Illegal gas repairs.....

[SimonV8ster]

I believe that only registered people are allowed to carry out repairs to gas boilers and the such like, especially if a house is being rented out then a further safety certificate has to be issued ?

What about if somebody repaired a boiler in a property they were renting - surely that would be illegal ? What sort of thing could be done ? Would a particular authority be interested in this ?

[Arthur Jackson]

SimonV8ster said:

I believe that only registered people are allowed to carry out repairs to gas boilers

The BS Document merely states that to work on a 'gas fitting' you must be 'competent'.

Now people will come on here with bks about 'if you do it in your own home...' and 'if you don't get paid for it...', but the bottom line is as above.

So....
Like any regulation you can work on it illegally if you like, but if you get found out for WHATEVER reason you will NEED to prove competency. The blokes I use have cards from 'Gas Safe' to do this with, I certainly wouldn't want to stand in a courtroom and answer questions about ventilation, flue standards etc OR identify faults on a pipework test-rig.

As far as rented property goes, yes, you need a yearly safety inspection certificate.

[Wings]

One can both report the works and obtain a free inspection through the site listed below;

http://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/

[hidetheelephants]

Arthur Jackson said:

Like any regulation you can work on it illegally if you like, but if you get found out for WHATEVER reason you will NEED to prove competency. The blokes I use have cards from 'Gas Safe' to do this with, I certainly wouldn't want to stand in a courtroom and answer questions about ventilation, flue standards etc OR identify faults on a pipework test-rig.

Given the standard of installation work I've seen while looking at flats to rent or buy, a few 'gas safe' people would do well to avoid a court appearance too.

[Flintstone]

Someone looking a lot like me and possibly wearing my clothes may have replaced the board in my boiler. I was quoted anything between £250 and £450 by local robbing bds tradesmen. The board cost about £85 and hasn't so much as hiccupped in five years.

I asked my nephew (proper central heating engineer) about servicing the boiler. He replied "Take the case off, vacuum out the fluff, replace the case. That's all you'll get anyway unless something packs up but you'll find that out when it stops working".

Bloody pirates.

[davido140]

Flintstone said:

Someone looking a lot like me and possibly wearing my clothes may have replaced the board in my boiler. I was quoted anything between £250 and £450 by local robbing bds tradesmen. The board cost about £85 and hasn't so much as hiccupped in five years.

I asked my nephew (proper central heating engineer) about servicing the boiler. He replied "Take the case off, vacuum out the fluff, replace the case. That's all you'll get anyway unless something packs up but you'll find that out when it stops working".

Bloody pirates.

I replaced the electronic board in my boiler too, in fact I was told to by a registered corgi chap. "it's not the gas bit, you'll be fine" it was mains electricity though IIRC! been fine for 5-6 years so I'm probably tempting fate by posting this.

[Mr GrimNasty]

Arthur Jackson said:

SimonV8ster said:

I believe that only registered people are allowed to carry out repairs to gas boilers

The BS Document merely states that to work on a 'gas fitting' you must be 'competent'.

Now people will come on here with bks about 'if you do it in your own home...' and 'if you don't get paid for it...', but the bottom line is as above.

So....
Like any regulation you can work on it illegally if you like, but if you get found out for WHATEVER reason you will NEED to prove competency. The blokes I use have cards from 'Gas Safe' to do this with, I certainly wouldn't want to stand in a courtroom and answer questions about ventilation, flue standards etc OR identify faults on a pipework test-rig.

As far as rented property goes, yes, you need a yearly safety inspection certificate.

The distinction you've failed to draw out is that it is perfectly legal to DIY in the circumstances you mention as bks - you cannot be charged with any offence, whereas it is specifically illegal to do for others/reward. The 'legal' DIYer's undoing will only come when and if someone gets hurt/dies as a result their work.

[dickymint]

Mr GrimNasty said:

Arthur Jackson said:

SimonV8ster said:

I believe that only registered people are allowed to carry out repairs to gas boilers

The BS Document merely states that to work on a 'gas fitting' you must be 'competent'.

Now people will come on here with bks about 'if you do it in your own home...' and 'if you don't get paid for it...', but the bottom line is as above.

So....
Like any regulation you can work on it illegally if you like, but if you get found out for WHATEVER reason you will NEED to prove competency. The blokes I use have cards from 'Gas Safe' to do this with, I certainly wouldn't want to stand in a courtroom and answer questions about ventilation, flue standards etc OR identify faults on a pipework test-rig.

As far as rented property goes, yes, you need a yearly safety inspection certificate.

The distinction you've failed to draw out is that it is perfectly legal to DIY in the circumstances you mention as bks - you cannot be charged with any offence, whereas it is specifically illegal to do for others/reward. The 'legal' DIYer's undoing will only come when and if someone gets hurt/dies as a result their work.

The same can also apply to a certified Gas Safe engineer.

[R1 CKY]

davido140 said:

Flintstone said:

Someone looking a lot like me and possibly wearing my clothes may have replaced the board in my boiler. I was quoted anything between £250 and £450 by local robbing bds tradesmen. The board cost about £85 and hasn't so much as hiccupped in five years.

I asked my nephew (proper central heating engineer) about servicing the boiler. He replied "Take the case off, vacuum out the fluff, replace the case. That's all you'll get anyway unless something packs up but you'll find that out when it stops working".

Bloody pirates.

I replaced the electronic board in my boiler too, in fact I was told to by a registered corgi chap. "it's not the gas bit, you'll be fine" it was mains electricity though IIRC! been fine for 5-6 years so I'm probably tempting fate by posting this.

He's not much a "Proper Central Heating Engineer" if that is how he services a boiler.

What about cleaning the heat exchanger, checking burner pressure, flame failure devices, ventilation, flue flow, gas rate, flue spillage, visual condition of the flue, burner, seals, flame picture, flue termination?

Something as simple as disturbing a seal on certain boilers could kill someone.

Also the PCB usually controls all of the gas functions on modern boilers. Including burner pressure, ignition and flame failure. You need to be competent to check all these things are correct after replacing a board.

[Arthur Jackson]

Told you.

[Deva Link]

R1 CKY said:

He's not much a "Proper Central Heating Engineer" if that is how he services a boiler.

What about cleaning the heat exchanger, checking burner pressure, flame failure devices, ventilation, flue flow, gas rate, flue spillage, visual condition of the flue, burner, seals, flame picture, flue termination?

Something as simple as disturbing a seal on certain boilers could kill someone.

Also the PCB usually controls all of the gas functions on modern boilers. Including burner pressure, ignition and flame failure. You need to be competent to check all these things are correct after replacing a board.

We had the old boiler in a house we own serviced by a BG trainee who was under supervision. Took 2 hrs.

Combi in daughter's house was serviced by them and the guy was in and out in 20 mins.

[R1 CKY]

Most modern condensing boilers don't require stripping down and cleaning if the flue gas analysis readings are below a certain level, although some manufacturers stipulate that it is done every other year.

A lot of so called Engineers just turn up, do a flue gas analysis and disappear with out even removing the cover. This is not a service!

I condemned quite a few modern condensing boilers this year, mainly Vaillants, due to defective burner seals.

Some were obvious with melted foam room seals and visible signs of distress to components, whereas other were not so, but doing something simple like running your hand around the combustion chamber whilst the burner is on to feel for excess heat can show up a defective seal.

[dickymint]

R1 CKY said:

Most modern condensing boilers don't require stripping down and cleaning if the flue gas analysis readings are below a certain level, although some manufacturers stipulate that it is done every other year.

A lot of so called Engineers just turn up, do a flue gas analysis and disappear with out even removing the cover. This is not a service!

I condemned quite a few modern condensing boilers this year, mainly Vaillants, due to defective burner seals.

Some were obvious with melted foam room seals and visible signs of distress to components, whereas other were not so, but doing something simple like running your hand around the combustion chamber whilst the burner is on to feel for excess heat can show up a defective seal.

From memory some manufacturers state that some seals must be replaced if opened?

[anonymous-user]

I don't understand why anyone would risk their families health by being too tight to pay a decent heating engineer £50 or so to service your boiler once a year. Seems that some people are just too proud sometimes to admit that they aren't an expert in everything.

[R1 CKY]

Yes, quite a few. This my concern with people maintaining their own boilers.

Whilst they may not actually not cause a dangerous situation themselves, they may miss the tell-tale signs that could lead to one.

That is why you should have your boiler inspected regularly.

[Rude-boy]

Inkyfingers said:

I don't understand why anyone would risk their families health by being too tight to pay a decent heating engineer £50 or so to service your boiler once a year. Seems that some people are just too proud sometimes to admit that they aren't an expert in everything.

This ish.

Get someone with the right qualifications and if it is your home sleep sound in the expectation they haven't left something off or if a rental that you will not be sued by the dead tenants family and imprisoned by the courts if it all goes wrong.