The boiler dissaster thread

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Discussion

fastgerman

Original Poster:

1,911 posts

194 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
quotequote all
Hi All,

1 week into the new house and decided to join British Gas HomeCare 200

Engineer visit today, first comments - oh no, thats a Keston

Few minutes later, cracked this, broken that, gosh thats not good etc. Forms marked up as dangerous and boiler turned off fully. We have an independent service carried out on the boiler in Jan, suprised they missed so much. I was shown a cracked gasket and all sorts of dodgy stuff.

I thought I wanted a combi, but the engineer suggested a new boiler (Worcester) + an unvented cylinder if I want to get rid of the water tank to make way for extensions.

Thoughts?

In addition, we have bought a Nest 2 Thermostat, still in its box. The BG engineer was talking about Hive 2 functionality and that this would be covered under HomeCare and likely to be used with the Gov smart metering roll out.

Edited by fastgerman on Thursday 5th May 14:22

Zoon

6,654 posts

120 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
quotequote all
I've had a Worcester Bosch for around 9 years.
No problems so far.

boxst

3,699 posts

144 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
quotequote all
I'm not saying this is the case, but do check that the things are dangerous / broken.

British Gas wanted to condemn my boiler because there was a 1mm hole in the washer and the part wasn't available. A lot of discussion and they agreed that they could just fill it with a sealant ...

essayer

9,011 posts

193 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
quotequote all
Get a proper independent view before you commit to an entirely new heating system just on the opinion of an 'engineer'

kryten22uk

2,344 posts

230 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
quotequote all
There seem to be two different points in the OP.

Firstly, the boiler has many problems/issues - can it be fixed or needs entirely replacing.
Secondly, the OP wants to change his system to remove the water tank to provide more living space - shall he go with a combi or an unvented system.

fastgerman

Original Poster:

1,911 posts

194 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
quotequote all
Hi Guys,

Thanks for the reply, the report was so bad they wouldn't cover the boiler - approx £400 of repairs if they could get the parts or £1400 for a new boiler.

Report states:

Burner seal cracked
Hole in lower boiler case
Flue tube rubber in poor condition
Missing case screws
Safety summary, following checked as no - Appliance operation is safe, appliance flue and ventilation safe, functional parts are available
New boiler checked as essential

I'm happy to replace the boiler, it is a Keston Celsius 25 - Google that, interesting reading, not a good word.

Not sure about the combi vs unvented cylinder (megaflow) and new boiler

jesta1865

3,448 posts

208 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
quotequote all
essayer said:
Get a proper independent view before you commit to an entirely new heating system just on the opinion of an 'engineer'
i had this a few years back with british gas and their homecare set-up. they condemned my boiler for lack of ventilation etc as it's in a cupboard.

ignoring the fact that it has it's flue directed into a chimney, has vents top and bottom to the outside, and there are vents built into the cupboard top and bottom.

the guy from bg was an arse on the 2nd visit and despite me having the regs in my hand for a boiler today (mine fitted in the 70s) he still said it was wrong, and in fact made excuses and said i was reading it all wrong when I was showing him the measurements etc.

it's since been serviced by a local firm who have charged us for nothing but the service as they reckon it's fine and the ventilation is way beyond what it needs to be.

Zoon

6,654 posts

120 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
quotequote all
We had a very similar situation with a rental property.
I think the engineers get a commission for every referral.

21TonyK

11,494 posts

208 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
quotequote all
If you want to replace it anyway then I would go conventional boiler and unvented cylinder but IMO I would get a recommended independent to quote before going with the first person who suggests it.

Bit like a couple of weeks back when my car had its first MOT and the first thing the dealer offered me on collection was a complete new set of tyres. Got a second opinion and a very different and cheaper answer.

KTF

9,788 posts

149 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
quotequote all
Sever all ties with British Gas and find a good independent. They will condemn anything if they think they can get a sale of an (overpriced) new boiler out of it.

Greshamst

2,028 posts

119 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
quotequote all
You could look into getting a Flow boiler if you've got a 3 room or bigger house http://www.flowenergy.uk.com/

The boiler generates electricity for free whilst it heats water, which you can use to reduce your electricity bill, or sell back to the grid.

Dave_ST220

10,288 posts

204 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
quotequote all
British Gas condemned my mums boiler on a Friday afternoon in the bad winter we had. Elderly women, no heat, very cold winter. I had it working within 10 minutes. They had lied. Plain & simple & tried to rip her off. Long story short, I got her a new boiler fitted for cost price (a very big fraction of their quote). Not saying this is the same but deffo get a second opinion on it.

Ali Chappussy

876 posts

144 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
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Got a Worcester Bosch combi, works a treat. We also treated ourselves to the Wave controller which has been brilliant.

silentbrown

8,793 posts

115 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
quotequote all
fastgerman said:
It is a Keston Celsius 25 - Google that, interesting reading, not a good word
Remember most folk don't post about how well their boiler works...

+1 to getting a second opinion.

You'll have to work even harder to find a good word about British Gas homecare: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/dPP6s0G4y...

silentbrown

8,793 posts

115 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
quotequote all
Greshamst said:
The boiler generates electricity for free
Err, no. It generates electricity by burning gas that you're paying for. No gas burning = no electricity.

red_slr

17,122 posts

188 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
quotequote all
silentbrown said:
fastgerman said:
It is a Keston Celsius 25 - Google that, interesting reading, not a good word
Remember most folk don't post about how well their boiler works...

+1 to getting a second opinion.

You'll have to work even harder to find a good word about British Gas homecare: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/dPP6s0G4y...
We had a Keston C25 in our old house. Been fine TBH.
Had it serviced every 12 months. 11 years old.

Average service is about £80. I think there was one year where it was maybe £150 due to extra parts.

Case screws missing is hardly a cause for replacing a boiler! About 2p each!

Tom_C76

1,923 posts

187 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
quotequote all
For balance I took homecare with a fixed price 99 quid repair at the start of the policy. The guy was there for 5 hours and fitted about £400 in parts. Friendly, helpful, couldn't have been nicer.

OP I've got a Heatstore boiler with built-in cylinder in the base but would have a combi when we change it as there's only two of us so don't need lots of hot water. If you have a family a mega flow might make more sense.

fastgerman

Original Poster:

1,911 posts

194 months

Friday 6th May 2016
quotequote all
Well I've taken the easy and safe option (although expensive) and gone with BG.

£3.8k for a Worcester Bosch incl. power flush, magnetic filter, fitting, brick work and brick matching, plumbing etc.

Seems to be around £1.6k of labour, which is steep I know.

I could probably save £1k going elsewhere, but we want to be on the homecare for peace of mind especially with a young child and the boiler was always going to be replaced within the next year or so. Surveyor even noted it was looking past its best.

Being fitted on Wednesday

AstonZagato

12,652 posts

209 months

Friday 6th May 2016
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Keston are an unmitigated disaster. Mine has just been condemned after just 8 years. It has misbehaved constantly over its life. The previous one had lasted over 30 years

nyt

1,803 posts

149 months

Friday 6th May 2016
quotequote all
fastgerman said:
Well I've taken the easy and safe option (although expensive) and gone with BG.

£3.8k for a Worcester Bosch incl. power flush, magnetic filter, fitting, brick work and brick matching, plumbing etc.

Seems to be around £1.6k of labour, which is steep I know.

I could probably save £1k going elsewhere, but we want to be on the homecare for peace of mind especially with a young child and the boiler was always going to be replaced within the next year or so. Surveyor even noted it was looking past its best.

Being fitted on Wednesday
Probably too late but the worcester comes with a 8 or 10 year guarantee if fitted by approved suppliers so you don't need to pay Homecare.
I've just had one fitted for £2,.5k in London.
Not paying the homeware for 8 years means the boiler is 'free'.
BT give a guarantee but in their logic you still need homecare. Weird.