Worrying Viesmann experience

[Hoof Hearted]

Last week I had a new central heating system fitted with a Viesmann 100 boiler.

Yesterday I was looking at the manual and found the section which describes the 'Comfort' function on the hot water. To enable this, you turn the water temperature knob fully clockwise for less then 3 seconds and then return it to the normal position. So I did this, except that I mistakenly turned the heating temperature knob instead.

I noticed that boiler fired up and stayed alight. I watched the temperature and started getting worried when I realised it wasn't going to switch off. I turned the heating control to zero, but it still kept getting hotter. I then switched it into frost mode on the controller, but it still kept going.

I didn't like to switch it off at the switch because of all the heat that was inside it, but when the temperature went beyond 90 degrees I went and switched off my gas supply.

My installer was here today and he explained to me that by turning the heating control knob to the maximum and back to normal, I had put the boiler into Service Mode.

This amazed me for 2 reasons: Firstly because the procedure to put the boiler into service mode is remarkeably similar to the 'Comfort' function.
and secondly because the normal means of turning off the boiler did not work.

Has anyone else come across this? It sounds remarkeably dangerous that a child, or even worse... a woman could mistakenly put the boiler into service mode and walk away from it.

Ian

 

[oldplumber]

a woman would have read the instructions and done what they said.

 

[Puddle]

I do not know this boiler to well
But if it is as you say Hoof ,would not to happy, think the comfort setting is a bit silly as well
I often move thermostats up and down to check things and to go into different modes is as said ridiculous



imho

 

[wnjswozo]

you worry to much,you accidently switched service mode,boilers these days have so many fail safe built in,all that would have happened worst case is boiler stops working. read the customer user instructions,

 

[Mbear]

Lots of boilers have similar ways of putting them into service mode. For example the pott promax is very similar to the way u describe. Put it down to experience and read instructions b4 u push buttons etc

 

[Blackcatgas]

Service mode turns the boiler up to maximum rate, If left unatended it gives off radiation and would of made you infertile.

 

[REDSAW]

if my kids mess with the boiler they would get a smack around the ear, come to think, my missus would as well//.

 

[tr7dan]

Don't worry, this make of boiler doesn't blow up often....


.....only once !!

Dan

 

[Puddle]

Service mode turns the boiler up to maximum rate, If left unatended it gives off radiation and would of made you infertile.

...class


So I am the only one who thinks being able to put a boiler in service mode this simple is silly
Fitters will get call backs to sort out all the time,I would be worried about wasting time going back and forth
even if you can explain on phone how to correct,all takes time when with a bit of design ,this would not even be a problem

imho

 

[Hoof Hearted]

On the LCD, I saw the letters 'SERV'. Of course now I know this means Service Mode, but at the time I deduced that it was an errror message, and that 'SERV' meant that I should call out the Service Engineer.

My plumber too was greatly concerned that it was so simple to put the boiler into service mode.

 

[Bernie2]

Hmm!

Knowledge should increase safety! Make it freely avaliable to all!

Thing is, you probably have to want it and be able to understand it.

 

[doitmyself]

My plumber too was greatly concerned that it was so simple to put the boiler into service mode.

This makes me think that your plumber, assuming he was also the installer, did not have any previous experience of Viessmann boilers.

So why did you choose Viessmann and, more important, why did you choose a plumber with no Viessman experience?

 

[Bernie2]

I guess people don't know one make of boiler from another.

And asking for a Viessmann specialist perhaps tends to bring up over charging issues like those of the motor car main dealers.

Its a bit like asking people to get an unsafe appliance attended to?

How do they know its unsafe if they can't tell a safe one from an unsafe one?

Don't forget private homes may never get inspected and anyway the gas fire looks better with those lovely yellow flames than it does with those horrible blue ones!!!!

Simply put, with out the knowledge of difference how can you practise discernment?

 

[Hoof Hearted]

I chose Viessmann because a guy a work had just had one fitted. His brother is plumber and said they were very good. So when my plumber also mentioned Viessman, I decided to give it a go. But Bernie is correct. I dont have a clue really. I heard previously that Worcester Bosch is one of the better makes, so in the absence of any other recommendations I was going to have one of those.

 

[stevetheplumber]

at some point were all trying a boiler we dont actually know either because acustomer requests it or its a new model we wish to try possibly due to reccomendations we are profesionals and with aid of MI's and experience we should be capable of fitting anything thats thrown at us programable stats being the exception to this rule as some need a it expert to read the mi's

 

[dublin plumber]

i fit the viesmann boilers all the time never have a problem they give a 10 year warranty which is a big plus as boiler is about another 150 to fit and claims 97% eff, now beat that with your vokeras, glowworms and the rest of the junk out there !!

 

[darrenbea]

just because most people havn't heard of viessman don't make rubbish boilers one of the top selling boiler in the e.u i find them as good as worcester if not better you can't blame the boiler 90% of the time it's user error

 

[Blackcatgas]

Iam going to stop fitting Viessman because of this post, and I shall be writing to my MP.

 

[Puddle]

I shall be writing to my MP.

Why has he got one ?

 

[oufc1975]

Just started fitting Viessmann boilers. Have fitted 4 so far and find them fantastic. Very quiet, local rep great and solid build. Was fitting Worcesters and Vaillants for 10 years, but will not move away from Viessmann. Looking to start fitting their Solar as well