Insurance making a claim against me

[morganb]

Hi guys,

Sorry for the long post, appreciate any advice. I've had a letter from customers contents insurance about making a claim against my public liability.

To set the scene I fitted a new boiler and unvented cylinder about 4 years ago, boiler in old A/C, cylinder above in loft (how they wanted it arranged).

On 7th July I came and fitted a new pressure relief valve to the inlet group of the cylinder as it was dripping. This was done all fine with no problems. Now on the 11th of July they were away night before, came to house in the morning/afternoon to find a massive leak. There is a plastic plug on the inlet valve (for a pressure gauge I believe) that had sheared off, with the resultant mains water ****ing out for at least a few hours, maybe more.

They called me back and I came out to isolate cylinder, also managed to find the thread of this plug, which was left with them (I took a pic of it). Few weeks later they asked me to recommission cylinder so I fitted brass plug and filled up again.

Just got a letter saying "we have been advised that the leak has been caused due to the fact you had installed a faulty regulator valve onto water tank. you have duty of care to ensure works are checked so no damage can arise. You have failed in this duty and as such we are holding you liable".

They've asked for my public liability, which I've not given yet as I've asked to see the engineers report and his qualifications.Pretty sure no-one ever produced a report as customer said no one has bothered to see what's wrong, and they eventually asked them to get in touch with me to sort it. Also there was a plumber there who was taking rads off etc when painting, he didn't have a G3, not sure if he was Gas Safe. He was only plumber there during this time according to customer.

To muddy the waters a bit, I did some further work for customers daughter last week, at the same time I filled in logbook for boiler/cylinder service (I did service last month). Rather foolishly I filled in last years service for bh even though I didn't do it to keep warranties intact. Kicking myself for doing that now :grin:

Should I just pass this all onto my public liability? I'm not really keen on this yet as I really don't want to pay the excess and I doubt they are going to put up much of a fight. I'm also pretty ****ed off at the amount of work they managed to make it into - new carpets in every single room etc.

 

[deandive]

I think you need to pass this one on to your insurance, its a kick in the nuts but its why we pay it

 

[Chalked]

I would be contacting the manufacturer. I don't get how if it sheared off after four days? Is the cylinder configured correctly ?

if it is, it's a manufacturer problem.

 

[Reg Man]

Do you mean pressure reducing valve?

 

[Chalked]

Did you install a new pressure reducing valve, or pressure release valve.
If it was an existing pressure reducing valve tell them to get lost.

 

[Reg Man]

There is no tapping for a pressure gauge on a pressure relief valve, only on cheap reducing valves.

 

[morganb]

I changed just the pressure relief valve that fits onto the pressure reducing valve. The part that snapped of is just a plastic plug directly below. The cylinder was installed correct, even notified! Cylinder is a Telford Tempest.

If you look in my album there are a couple of pics.

 

[morganb]

And the plug is 1/2 or 3/4 so not sure what the hell it is for, not sure why I initially though pressure gauge.

 

[Ch4 plumbing]

Either pressure gauge plug or tapping for balanced cold?

 

[Reg Man]

l

 

[morganb]

Thanks Reg-Man, that pic is perfect. I fitted red topped bit, 4 days later black plastic head bitsheared off!

 

[Reg Man]

The best way to have dealt with this is to have replaced the whole valve and sent the faulty valve and bits back to the manufacturer for a report.

 

[Chalked]

Did you remove the plug for any reason?

That tapping is normally used to connect to expansion vessel. I usually fit the vessel straight into it.

 

[Leo21]

Wait for them to get back to you with the report and the guys qualifications.

 

[morganb]

Did you remove the plug for any reason?

That tapping is normally used to connect to expansion vessel. I usually fit the vessel straight into it.

That makes sense for the tapping, and no I didn't touch the plug. I did look for the top of it but couldn't find it amongst the insulation.

The original valve is still in place, I suppose I could send that to the manufacturer, although I can't see them ever wanting to admit there might be a fault.

 

[kozak1968]

I wouldn't worry about it. Like whats been said already. Let the insurance company sort it out. They wont want to pay out just like any insurance. Public liability isn't like car insurance. The premiums don't ramp up with a lost claim.

 

[Ermintrude]

Download mi. Check throughly . If you did it all correctly I would be on to supplier

 

[morganb]

Wait for them to get back to you with the report and the guys qualifications.

I've been told it should be with me tomorrow, if not I'd quite like to email asking them for it within a short time span. I'm sure they are more than capable of encouraging the company who dealt with it to magically produce one. I'm still on very good terms with customer so they have filled me in a lot with what happened, from their description I'm pretty sceptical anyone who knew what they were doing properly investigated the cylinder or cause.

 

[morganb]

Download mi. Check throughly . If you did it all correctly I would be on to supplier

I'm pretty thorough when it comes to things like that, but I will check for a bit of bedtime reading tonight.

I wouldn't worry about it. Like whats been said already. Let the insurance company sort it out. They wont want to pay out just like any insurance. Public liability isn't like car insurance. The premiums don't ramp up with a lost claim.

I thought it would jump up as they do ask for previous claims, if not I suppose it's not worth the hassle over £200 excess. I can always get that back with the bill to isolate cylinder and recommission it, assuming they will pay it.

 

[galaxy_plumbing]

call manufacturer to send their engineer put and contact your insurance to do the rest

 

[Millsy 82]

Wait for the report to come through. If they are saying you have installed a faulty pressure reducing valve when you never I think you will have a good case to argue. I can't see how replacing a pressure relief on that you can cause the plug to shear off unless you have had some grips or something on it to hold it steady?

 

[Neil K]

Keep us posted please, watching this with interest, good luck

 

[morganb]

Wait for the report to come through. If they are saying you have installed a faulty pressure reducing valve when you never I think you will have a good case to argue. I can't see how replacing a pressure relief on that you can cause the plug to shear off unless you have had some grips or something on it to hold it steady?

It did cross my mind that i may of damaged it with grips, but looking at the pic there's no way I would hold the valve like that. I'd do bottom nut hand tight, then do 'outlet' of relief valve up tight with spanner. Then hold relief valve in grips and tighten nut that connects it to main valve with spanner.

I've had an email saying they have requested the report from the policyholder. I'm assuming that means they are asking the customer for the report. Considering I isolated cylinder, and also repaired valve I'm not sure who will have provided this to them. I met the plumbers on site when repairing it, and they didn't have a clue what had caused it, and mentioned they couldn't work on unvented. I realise they may just be the 'workers' and someone more senior may have looked at it. Customer also told me no-one has been out to see what's wrong or anything so there's hope there.

 

[AWheating]

the leak happend on something you did not install when you did the recent work.

the warranty on the failed part is prob past and manufacturer wont care enough to get involved

your own previous warranty on the orignal installation will have past

your insurance wont pay out im guessing and just ignore it anyway so you may aswell pass the details to them

it will be put down to wear and tear im betting.

 

[lambchop]

imho I would never pass my insurance details on unless it was going to court, if it ever got to that stage by then you would have consulted a solicitor anyway and they would advise when the time is right to cooperate and give the other side the information.

if your confident you have done the job right collect all information that is relevant photos/paperwork/witnesses (did you have anyone helping you at the time etc) get it organised and have a free solicitor consultation.

Do not agree to anything, talk to the other side, communicate in any way what's so ever unless you have sought good legal advice. Others may disagree but you can stitch yourself up by just handing over your insurance details in the belief that the insurance company will protect your interests, they won't and may settle due to various reasons, which will affect your insurance in the future

It happened to me a few years back, glad to say not my fault but bent over backwards in time and money and then when all done, they got in touch with their insurers..... Ignored everything they chucked at me, spoke to a solicitor, was within my rights. I was happy to go to court, never happened. I was insured but I did not give my details as that would have opened a can of worms.

sorry for long post, in a nutshell don't do anything until you've spoken to a specialist solicitor. Good luck mate

 

[stratplus]

Did you remove the plug for any reason?

That tapping is normally used to connect to expansion vessel. I usually fit the vessel straight into it.

Could it be possible that if that tapping is meant for the expansion vessell then the plastic blew out due to water expansion? Is the expansion vessell connected correctly?
Prob talking rubbish but just a thought

 

[AWheating]

i would be saying its a manufacturers fitted plug that you never removed as the vessel was fitted at a different connection point on the system. it wasnt me!!

 

[Chalked]

Could it be possible that if that tapping is meant for the expansion vessell then the plastic blew out due to water expansion? Is the expansion vessell connected correctly?
Prob talking rubbish but just a thought

You don't have yo connect it into there. It's just a handy connection. Some people connect a 3/4 flexi into it!! (Awful)
whatever the configuration of the pipework the plug should be able to stand a higher pressure than the safety devices.

 

[stratplus]

In that case I wouldn't be paying for the damage on my insurance!