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Original poster

British Gas turned out boiler off 22 Nov

86 replies

blackfluffycat · 04/12/2023 07:26

It's December and snowing. No Hot water, Heating or Washer for nearly 2 weeks.

No problems with boiler. Just had a routine service. The engineer advised us not to use it and switched it off. They sent someone out on the Friday (24th) to give us a quote for a new one.

I asked when it could be done he said it could be done the following week.

It's booked in for this Wednesday but they don't even know where it's going. Whether they need new piping to go upstairs and remove the floor boards so it might not even be Wednesday.

Am I expecting too much?

I know I can't do anything about it and they will be busy but it's been really difficult for us to have a shower and wash clothes never mind the cold. DDs are 11 and 13 so not babies but still.

Thanks.

it won’t let me edit the title. “Our” not “Out”

OP posts:
MooseAndSquirrelLoveFlannel · 04/12/2023 07:46

We had no heating for 2 years, which included the beast from the east year and its miserable. We survived with lots of electric heaters and used timer plugs.

If your shower is electric, it'll be fine but you will probably need to turn up the heat as its cold pipes..ditto with the washing machine, they use cold water anyway.

You can manage this, just tackle one issue at a time. If you can, today, go and buy more heaters and timer plugs.

Zippedydoodahday · 04/12/2023 07:47

Do you need to use British Gas? Can you not use a local engineer?

madeinmanc · 04/12/2023 07:47

OP, I live in an all-electric house. I've found the best heaters are oil-filled radiators with a thermostat. They are safer than other heaters like fan heaters etc. that can fall over. Bear in mind all electric heaters are expensive to run compared with gas central heating.

Wear layers in the house, a natural fibre base layer such as 100% cotton long sleeved top is best with other things layered over. Merino is excellent but v. expensive. A gilet can help too, if you can afford it or borrow one off someone. Down would be best but any gilet would help.

Hot water bottles are also good, and wearing tights under trousers although this can be a bit sweaty.

JoanThursday · 04/12/2023 07:48

Having just come out the shower and flicked shower switch, have you checked this? Some people keep them all the time, others flick them on/off each time they shower. Likely to be just outside the bathroom door - if the boiler is in your bathroom, the boiler engineer could have turned everything off when servicing.

(Just trying to think laterally - ignore if not appropriate!)

WinterNamechange · 04/12/2023 07:51

I would get a second opinion on the boiler - BG once told us our boiler was unsafe as it was so old that it wasn't possible to get spare parts for but any more, but it still worked fine. You maybe able to get one more winter out of it if it is not actually leaking and genuinely unsafe.

fluffiphlox · 04/12/2023 07:56

Modern washing machines are cold fill only and even if not they will work. Get another plumbing/heating firm out to look at the boiler. Buy or borrow some heaters for the interim.

cakeorwine · 04/12/2023 07:59

I had this during a cold January. Luckily we had an electric shower so we could shower. Boil hot water for washing.

We also got some electric heaters. DS took advantage of a heater in his room with temperature control. We also got some electric throws.

It took over a few weeks to get the right new part and to get it working. We coped but expensive with power.

Luckily, we now have the equipment in the house if it happens again

ohtowinthelottery · 04/12/2023 08:00

Just wondering if the 'electric' shower is actually a power shower. We have an electric shower in one bathroom which works independently of the boiler but in our other bathroom the box on the wall is just a pump to pump the water off the hot/cold water tank - so if there's no hot water you get a cold shower.

I've never had dealings with British Gas as I always use an independent plumber for my boiler but just because a boiler is 14 years old doesn't mean it's condemned - ours is 20 years old and works fine. Did the engineer actually say that there is a fault with the boiler?

ZombieBoob · 04/12/2023 08:10

Have you got a diagnosis of autism? I only ask as if your classed as disabled as brittish gas are ment to provide alternative heat sources if your gas isn't working like heaters. also if you have young kids.

MissyB1 · 04/12/2023 08:15

Post us a picture of your shower if possible.

DyslexicPoster · 04/12/2023 08:16

I think I'd want to know why it's been condemned. Not helpful but my friends boiler was switched off after a service. They knew the reason and switched it back on as in her safe it was safe to do so. However if you don't know why it was condemned you can't do that obviously as it wouldn't be safe

tanstaafl · 04/12/2023 08:53

an electric shower would have its own ‘fuse’ labelled in the ‘fuse box’.

( ‘circuit breaker’ and ‘consumer unit’ in electrician speak ).

Original poster
blackfluffycat · 04/12/2023 09:13

ZombieBoob · 04/12/2023 08:10

Have you got a diagnosis of autism? I only ask as if your classed as disabled as brittish gas are ment to provide alternative heat sources if your gas isn't working like heaters. also if you have young kids.

Yes have a diagnosis but husband won't tell them.

OP posts:
Original poster
blackfluffycat · 04/12/2023 09:14

Thanks. I just went on what my husband said re shower and washer.

OP posts:
Newestname002 · 04/12/2023 09:17

@blackfluffycat

Yes have a diagnosis but husband won't tell them.

But you can, OP.

Also tell them that you have children, in case that helps. 🌹

PrimoPancake · 04/12/2023 09:20

blackfluffycat · 04/12/2023 09:13

Yes have a diagnosis but husband won't tell them.

Show quote history

You can tell them using an online form.

Tick Other and add autism in the comments box here : -

https://www.britishgas.co.uk/energy/priority-services-register.html

Priority Services Register - British Gas

https://www.britishgas.co.uk/energy/priority-services-register.html

madeinmanc · 04/12/2023 09:21

OP, did the gas man leave a note when he condemned the boiler? Maybe you could post it with personal details blocked out? Someone might be able to make sense of it.

margotrose · 04/12/2023 09:36

blackfluffycat · 04/12/2023 09:13

Yes have a diagnosis but husband won't tell them.

Show quote history

Then tell them yourself.

You're classed as vulnerable and shouldn't be left without heating and hot water.

GasPanic · 04/12/2023 10:26

Gas appliances get condemned all the time, so it is not unusual. And they are also condemned for a reason.

Maybe a bigger question is why installing your new boiler requires additional work on pipes etc and is proving so difficult for them to spec.

In general it should just be a simple swap out to replace the old one for the new one.

It gets more complex if they are swapping out an older boiler for a newer one (non condensing to condensing) as you need additional stuff adding like a condensate drain. Also if you are changing from a system to a combi boiler.

Maybe there is something wrong with the original installation, but without additional details and reports it is hard to tell.

fetchacloth · 04/12/2023 10:48

WinterNamechange · 04/12/2023 07:51

I would get a second opinion on the boiler - BG once told us our boiler was unsafe as it was so old that it wasn't possible to get spare parts for but any more, but it still worked fine. You maybe able to get one more winter out of it if it is not actually leaking and genuinely unsafe.

Edited

I did the same a few years ago when I was still with BG and a second opinion and boiler repair from another heating engineer tided me over for the remainder of that winter.
However the engineer confirmed that replacement parts were becoming obsolete for the boiler and advised me to replace the boiler in time for the following winter, which I did.

When I obtained quotes for the replacement boiler, BG quote was more than double the quotes from other providers, so beware going to BG for your new boiler 😊

Original poster
blackfluffycat · 04/12/2023 11:38

@PrimoPancake ❤️❤️❤️

There is no name on the shower it's just a silver horizontal bar.

OP posts:
Original poster
blackfluffycat · 04/12/2023 11:43

@PrimoPancake I don't think I fell into any of those categories. Well I do the mental health and needing someone with me but I don't usually tell people those.

OP posts:
Janieforever · 04/12/2023 11:46

We had this and it’s shit, but legally they need to condemn if it’s unsafe, they can’t risk your life, they have no choice, of course it’s then up to you who you replace with, you don’t need to use British Gas, you can use any company, but at this time of year many will be busy.

you should have got multiple quotes and understood the job.

Original poster
blackfluffycat · 04/12/2023 11:46

We had to go either BG as we gave it on finance.

He said to fix the boiler, work new pipes etc will cost same as getting a new one.

The wrong size pipes were put in so need new ones.

OP posts:
Original poster
blackfluffycat · 04/12/2023 11:48

Janieforever · 04/12/2023 11:46

We had this and it’s shit, but legally they need to condemn if it’s unsafe, they can’t risk your life, they have no choice, of course it’s then up to you who you replace with, you don’t need to use British Gas, you can use any company, but at this time of year many will be busy.

you should have got multiple quotes and understood the job.

I told gave DH some numbers but they all said they wanted £70-£85 to come out and look

OP posts: