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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:
Janieforever · 05/12/2023 09:48

blackfluffycat · 05/12/2023 00:54

Hi. We have only just gone with BG.

They came to do the initial service and told us they can't insure it.

Show quote history

Ok, so everyone assumed bg have been servicing it for years. So effectively this was their first visit, they said it wasn’t safe, condemned it, and refused to out it under a service contract, that’s fair. I’d be concerned why no one else spotted it wasn’t safe? Who hace you been using?

Janieforever · 05/12/2023 09:52

SecondUsername4me · 05/12/2023 08:24

I'd suggest getting an independent boiler inspector in who specialises in the make of boiler. If you contact the brand direct they'll point you in the direction of (eg) a Baxi boiler servicer in your area. Or google could help.

It's a bit odd that BG have, in the first mo th they are your provider, have condemned it and want you to replace it (presumably via them).

Show quote history

No bg, aren’t saying they need to replace it, the op is free to replace anyone they wish to replace, they are choosing not to.

bpilers should be switched off and condemned if there is a risk to the lives of rhe people there or to the property.

https://www.boilerguide.co.uk/boilers/condemned

Has Your Boiler Been Condemned? Here's What to do Next | Boiler Guide

If your boiler has been condemned, what should you do next? Find out and perhaps get a second opinion before opting for an expensive replacement.

https://www.boilerguide.co.uk/boilers/condemned

GasPanic · 05/12/2023 11:50

The problem is without any details of exactly why this has happened it is hard to offer any opinions.

It's unclear what the problem actually is. "The pipes" are mentioned. Are the pipes why it was condemned or has the boiler itself broke ? Are "the pipes" just the reason why it is difficult to move ? Why does it have to be moved anyway and just not replaced in situ ?

Too many questions, not enough details on what actually happened.

13 years isn't a great time for a boiler to last IMO, but anything over 10 years is reasonable. Especially since the mass house builders tend to install the cheapest product they can get away with.

ImNunTheWiser · 05/12/2023 12:04

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

But all of this should have been in the quote, was it not? How much have they quoted? If you do go ahead with them then make absolutely certain they do not change the price if/when they discover they need new pipework etc that they didn't quote for. British Gas have a clause in fact, that specifically states they won't charge anymore if they find things wrong, they didn't spot before, during installation. Just make sure they stick to it.

SecondUsername4me · 05/12/2023 13:21

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

The BG engineer is arranging for a BG install quote.

Allthegoodnamesarechosen · 05/12/2023 13:34

Do you have an immersion heater Op? It’s very unusual not to have one. It is an element inside the hot water tank, often in an airing cupboard. There will be a big square switch on the wall beside it, not like plug socket, just a box with a switch and maybe a light.

It is usually off when the gas heater is on as it is cheaper to heat the water through the boiler, but it there as a back up. . You also need to check that the thermostat , which will be near the cylinder is not set too low , We run ours at 50 Degrees. There is usually a little dial like a clock with numbers on it, you turn the pointer to the setting you want.

Jewson hire space heaters , which is ultimately cheaper than buying them. Other builders merchants probably do the same thing.

Andthereyougo · 05/12/2023 13:42

blackfluffycat · 04/12/2023 07:35

I'm so confused. The water is definitely very very cold.

Is there a switch or pull cord ? Could be in the bathroom or outside ( eg my shower switch is on my bedroom wall) This has to be on for the shower to then work.

thedukeofbuckinghamshire · 05/12/2023 14:01

If they've put a sticker on and advised not to use it you can maybe still use it. If it's truly dangerous they will disconnect it so you can't use it. We had ours stickered after a regular service but he basically implied we could still use it in a nod nod/wink wink way, we did as we needed heating and hot water. When the plumber we chose came to fix it he said they'd been over cautious, just needed the filters replaced or something. I mean I don't know why they told you not to use it specifically but just our experience.

Janieforever · 05/12/2023 14:06

thedukeofbuckinghamshire · 05/12/2023 14:01

If they've put a sticker on and advised not to use it you can maybe still use it. If it's truly dangerous they will disconnect it so you can't use it. We had ours stickered after a regular service but he basically implied we could still use it in a nod nod/wink wink way, we did as we needed heating and hot water. When the plumber we chose came to fix it he said they'd been over cautious, just needed the filters replaced or something. I mean I don't know why they told you not to use it specifically but just our experience.

It’s been condemned, so they’ve completely disabled it.

GMsAWinner · 05/12/2023 14:31

I think your mistake was not getting other quotes at the same time. That would have given you differing opinions on pipework/boilers and no doubt lower quotes. However, if you'd gone with someone else, you might be waiting a lot longer (took us a month to get quotes, do a few checks ourselves and then wait for engineer we totally trusted). However, you're where you are now, so I'd phone to check their on course to do it tomorrow.

Redruby2020 · 05/12/2023 14:35

RoseDog · 04/12/2023 07:40

Your washing machine should be fine to use, they don't need hot water, they draw in cold water and heat the water.

Can you get in a local recommended gas engineer for a second opinion?

Yes I'm not understanding that bit about the washing machine.

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