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Property/DIY

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Original poster

Bastard boiler!

19 replies

GeetTallBird · 22/02/2012 19:32

It grinds, clanks, groans and whirrs all day and night, on a 12 second cycle, can't have a bath in peace, does anybody think switching the fecking thing off overnight will get us a night's peaceful sleep?
Of course it's just started since OH left so any advice would be great.

(Waiting for heating fella to ring me back but it will probably be tomorrow)

OP posts:

PigletJohn · 22/02/2012 19:43

make and model?

age of the boiler, and the rest of the system?

does it have a pressure gauge on the front?

is is getting the rads and taps hot?

Original poster

GeetTallBird · 22/02/2012 19:58

Vaillant 804, installed 09, pressure is on 1.5, radiators are hot and water is taking a while to come through. It's the noise that's awful!

OP posts:

PigletJohn · 22/02/2012 21:09

sorry I don't know.

At first I thought it would be to do with ignition sequence, but then it wouldn't be getting hot.

southeastastra · 22/02/2012 21:14

it's knackered

maybe air in the pipes?

southeastastra · 22/02/2012 21:15

piglet suprised that you're giving up so easy?

PigletJohn · 22/02/2012 21:18

probably not, as it's pressurised and sealed. Air would tend to accumulate at the tops of the rads

I wonder if it's the fan motor? that could whirr and rumble if the bearings are worn, but it's only three years old. Same with the pump, assuming it was installed on a clean system it should not be worn out yet. Both would only run when there was a demand for heat, not all the time.

Original poster

GeetTallBird · 22/02/2012 22:08

It's driving me demented ! I am going to have to sleep with radio on or turn off the heating...turning it off will be ok won't it?

OP posts:

PigletJohn · 22/02/2012 22:29

unlikely. though if it is a worn-out motor it might possibly seize if left idle.

Vaillant are a good boiler so with luck your local mender should be able to get a replacement part easily.

fossil97 · 22/02/2012 22:30

You could try ringing Vaillant, they do have a technical helpline. Boiler doesn't sound old enough to be worn out but has obviously developed a fault.

Can't see any problem with turning it off overnight if you can manage without heating TBH.

nomoreminibreaks · 22/02/2012 22:40

Have you bled the radiators? I think that can cause noise with air in the system. Also our old one (23yrs old when we replaced it!) made a lot of noise and it needed a new diaphragm, which was a cheap job.

R2PeePoo · 22/02/2012 22:46

Have you had it serviced recently?

Ours had this problem and we had it installed in 2010.

It started leaking and we called out British Gas and the gas mix had drifted which was causing vibrations in the system and in our case had vibrated a cable loose. Gas man returned it to factory settings and refitted the pipe and the boiler has been noticeably quieter.

We were told off for not having an annual service and not having it done meant that our two year new boiler guarantee was invalidated.

Original poster

GeetTallBird · 25/02/2012 22:49

No it was last serviced in 2009 when we moved in. Since then OH has left and I am wearing all the technical hats in the house :( and it never crossed my mind!

OP posts:

R2PeePoo · 26/02/2012 00:18

It didn't occur to us either and we didn't realise the boiler guarantee was invalidated either until we read the small print with water dripping through the ceiling! That was a big 'grown up' moment. We have been homeowners for eleven years and had no idea.

British Gas Homecare is around £20 a month, we called them up as new customers when it started leaking and they offered us a fixed price repair (£99 including labour and parts and any repeat visits) as long as we signed up for Homecare. They come out really quickly-in our case 8.45am on a Sunday and prioritise homes with little ones. An annual service is included in the price plus any repairs plus accidental damage cover. They also replace your boiler if they can't fix it and its less than 7 years old.

I hope you have it sorted now.
x

Original poster

GeetTallBird · 26/02/2012 21:16

Many thanks for your reply, I will look at boiler insurance for the future!! Ex H has contacted a mate who will fix tomorrow, no heating now but at least the awful noise has stopped

OP posts:

Original poster

GeetTallBird · 26/02/2012 21:17

£99 and they would replace the boiler providing you sign up to homecare? That sounds tempting ...

OP posts:

PigletJohn · 26/02/2012 21:21

it sounds unlikely as well.

Would they make any money on that?

Seona1973 · 26/02/2012 21:38

from BG terms and conditions:

? Whether or not we installed your boiler, if we agree that your
boiler is less than seven years old we will provide a suitable new
replacement boiler approved by us if it is not possible to repair
yours because, for example, spare parts are not available, or we
decide that it would cost more to repair the boiler than to replace it

Original poster

GeetTallBird · 26/02/2012 21:45

Ahhh!

OP posts:

PigletJohn · 26/02/2012 22:24

www.britishgas.co.uk/products-and-services/boilers-and-central-heating/cover/homecare/homecare-400.html

"There are a few exceptions
Cosmetic or third party damage.
Design or pre-existing faults
System improvements e.g. Adding an additional radiator.
Removal/damage caused by sludge/scale
Tap replacement/shower repairs.
Stopcock and water supply pipe to the property.
Shared drains.
Electrical appliances.
Outside lights and lights not attached to outbuildings"

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