Worcester Boiler Greenstar life 8000 filter

Winnie0425

Has anyone else had issue with WB warranties/boilers? We had a brand new boiler fitted 3 years ago and registered it for a 12 year warranty, using an approved fitter. Within the first year the hot water went off, WB Eng came and fixed it; but said we needed a flush as there was dirty water. We had a full flush done, rads cleared and added another magnet filter; all at my expense, however, within a year it failed again, same problem; no hot water. The Eng came out again and said it was the heat exchanger again and changed it, all sorted. After another year it failed again, some problem. Eng came out again and fixed it; but this time he noted on the sheet it needed a flush; but stated it wasn’t dirty water but chemicals. The boilers now failed again with the same problem. WB are now saying they want £200 for an Eng to visit, the Eng will assess if we’ve had a flush done before doing the work. The flushes are not cheap and we’ve had one done 2 years ago. Based on the problems we’ve had from the start should they not be replacing the boiler? And why am I paying for flushes and Engineers? Any help appreciated 

ThisIsWeird

It takes a surprisingly small amount of sludge to block a P2P exchanger over a relatively short period of time, as you've seemingly discovered.
But, of course, it shouldn't happen. All boiler installs should be done to a clean system, and you'll hopefully find this requirement written down in the installation booklet for your boiler too; there should be some reference to, say, a chemical clean to BS summat or other. And, a magnetic filter should also be added on installation in order to continue to provide protection. Which you also seem to have - is the current one an addition or a replacement?
You also used an approved fitter, enabled the 12 year warranty, and presumably have paid for annual services since then as a requirement? Cool.
What the hell else were you expected to do?! You appear to have fulfilled all the required criteria. 
I cannot see how WB can squeeze out of this responsibility. 
Do you have Legal Protection included in your house insurance policy? Cool - check it out, and it'll likely cover 'contractual disputes'. Call them up for a chat.
What's gone wrong here? I suspect that your system has some years of accumulated and pretty solidified sludge build up in the pipes and, especially, in the rads. Although 'cleaned' to some degree, this was simply not thorough enough, and some sludge continues to be released, and the mag filter just doesn't catch it all.
The last blockage incident involved 'chemicals' instead? That's interesting, as I have heard that some system cleaners can 'gel' if left in for too long; some are designed to be left, but most - the stronger ones - should be flushed out after its supposedly done its job. (I should emphasise that I don't know if this is the case, but it is something that I have read. I've had similar issues to you with my GlowWorm, with the P2P blocking up every couple of years or so, but I've become a dab hand at swapping them at around £25 a pop...)
Anyhoo, most of the above is largely moot. You are a layperson, and have paid full whack to an approved installer for a warranted installation service, which should have been carried out to WB's own required standards, to ensure 12 years of fault-free use. These folk are the pros. They should examine the system they are connecting a new boiler to, and ensure it is cleaned in advance. A power-flush, if required, should have been priced for and included to ensure conformity at the time. A filter is a standard fitment. You shouldn't have to be paying for these things afterwards, when it's all gone pear-shaped.
Write out a brief but concise chronological sequence of events, including when annually serviced, when it became faulty, and what was said and done each time. Then call your LP.

FreeBear

ThisIsWeird said: I've had similar issues to you with my GlowWorm, with the P2P blocking up every couple of years or so, but I've become a dab hand at swapping them at around £25 a pop...)

Unless you are a registered Gas Safe engineer, you shouldn't be opening up the casing of a boiler. At a minimum, you'd void any warranty, or you could be prosecuted. For further information, see https://www.hse.gov.uk/gas/domestic/faqownerocc.htm
Worst case scenario of an unauthorised individual working on a gas appliance is an explosion resulting in the destruction of the property and loss of life. 

ThisIsWeird

FreeBear said:

ThisIsWeird said: I've had similar issues to you with my GlowWorm, with the P2P blocking up every couple of years or so, but I've become a dab hand at swapping them at around £25 a pop...)

Unless you are a registered Gas Safe engineer, you shouldn't be opening up the casing of a boiler. At a minimum, you'd void any warranty, or you could be prosecuted. For further information, see https://www.hse.gov.uk/gas/domestic/faqownerocc.htm
Worst case scenario of an unauthorised individual working on a gas appliance is an explosion resulting in the destruction of the property and loss of life. 

Listen, pal - I is fully 'continent.

On a more serious note, the front cover is purely decorative, and is held by two wee screws.

You'll be telling me next that I shouldn't have installed the boiler in the first place?

FreeBear

ThisIsWeird said: You'll be telling me next that I shouldn't have installed the boiler in the first place?

hanging the boiler on the wall and plumbing in the water side of things (and the electrics) - Sure, you can do that yourself.

Connecting the gas and commissioning the boiler, No. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1998/2451/contents

Unless you are Gas Safe registered AND have the appropriate test equipment AND the training, you are not in a position to do basic combustion checks or sign off the paperwork.

ThisIsWeird

FreeBear said:

ThisIsWeird said: You'll be telling me next that I shouldn't have installed the boiler in the first place?

hanging the boiler on the wall and plumbing in the water side of things (and the electrics) - Sure, you can do that yourself.

Connecting the gas and commissioning the boiler, No. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1998/2451/contents

Unless you are Gas Safe registered AND have the appropriate test equipment AND the training, you are not in a position to do basic combustion checks or sign off the paperwork.

Soz - did it all. It ain't blown up ye

Mr.Generous

I can plumb and am qualified - but not gas. I paid a registered gas safe engineer to fit my boiler. 

He kept leaving the site to "go for parts" leaving his 2 brothers to do the work, neither gas safe. He said he was checking the work so it's ok, I know its not.

He tried to go without doing any testing because "the wife's on a spa day" I made him do tests in front of me.

The flue seal was not fitted so combustion fumes built up inside the case - constant flame failure.

He didn't want to come back next day (Friday) because he didn't want to work that day and was seriously going to leave me with a dangerous boiler over the weekend.

I'm just saying, maybe being "Gas Safe" isn't the only thing we need to check.

This guy was recommended to me by a letting agent. The gas man I'd used for a few years had retired so I tried him. I wish I'd simply googled his name before I used him.

I suspect in this case the install is the problem. If the rads were full of sludge one quick flush will not clear it. On a renovation we take rads outside and hose em - unbelievable how much gung comes out.

rob7475

I've only had a quick scan through the replies but you say the hot water is going off. Is the central heating OK? The boiler will have two heat exchangers - if it's the hot water one that keeps failing, flushing and adding a magnetic filter to the central heating side of the system will surely make no difference? Do you live in a particularly hard water area with lot's of limescale?

ThisIsWeird

rob7475 said:

I've only had a quick scan through the replies but you say the hot water is going off. Is the central heating OK? The boiler will have two heat exchangers - if it's the hot water one that keeps failing, flushing and adding a magnetic filter to the central heating side of the system will surely make no difference?

It will - as I've found to my cost. Surprisingly small quants of sludge flying around the system could eventually cause the system side of the P2P to block - the waterways are intentionally numerous and narrow to provide good 'exchange'. Every time you turn on a hot tap - dozens of times a day? - some sludgy water passes through the P2P.
I've replaced mine at least a half-dozen times :-(
And a mag filter isn't enough to prevent this from happening; I have one, and it collects small amounts over time. Clearly enough gets through.

Winnie0425

Thanks for the comments and just to clarify I won’t be opening anything myself. Also we have two magnet filters on the system, I think one for the rad and one for the water, but im not sure; I just know we have two. 

We had all the rads cleaned and a flush in 2020, so I didn’t expect it needed another. 

Interesting the WB eng stated on his notes that it wasn’t dirty water but chemicals, I’m unsure if that will cause an issue, or if a flush will change anything. 

I’ve paid £200 to get WB out; but I’m also getting a cost for another flush, however, I don’t want to be paying for flush’s every two years. It appears to me that the boilers are not man enough and it needs changing. 

I’m stuck really and they have me over a barrel, if I want to keep the warranty I have to do what they say; I bet when the next Eng comes he will write something else I have to do. 

Winnie0425

rob7475 said:

I've only had a quick scan through the replies but you say the hot water is going off. Is the central heating OK? The boiler will have two heat exchangers - if it's the hot water one that keeps failing, flushing and adding a magnetic filter to the central heating side of the system will surely make no difference? Do you live in a particularly hard water area with lot's of limescale?

Hi, it only ever seems to be the hot water, not the rad heating.