Please HELP with new combi boiler , possible nightmare on my hands

[Shaun_sdw]

Hi guys I'm just wondering if anyone could please offer me some advice please .
i do apologise if I'm in the wrong section


i won't go into to much detail including company names etc but I feel that I'm getting something fitted that's costing a few thousand pounds and its going to turn into a total headache , it started off really bad and has seemed to get worse throughout the day

I'll list a few issues so far after day one of the installation from today ( they are coming back tomorrow )
info is a conversion from a old back boiler to a new combi boiler .
this is day one but I'll keep it updated

ok here we go

1) fitters didn't turn off the water but started to drain the system , resulting in all of the radiators up stairs to disperse water all over my bedroom floors and eventually through into the living room .:dead:

2) I find out the boiler they have pretty much fitted is totally different to the one that was ordered , I don't claim to know what is good or not but what I was expecting was a vokera vision c30 and when they have started to install is a alpha Eco boiler !!
Any advice on what is better ???

3) the boiler flue is coming out directly through the vertical brick window lintel !! Should this happen ? The window does not open for your info but the flue is very close to the double glaring panel .

it was going to be a one day job but because of what is going on the guys finished early as I'm awaiting to speak to the manager of the company tomorrow . Hopefully they will be back tomorrow to finish the job , or maybe not

 

[Dotty]

Definitely through the lintel?

 

[Shaun_sdw]

It won't let me post pictures but yes I think so .
im not an expert but from the inside it looks like it goes through a horizontal concrete section and from the outside its through my vertical brickwork above the window

if I can upload pics I can show you ??

 

[Dotty]

Send them to uv.ukpf@gmail. com

I'll post them up later.

Check their gas safe cards....

 

[kay-jay]

Both boilers are rubbish but I would take the alpha over the vokera

 

[Scott_D]

Green deal / Eco install?

 

[Neil K]

How did they spill all that water from the UPSTAIRS rads did they not drain the system down properly

 

[Shaun_sdw]

Green deal / Eco install?

Its just a replacment conversion we are getting done from the old back boiler ,
it's not on a government scheme or anything like that , I just ordered through a company and this is what's happened so far

 

[Shaun_sdw]

How did they spill all that water from the UPSTAIRS rads did they not drain the system down properly

You won't believe me but basically they connected the drain off pipe to to the bottom radiator , opened the valve , 10-15 mins later they went upstairs and removed the cores in the radiator valves on all upstairs rads , about 30mins after that I went up stairs to check on the cats as I had the locked in the big bedroom because of all the noise , I opened the door and dirty water was squirting everywhere .

to cut a long story short they didn't turn off the water supply

 

[morganb]

Sounds like you've got a couple of bright sparks who are only used to combi swaps - they didn't realise there's a header tank constantly replenishing the water...

I think alarm bells should of started to ring when there is the ability to 'order' a boiler change through a company.

 

[townfanjon]

personally I would get them out of your house, they aint got a clue.
That is most defiantly NOT a days job !!!!

 

[bigads28]

This sounds like a nightmare! If they can't drain the system and have put the the flue through the lintel then this is bad news!!! A lintel holds up the structure above it......no holes to be made other than a picture hook!

As for the boiler the Alpha is probably a bit better as long as it's 28kw or more

 

[Rickster123]

So water came from every vent on the upstairs rads? Or did water come from one vent on one rad in a room you had locked? And any chance of a pic of the flue please?

 

[stevetheplumber]

sounds like one of those ebay companies boiler changed for1200

 

[plumben]

You have two lintels one wooden or concret on internal and the vertical bricks external, the external lintal works on the principle that all the bricks are there if you remove on the whole lots going to fall eventually, id get them out of my house

 

[Scott_D]

Did you get a few installers to come and look at the job and quote?
What made you choose the company/quote you accepted?

 

[Shaun_sdw]

So water came from every vent on the upstairs rads? Or did water come from one vent on one rad in a room you had locked? And any chance of a pic of the flue please?

Yes water came out of every vent upstairs not just the room locked , the water was lest on so the header tank kept on filling and obviously topped up faster than it was draining

 

[Shaun_sdw]

This sounds like a nightmare! If they can't drain the system and have put the the flue through the lintel then this is bad news!!! A lintel holds up the structure above it......no holes to be made other than a picture hook!

As for the boiler the Alpha is probably a bit better as long as it's 28kw or more

ive got pictures but I can't post online , I've emailed them to one of the guys on here
I'll check the boiler but it is a alpha Eco , I can't see a kW rating but I'll check this out .
thanks

 

[Shaun_sdw]

sounds like one of those ebay companies boiler changed for1200

Its a local firm

 

[Shaun_sdw]

Did you get a few installers to come and look at the job and quote?
What made you choose the company/quote you accepted?

I had 4 quotes including British gas and 3 local firms to me

I chose these as
1) they were from only a few mile away where I lived
2)they were not the cheapest but also not the most expensive
3)I got the British gas quotation and then showed this to each firm as to what I was expecting . British gas was the most expensive and then the company I went for was middle of the road with another , the one I didn't go for was about £350 cheaper but these guys who came out seemed to know what they were talking about .

anyway I opted for middle of the road , just for info its cost just me under £3000 , well it hasn't because I have not paid a penny yet

 

[AWheating]

cant fit a boiler flue through (or anything else) closer than 150mm to any structual opening(window, door, etc...) due to load bearings on the sides/lintel of said opening. Standard Building regulations.

 

[Dotty]

Images sent by op.

[emoji33]

 

[stevetheplumber]

omg theres rough and theres rough but thats dog rough

 

[julesverne]

Speechless get gas safe involved

 

[stevetheplumber]

i wouldnt open the door in the morning

 

[julesverne]

Shaun_sdw please get in touch with the gas safe register. This work is disgraceful.

 

[TBServices]

Rough as a badgers arse, do not let them back in the house. You need to get that whole window situation sorted too

Don't pay them a penny. In fact they need to pay you for the cost of repairing that brickwork.

I'm utterly appalled

 

[Chalked]

Not much holding the boiler on the wall. The two top screws that have been drilled in at an angle have pulls the bricks down!

 

[Ermintrude]

Can I collect my screwdriver ?

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

crap,totally disgraceful work,as said flue cant go there thats tat,not much holding it on the wall,and its fitted directly onto ply not many boilers can be fitted directly onto a combustible surface ,you need to involve gas safe mate heres the link Gas Complaint Form

 

[kris]

That instal is disgraceful at best, anyone who carries out work to that standard mustve bribed a college official to get his tickets, its worse than a **** diyer,
The scorched plywood and flue touching the window ignoring minimum clearance distances gives you a clue to how garbage these installers are and if i was you i wouldnt hand over ANY money till you have a decent instalation otherwise your being ripped off BIG time mate sorry,

 

[Ermintrude]

crap,totally disgraceful work,as said flue cant go there thats tat,not much holding it on the wall,and its fitted directly onto ply not many boilers can be fitted directly onto a combustible surface ,you need to involve gas safe mate heres the link Gas Complaint Form

Most modern boilers can be?

 

[solutions]

Just unbelievable. I would normally say getbthem to come make it right but if someone did that in my house they would never be coming back. As the other posters have said get gassafe involved to inspect pronto. Dont part with a penny and keep taking photos from every angle and every detail. They can not continue with that instalation and you should not let them back in you house after the damage they have done.

 

[tom609]

are you having the window bricked up and if so did you say that to the company

 

[kris]

Is the window an openable one or is it permanently shut??

 

[Shaun_sdw]

are you having the window bricked up and if so did you say that to the company

No the plan was never to get the window bricked up , part of the problem is the boiler we should have had delivered was the wrong one , I originally had three places I was happy for it to go .

1) in kitchen cupboard on the wall on the side of the house ( no windows or anything near just bricks )

2) the loft - because it's not floored yet it was a no go

3)the storage cupboard - we don't use it for anything but were thinking of knocking it out possibly if we didn't fit the boiler into here , if the boiler could go in here then it would save us losing kitchen space ,

Obviously when the wrong boiler turned up option 1 was out of the window

Everyone who came out to quote said it could go in there but all said they would have to take the flue above the brick work , I thought that's what was going to happen . There is a empty void in the cupboard ceiling of about 14" I guess he just couldn't be bothered to go up and out .

if I even realised before he drilled the hole a would have asked about it .

 

[Shaun_sdw]

Is the window an openable one or is it permanently shut??

The window is permanently closed , no way of opening it what so ever

 

[Shaun_sdw]

They did come back yesterday to finish the work , if my pictures had wend up sooner on the forum and I was getting all of the advice in real time a would have took advice and not let them back , with me being new to the forum all of my posts come up as needing to be checked by a moderator so there is somewhat of a delay in posting .

I still refused to pay a penny though or fill in job sheets , sign etc , they did ask me to but I refused until the damage to the house etc is sorted, now with all of the information you guys have gave me it looks unlikely that this will be sorted anytime soon .
I have some other pictures of further work but again it won't let me post them .
I will seek advice and contact gas safe .
i cant have part of my house structurally unsafe , and if your saying its a potential fire hazard being mounted straight onto plywood this needs sorted too .

Thanks again everyone on the forum for the help and advice , I'll keep you updated with info and pictures if I can

 

[Shaun_sdw]

Most modern boilers can be?

Honestly I don't do sarcasm

how would you have fitted if not onto plywood ? I'm only asking as I really don't know . Your more than welcome to come and view it for a real close up look , I see your based in the north east , I don't know how far away you are but I could honestly do with an actual opinion . I'm in the ne28 postcode area .

p.s you can have the screwdriver

 

[SimonG]

Obviously when the wrong boiler turned up option 1 was out of the window .

Sounds like youve had a bit of a mare. Hope you get it sorted.

On a lighter note, as sometimes a little chuckle can be good medicine, your comment did make me smile. Couple inches lower and the flue would have been.

Keep us updated.

 

[stevetheplumber]

most modern boilers are cold cased an as such can be mounted on a combustible surface you could check that with manufacturers instructions but it has to be secure which your doesnt look to be
the easist way out of the situation you find your self in would be to remove the window and all frames and have the window bricked up then the boiler could be rehung onto the brick work subject to clearances being correct
i would also get some clips on the pipework

 

[kris]

The thing is because the window doesn't open and if there isn't permanent vents on the window then the being too close to window reg is fine. Like Steve said it's mostly older boilers that can be mounted onto wood. We have to do this on many occasions but even though there standard of work is terrible.

 

[stevetheplumber]

whether the window opens or not is irrelevant its the fact that they have destoyed the lintel and soldier arch

 

[plumben]

Did they ask if they could cover the window,
Both of the lintels are not structurally sound now and anything above, bricks/floor joist
Could fall down, I would strongly advise you get a structural engineer round ASPA

 

[Rickster123]

Blimey. I'm normally the first to defend tradesmen getting a rough ride but that is something else! As others have said there doesn't appear to be a lot holding the boiler on the wall. And the flue isn't screwed unless they've been back to sort that. I'd be very concerned. I'm sure there's a local guy on here who could take a look. Alternatively give gas safe a call, they will come and inspect free of charge.

 

[wetdrip]

If I remember a past post on here, I think you have to give them the option of making all good.
If not, your postcode NE28 sounds like a PUT RIGHT job for Ermi

 

[Shaun_sdw]

Did they ask if they could cover the window,
Both of the lintels are not structurally sound now and anything above, bricks/floor joist
Could fall down, I would strongly advise you get a structural engineer round ASPA

They did ask if they could cover the window yes and I wasn't too bothered about it , its in a box cupboard after all . They were supposed to however take the flue into the void above they just couldn't be bothered I guess to do it .

With the covering the window I didn't know what they would use other than them saying they would board it out , I guess that means a scrappy bit of ply wood

 

[Shaun_sdw]

Blimey. I'm normally the first to defend tradesmen getting a rough ride but that is something else! As others have said there doesn't appear to be a lot holding the boiler on the wall. And the flue isn't screwed unless they've been back to sort that. I'd be very concerned. I'm sure there's a local guy on here who could take a look. Alternatively give gas safe a call, they will come and inspect free of charge.

I had a feeling the job was going wrong somewhat hence why I contacted this forum , I am not an expert and know nothing about this trade so I reached out to you guys

they did do other work after the pictures you have seen but if you are referring to the flue being screwed to a bracket to hold its weight or something then it's not , it's floating .

 

[Shaun_sdw]

I had a feeling the job was getting worse , the job is not finished and they expected to come back to finalise things and get payments , I've said I won't confirm if they can even come back until the issue are resolved or at the very least put in writing so I gave it in black and white exactly what needs to be done , I will follow the advice of you guys and contact gas safe ASAP . I'll try to post up some pictures if it allows me but I'm unsure if it will .

the flue doesn't seal to the outside wall either so I guess it could potentially let fumes back into the house

 

[Shaun_sdw]

it looks like I can't post pictures from the ipad . If someone is active and is willing to post a couple of pictures I'll send them to your email straight away
thanks in advance