cover.

Shop around, and you can find boilers with a 10 or 12 year warranty. Even without a long warranty, I personally wouldn't bother taking out boiler cover. Rarely do they offer value for money.

Hi
True but for many they offer  piece of mind and the fear of getting cowboys especially when you most need the boilers ie winter.

We take out warranties on almost everything, not in the hope they will breakdown but in the hope if they do, we would not get a cowboy in that spouts it 80 pound call out charges loads more and possibly not fixed and or fixed and then goes broke again. So for many it is a piece of mind

Tv's are least likley to go bust even the complex ones within 5 years but we've had two/Sony rear projectors donkeys years ago, first broke the next day the 2nd a week after and the third, we gave it away after 12 years of good used and it was used for parties as speakers were brill and massive.

Washing machines always break down within 5 years and next time they go after 5 yrs we replace.

Even our condesor drier broke down after two years.

Incredibly, our fitted microwave went bust afte 8/9 years and we had one from about 30 years ago and thre that away while it still worked

So it can vary personally warrties for boilers is for us

Thanks

Astria

Miser1964 said:

>do we buy it ourself, could even fit it, only 4 small screws.<

Go for it. The Safety Sally's will weep and wail you'll blow up half the street by touching the boiler case, of course.

If it's just a switch I'd install myself as well, I was actually told by a GSR RGI that I can do such things myself without notification if I'm competent enough, but I'm not allowed and could be fined if I touch any of the gas parts of the boiler such as the gas valve or burner chamber, but things like PCB and sensors are fine to do yourself as long as you don't need access to those areas. Of course, if I/you damage anything whilst doing so then the cost of fixing could be more than the cost of getting someone else to do the work, but that's the risk I/you take.

oldagetraveller1

" piece of mind"

No doubt Sally would like to give them a piece of her mind?

SallySunshine

There’s a service due next month, what are they going to do?
Tell me they can’t do it as there’s a faulty part and they can’t source it?
And I’m still paying monthly!
This could get interesting.

jefaz07

Astria said:

Miser1964 said:

>do we buy it ourself, could even fit it, only 4 small screws.<

Go for it. The Safety Sally's will weep and wail you'll blow up half the street by touching the boiler case, of course.

If it's just a switch I'd install myself as well, I was actually told by a GSR RGI that I can do such things myself without notification if I'm competent enough, but I'm not allowed and could be fined if I touch any of the gas parts of the boiler such as the gas valve or burner chamber, but things like PCB and sensors are fine to do yourself as long as you don't need access to those areas. Of course, if I/you damage anything whilst doing so then the cost of fixing could be more than the cost of getting someone else to do the work, but that's the risk I/you take.

What type of switch? This sounds like an air pressure switch, which is a safely device isn't DIY job. 

Your RGI said you could work on an appliance..I guess you’ll do your 26 (9) checks too will you? 

Alnat1

Buy the switch. When the guy comes to do the service and says the switch is faulty and he can't get one you can say - here you go mate, get it fitted.