Switched to smart meters, fitter gave me a warning about boiler not being to regs and dangerous.

FreeBear

EssexHebridean said: OP - is there anything in the paperwork to say that the engineer who came out was actually from Eon rather than their appointed installer? Is there anything to say that they are a Gas Safe registered installer (I doubt it)?

In order to do any work on a gas supply or appliance, you have to be Gas Safe registered. There are different levels within the Gas Safe register that allows you to undertake certain types of work, but not others. The paperwork issued by the meter installer should have his name & registration number on it.

Getting another engineer out to inspect and pass an installation that has been labeled "at risk" may not be easy. Certainly the ones I spoke to, most don't want to overrule the original decision - If you do get another GS engineer in, say nothing about the prior notice, and just ask for a Gas Safe certificate to be issued (as part of a service).

MWT

CRNeo said:

And/or just getting a local gas safe engineer out to check... I literally had the boiler service done only in June... the report on that states "Flue condition and location: pass"

I'd be contacting whoever did the boiler service and asking them to reconfirm their opinion on the flue in the light of the alternative opinion you have received...

jefaz07

markin said:

I would guess if you hadn't signed it he would have had to cut the supply off to cover his back.

No, he wouldn’t have. He would’ve issued without signature. 

jefaz07

SAC2334 said:

markin said:

I would guess if you hadn't signed it he would have had to cut the supply off to cover his back.

I don t think a meter fitter has the power to do that.They are not registered Gas Safe or up to the standard of electricity regs neither  trained who defintely can shut the gas supply off by law , but a meter fitter won t be anywhere near that level . When I was on the job and found unsafe gas or electric meters I shut off control valve in gas leaks and phoned Cadent /Nat Grid who took over . I did the usual and opened doors and made sure no one swithed electricity switches, and evacuated building on the rare occasion I found a house full of gas 

They do have that power and are qualified to do so. And why ring grid for a leak?It has nothing to do with them if it’s after the meter. 

jefaz07

A flue too close to a drain is nothing and I would perhaps mention it on a service but wouldn’t AR ever in my eyes. It’s not even mentioned in G/11 and does not constitute a risk to life or property. 

It would’ve possibly been classed as NCS in the older days but that was done away with to stop ambiguity. Also, I wouldn’t trust a lot of what meter installers say. I have seen many jobs where they have capped someone off for absolutely ludicrous things. 

What boiler and how far away is it? Combis these days only need to be 25mm from a drain pipe. Natural draught - I want to say 300mm but I don’t come across those as much. 

jefaz07

FreeBear said:

EssexHebridean said: OP - is there anything in the paperwork to say that the engineer who came out was actually from Eon rather than their appointed installer? Is there anything to say that they are a Gas Safe registered installer (I doubt it)?

In order to do any work on a gas supply or appliance, you have to be Gas Safe registered. There are different levels within the Gas Safe register that allows you to undertake certain types of work, but not others. The paperwork issued by the meter installer should have his name & registration number on it.

Getting another engineer out to inspect and pass an installation that has been labeled "at risk" may not be easy. Certainly the ones I spoke to, most don't want to overrule the original decision - If you do get another GS engineer in, say nothing about the prior notice, and just ask for a Gas Safe certificate to be issued (as part of a service).

Personally, if what has been said is accurate I’d have no issues whatsoever about binning that notice. 

imeach

jefaz07 said:

SAC2334 said:

markin said:

I would guess if you hadn't signed it he would have had to cut the supply off to cover his back.

I don t think a meter fitter has the power to do that.They are not registered Gas Safe or up to the standard of electricity regs neither  trained who defintely can shut the gas supply off by law , but a meter fitter won t be anywhere near that level . When I was on the job and found unsafe gas or electric meters I shut off control valve in gas leaks and phoned Cadent /Nat Grid who took over . I did the usual and opened doors and made sure no one swithed electricity switches, and evacuated building on the rare occasion I found a house full of gas 

They do have that power and are qualified to do so. And why ring grid for a leak?It has nothing to do with them if it’s after the meter. 

If a meter reader discovers a gas escape they will always call National Grid, after all that's what it says on most meters too, and even on every page if you Google smell of gas.
Asking a meter reader or even Joe Public why you would call National Grid on the National Gas Emergency Helpline when they smell gas, and saying it has nothing to do with them is rather a silly statement to make to be fair

BadDebtor

CRNeo said:

After some advice as I'm now worried.

After reviewing my energy deal (currently with Eon Next) I decided to move onto the Eon Pledge tariff..  it stated I needed to have smart meters fitted and Eon have been messaging me about having them fitted what feels like every hour tbh so I finally caved and arranged to have them fitted.

Fitter came out, installation seemed to go fairly smoothly and everything generally ok (the gas isn't showing on the IHD which he said would "work at some point" but 2 days on still no bueno so I'm not holding out hope on that )

Anyway, the main issue was he said "your boiler flue is too close to the drain pipework so I just need to issue you this warning, it's just an advise and you don't need to worry or do anything about it but can you just sign here" 

Stupidly I took his word and signed the form, I gave it a cursory glance and it seemed ok but on closer inspection after he left the form states that "this is dangerous, do not use and to do so is an offense" this is NOT what the engineer had stated at all and now has me worried about my insurance or liability if anything was to happen (unlikely but still)

I think he is correct and regs have changed and my flue is indeed too close to other plastic pipework.. but when it was fitted years ago I'm assuming it was fine.. and I've had several boiler services since I bought the house and a gas safety check at the point of sale.

Interestingly I had a email from EON very shortly after offering a discount on a new boiler! Coincidence? or a ploy to make me buy a new boiler? Just seems shady to me and now I don't know where I stand on this warning. I'm obviously not about to stop using my boiler it's bloody cold out and I need heating and hot water!

I feel like this is some sort of scam!

Any advice around the same and how I should proceed would be greatly appreciated! 

I guess it depends if you are Owner or Tenant, if the latter it is the Landlord's problem.

If you are the owner then it depends on

Whether boiler was installed when you moved in, if not you have an action against the installer who put the two things to close.

If you are Owner and have a contract for service then I would be asking them why they did not raise it, same applies to any Gas Safe Safety Inspections.

The words "Reasonable Care and Skill" from consumer rights act spring to mind.

A second opinion is always a must.

There was a case on the radio where an installation had not been done properly by BG, they denied it so the owner called Gas Safe and they said what works needed to be done.  That was deemed an expert report and BG did huge amount of work, re-sited pipes and a lot more.

Call Gas Safe themselves as if you are worried as "as friend" said it was not safe, so they don't just rubber stamp the same issue and you do not put things in their mind.

You only signed what they told you to sign, but as others have said, never sign anything, even if I get a recorded delivery item I check who it is from before deciding to sign for it.  

jefaz07

imeach said:

jefaz07 said:

SAC2334 said:

markin said:

I would guess if you hadn't signed it he would have had to cut the supply off to cover his back.

I don t think a meter fitter has the power to do that.They are not registered Gas Safe or up to the standard of electricity regs neither  trained who defintely can shut the gas supply off by law , but a meter fitter won t be anywhere near that level . When I was on the job and found unsafe gas or electric meters I shut off control valve in gas leaks and phoned Cadent /Nat Grid who took over . I did the usual and opened doors and made sure no one swithed electricity switches, and evacuated building on the rare occasion I found a house full of gas 

They do have that power and are qualified to do so. And why ring grid for a leak?It has nothing to do with them if it’s after the meter. 

If a meter reader discovers a gas escape they will always call National Grid, after all that's what it says on most meters too, and even on every page if you Google smell of gas.
Asking a meter reader or even Joe Public why you would call National Grid on the National Gas Emergency Helpline when they smell gas, and saying it has nothing to do with them is rather a silly statement to make to be fair

Well it’s not a silly statement. If a gas engineer discovers an issue AFTER the meter then it has absolutely nothing to do with grid. Because that’s what we are talking about here…a fitter or engineer not a meter reader. And it was in response to what you said about a fitter not being able to make safe. Which in itself is a silly comment, suggesting people working on gas aren’t gas safe!?
So I’m not sure why you have just changed a job role in your reply.  A fitter will make it safe and issue a warning notice, like has happened. 

 

imeach

jefaz07 said:

imeach said:

jefaz07 said:

SAC2334 said:

markin said:

I would guess if you hadn't signed it he would have had to cut the supply off to cover his back.

I don t think a meter fitter has the power to do that.They are not registered Gas Safe or up to the standard of electricity regs neither  trained who defintely can shut the gas supply off by law , but a meter fitter won t be anywhere near that level . When I was on the job and found unsafe gas or electric meters I shut off control valve in gas leaks and phoned Cadent /Nat Grid who took over . I did the usual and opened doors and made sure no one swithed electricity switches, and evacuated building on the rare occasion I found a house full of gas 

They do have that power and are qualified to do so. And why ring grid for a leak?It has nothing to do with them if it’s after the meter. 

If a meter reader discovers a gas escape they will always call National Grid, after all that's what it says on most meters too, and even on every page if you Google smell of gas.
Asking a meter reader or even Joe Public why you would call National Grid on the National Gas Emergency Helpline when they smell gas, and saying it has nothing to do with them is rather a silly statement to make to be fair

Well it’s not a silly statement. If a gas engineer discovers an issue AFTER the meter then it has absolutely nothing to do with grid. Because that’s what we are talking about here…a fitter or engineer not a meter reader. And it was in response to what you said about a fitter not being able to make safe. Which in itself is a silly comment, suggesting people working on gas aren’t gas safe!?
So I’m not sure why you have just changed a job role in your reply.  A fitter will make it safe and issue a warning notice, like has happened. 

 

I think you are slightly confused.
That was the first post I made on this topic. 
@SAC2334 said as a meter reader he would call National Grid to a gas escape
To which you replied why call National Grid, it has nothing to do with them if it's after the meter.

That's the point I was making, nothing to do with a fitter or engineer, and you basically said don't call National Grid
So my point still stands