Central Heating Insurance etc.

twopenny

Before you say you've never believed in it I've been waiting a year for someone to find out what is wrong with my heating.

Multiple calls to local Gas Safe, 2 said the mechanics were fine must be the piping, 1 was going to fix it, kept putting me off and finally just didn't answer a call for appt. Most say they are too busy. 1 came 3hrs late and didnt know how to check.

1 made 2 appts and didn't turn up and so on. Just waiting in for one who said he will come and look after work but just texted to ask if he'd be kind enough to alert me to when he's coming so I can keep warm somewhere and no reply. I'm thinking I'm going to be stood up again.

Despite due dilligence I've been ripped off by one and told a lot of ballony.

Did look at the pipes aspect but sent a friend up to look and asked that he put some felt under the pipes to stop them knocking on the joists.

All worked perfectly, quiet, rads worked as they should and then one day I wanted it all say and it  went into overheat, reset and then it made noises for 2 days and then coughed, spluttered long and loudly and I turned it off.

So it's time to think of an annual insurance - I don't really have the money to pay out monthly but I'm desperate and the heating has now given up and I can't go on with this.

But when I went to search expecting only 2 or 3 there are lots of companies.

How do I know which are reliable?

BG seems to have an offer and a couple of people I know say they are fine and prompt. They didn't have a great reputation back along. And their billing is diabolical at times. I've just tried a quote from their website and it takes me from CH to 'get a boiler' quote!

There was one well known one that offered a one off repair for £150 ex parts but I can't find it again

Can anyone help with advice on what I do from here please.?

twopenny

Just seen that there's a 30 day no claim and signing up with a problem probably won't work.

Still going to need the info though because when I've sorted this out I never want to be in this position again.

ThisIsWeird

I suspect the main issue you'll have with a policy is that most will only cover the boiler itself, and not the pipework. Coupled with this almost certainly being an obviously pre-existing condition, caused by a poor installation; Ie, they ain't going to cover sorting someone else's dodgy install.
Aren't you half way to a cure in any case? Hasn't the addition of felt pads demonstrated pretty convincingly that the noise - the vast bulk of it in any case - was down to simple pipe-to-surface contact? And these are seemingly bare copper pipes, for pityssakes!
Ie, this is no longer a mystery. Most likely the full cure will be a realignment of these pipes - very possibly just two - and for them to be fully lagged and supported.
From what you've described, there are two large copper pipes heading from your garage where the boiler lives, but these - on a vented system - run largely level? 
If so, the simplest solution for a plumber could actually be to ignore these and install two new pipes, correctly aligned, with an adequate fall, allowing any trapped air to vent out the correct routes, fully lagged and clipped, and to then connect these at each end - remove or leave the miscreant pipe.
Or, as mentioned, ensure each pipe run has a single high spot, and add a tee and auto air vent there.
If, of course, that is the cause...
I can understand your frustration - I'm sharing it and it doesn't even affect me
The fellow who added the felt pads, why won't they go the 'next step'?

twopenny

"The fellow who added the felt pads, why won't they go the 'next step'? " That was my mate Dave who was shamed i

nto volunteering at our Table Tennis group

"If so, the simplest solution for a plumber could actually be to ignore these and install two new pipes, correctly aligned, with an adequate fall, allowing any trapped air to vent out the correct routes, fully lagged and clipped, and to then connect these at each end - remove or leave the miscreant pipe.
Or, as mentioned, ensure each pipe run has a single high spot, and add a tee and auto air vent there"  I did have a plumber (yes really keen too) who said he would do that."

But the guy did turn up. He turned up to the time when my boiler went during the artic blast in my last house. So I guess he's a keeper   But I will pay for the privilage. He's not that altruistic.

He also said it's time and trial to find what this is but did explain everything until my brain shut down.

Upshot is that he's gone into detail of what might be wrong, taken the number on the boiler to contact Baxi  for ideas, parts. I have the TRV removed in one room and pump rate at 2. Giving it a trial

Everything the other bloke said was *****. It was the guy I said I'd never contact for his misinformation in the last place but he'd changed his number and business name.

Aparantly I need a thermostat. Call me suspicious but it worked fine without for 6yrs without one and I see this as a bit of income. So digital which seems excessive to carry around in a small 4 roomed bungalow or static.

It's been on an hour without the scarey noise (yet) so fingers crossed.

But at least for one night I'm warm. Cold weather coming in this weekend.