for telling boiler man to not pay him until it is working...

[AliGrylls]

History - we have lived in our house for 5 years. For every year that we have lived here there has been a problem with it. DH has thrown thousands of pounds at the problem and last year we got a new one. This year it has broken again (although I am convinced DH suffers from an unrecognised condition called munchaussens boiler by proxy) as it needed a new pump. I am fed up of the bloody thing and want to tell the plumber that we won't pay him until it is working for at least a week. Would I be unreasonable to do this?

No, but he might say fuck off no can do and refuse to fix it. Can you get another plumber if he walks?

I would personally get a second opinion on the boiler and then if it suggests that the guy who fitted it is dodgy, present him with your findings. Then get someone else to fix it and think about whether to take further action against the dodgy guy.

If the reason for it breaking is nothing to do with the guy who fitted it, then no point being cross with him. Agree that he is likely to tell you to bog off if you say you're not going to pay him until it has worked for a week.

If you're in the north west I can recommend K Weir plumbing for boilers. Think he has a website.

Surely it would still be covered under warranty.

Share your pain though - we too have on-going boiler issues!

Doesn't the new boiler have a guarantee?

You could also look at the Consumer Direct pages to see what your rights are re: broken boiler. They are pretty helpful IMO and will help you write a complaint letter if required etc.

there is a chance, if you had a new boiler fitted to an old system, that the problem is due to old dirt, sediment, grit, rust and corrosion from the old pipes and radiators.

In which case it is not the repairman's fault, but it might be the fault of the installer, if he did not insist on treating this (at your expense) before fitting the new boiler; or your fault, if he pointed it out and you refused to pay for rectification. Similarly if there was a pre-existing design fault causing air to get into the water, or a leak.

On a clean system, with a Magnaclean or similar to catch the dirt, and corrosion-inhibiting chemicals to prevent more occurring, a pump should last 10 years or more.

Boiler guarantees do not cover faults caused by dirt. They sell you a clean boiler, and they don't cause the dirt.

Of course, in your case it might be something else entirely.

pigletjohn, thank you for that advice you have just helped me make my mind up over a problem withour boiler/heating system.

Ali, hope yours gets sorted soon.

It is sorted according to DH (until the next time he starts fiddling with it).

moonstone, just for my interest (sorry to soodle off topic) can you tell me what the problem was, and the likely solution?

TIA