Urgent advice needed about hot water

[BobbyJoe]

The hot water was okay for the first day but into the second day the same pattern emerged of itchy and skin dry/chapped around ears/eyelids and hands. The only thing which seems to help is when I turn the cold-water inlet stopcock (clockwise) which lessens the hot water pressure in the flat. When I turn it clockwise the hot water pressure is low but my skin feels better so I will keep it in that position because with too much hot water pressure it causes havoc on my skin. The following actions were carried out on the boiler, please let me know if I am missing something because I am going mental:

Filling loop was disconnected
Left side valve of the filling loop was turned to the off position (fully clockwise) as previously it was turned the wrong way around.
The stopcock under the sink turns the cold and hot water on/off in the kitchen and only the hot water in the bathroom on/off.
The cold water in the bathroom is managed by the storage tank in the building because I live in a 4-storey flat and only the council can turn it off.
The boiler is going into its 4rth year (no servicing been done since it was installed/no change of washing powder)
Cold water inlet stopcock is turned almost fully clockwise low hot water pressure however skin is not as dry. The cold-water inlet stopcock on the boiler controls the hot water is that correct because I was running the hot water tap and then turned it on and off using the stopcock so I presume this is right?
The boiler has a wireless thermostat which controls the heating and two modes such as summer time/winter time function, I don't know how to program it properly not sure if this helps.

I think I will need to get a gas engineer/boiler specialist to come and check that everything is in the right place because I don’t think I can live here anymore it isn’t worth the hassle and I know I will lose my deposit but 6 months of painful/peeling skin is enough.

Thank you to everyone your help has been invaluable.

Photos illustrate what the boiler and its components looks like at present.

 

[joni os]

Sorry to hear problem not solved. The one step you can take is to avoid hot water via the boiler for a week, and see if your skin improves. Boil a kettle for your hot water needs, and shower by mixing boiled and cold water in a large bucket and a small jug to pour as you stand in bath. Keep daily notes because, if problem persists, this will help with diagnosis. Try to get knowledgeable, independent assessment of your skin condition, (Practice nurse at your surgery).

 

[BobbyJoe]

Thank you I will give it a try and see what happens and Gasmk1 believe you me I wouldn't be on this forum unless I was really suffering and am not looking for or creating problems but I appreciate your input as of course all of this comes across mind boggling.

I have been seeing my G.P for months who is also baffled and despite the many types of ointments and medication prescribed nothing has helped, he suggested I get the boiler checked out and make sure all the valves are correctly placed etc.... My G.P looked up the type of rash and said it looked like it was similar to that of a 'Fracking rash' caused by gas' as it looks like it is burning off (itches a layer off until you see pink flesh) and said to make sure the central heating water isn't going into the hot water supply and he assumes something hasn't been correctly placed in or is coming in the wrong way in/out.

Therefore I will get an engineer to check it all out any advice or list of criteria the engineer must check just so I know that it has been 100 % assessed correctly as I will need to pay for this.

In the mean time I will improvise in boiling water and will keep a record of that, (thank you Joni os) for that tip as this will help for now.

 

[joni os]

Don't pay for heating engineer until you've eliminated all other casual effects by washing, (bucket and jug), for week. If doctor can then verify improvement in skin condition, ask doctor to write to landlord. With filling loop detached, the primary water in the boiler is totally separated from the domestic hot water supply. Keep an open mind, but work with your doctor to get this resolved.

 

[BobbyJoe]

Will do thanks Joni, out of interest how much would an engineer cost for a call out for this type of situation?
The irony is my landlord is an engineer, I would not be surprised if he installed the boiler himself due to the fact he gave me a non existent plumber number when I asked for the boiler installers detail, he seemed reluctant to provide it and I searched online for the name and number of the plumber nothing came up.

 

[Riley]

Do you have the instructions for the boiler if so there should be a benchmark commissioning certificate in the back of it which will have been completed by the installing engineer

 

[BobbyJoe]

Yes I have the instruction manual which I have been using as guidance as well as the advice of forum users. There is a checklist page at the back which is blank and another page which the engineer is meant to sign/stamp which is also blank, no signed or stamped papers all are blank.
The flat didn't have a boiler in 2013 and it had a gas fire a few years ago and black water tank (now empty/disused) in the storage cupboard but the landlord changed it and got central heating put in along with the boiler. I looked at the pipes in the storage cupboard some have been cut off which probably don't mean anything.

 

[joni os]

Hi BobbyJoe , want to get at cause of your problem but don't want you to spend money with no result. An inspection or service of the boiler is unlikely to give answers. Worse the boiler belongs to your landlord, and having work done to it might not only contravene the terms of your tenancy but could absolve the landlord of his responsibilities. Have patience and if doctor can confirm skin condition improves when using kettle boiled hot water and not hot water from combi. then this is strong circumstantial evidence that combi is to blame. If skin condition persists attention should be focused on cold water supply. In either case the support of your doctor to confirm something at the premises is the probable cause of your condition, should enable you to cancel tenancy, "BY MUTUAL AGREEMENT", and get deposit returned. Keep notes, and confirm all conversations with landlord in writing.

 

[Riley]

Doesn't sound like your boilers been commissioned properly

 

[BobbyJoe]

I have started to use the water from the kitchen tap to clean etc...by boiling it using the kettle. I washed my face with boiled water and mixed it with cold tap water and it had a weird smell to it like bleach.