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Original poster

On ruddy nora. Gas boiler condemned and no money for a new one!

112 replies

edam · 08/11/2013 13:29

Arrggh etc. etc. etc. Had the gas man round today because our central heating wasn't working properly, only for him to tell us our boiler was dangerous and he had to not just switch it off but prevent it from ever being used again.

It is winter. We have no money to replace it - these things cost thousands. dh has been unemployed for a year and we have been struggling to pay the bills/living on overdrafts that were granted in happier times.

No idea what we'll do or how we'll heat the house for ds...can't borrow money as I'm sure our credit rating is shot. My family certainly don't have several thousand pounds spare they could lend us and while dh's Mother probably could, she going into a home in a couple of weeks and is not able to - too confused for it to be fair and £8k deposit required for nursing home!

I knew that single magpie I saw this morning was bad news...

OP posts:
FuckyNell · 08/11/2013 14:14

This happened to me. It wasn't condemned at all - just old!!! I was able to get soneone to fix it. Get an independent in. I will never never ever never never never ever use British gas again. Dirty filthy rotten thieving bastards.

Grin
Talkinpeace · 08/11/2013 14:14

edam
If some of your rads are very hot then the boiler is working fine.

your stystem needs flushing and the lockshields checking and then some TRVs fitted

pigletjohn on the Property/DIY board is a plumber ...

rust on the outside of a boiler means very little.

cottoncandy · 08/11/2013 14:14

I would definitely get a second opinion, just in case.. fingers crossed for you!

We had a British Gas contract too, but it was in their interests to repair the boiler or they would have had to replace it under the Homecare contract...

farrowandbawl · 08/11/2013 14:15

Go on recommend a builder.com.

Find a plumber, tell him the issue and it'll be done today or tomorrow and cost naff all.

FuckyNell · 08/11/2013 14:15

It may be in your case that it really does need replacing. Get it checked though as a second opinion.

FruitbatAuntie · 08/11/2013 14:16

Oh god, we had this happen in December, with a premature newborn in the house, during the coldest winter for decades. It was awful - no hot water and the house was about 5 degrees at night!

Due to a bad credit rating, we couldn't get a loan or buy one on pay monthly etc. Due to us not being on any relevant benefits, we weren't eligible for any free schemes in our area.

We applied for a crisis loan, and were told there was no money available to help us (they don't even exist now I don't think). No family to help out either.

In the end we had to sell the car, which caused a nightmare as DP used it in his business and our eldest's school is several miles away with little public transport!

For a 2 bed terrace we paid £1800 for the boiler and fitting.

Hope you can sort it out and can get some help.

Talkinpeace · 08/11/2013 14:18

edam have messaged PigletJohn for you - the cavalry will appear some time this afternoon :-)

but DO NOT let them sell you a new boiler (yet)

farrowandbawl · 08/11/2013 14:19

Mumsnet to the rescue!

PeppermintBark · 08/11/2013 14:19

I would not take what British Gas service contract engineers say at face value all the time. We had a problem with our heating, so called them out under the service contract to look at it. Their answer was that it required a power flush, which of course wasn't included as part of the service contract (and was not cheap). Moreover, if we didn't have it done, they wouldn't continue to honour the contract.

The house was being rented out at the time (we were working out of the country) and our letting agent said that British Gas were well known for this and that the heating engineer they retained To do jobs for them usually found that it was something completely different. We got their engineer out, he found the problem, fixed it and we cancelled the British Gas service contract.

FeisMom · 08/11/2013 14:21

As soon as I read your thread title I guessed it would be BG.

They write off lots of stuff either because they don't have the breadth of knowledge to repair them / can't be arsed getting parts and rebooking a call as it costs too much money / want to flog you a new boiler.

IIWY I would get an independent gas safe engineer in to look at it.

AtticusMcPlatypus · 08/11/2013 14:21

Are you in receipt of any benefits where you might be entitled to a free boiler grant? I became aware of this is it is being heavily promoted in our area. This link gives all the info on who to contact etc.

www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/free-cavity-loft-insulation

ElfontheShelfIsWATCHINGYOUTOO · 08/11/2013 14:22

I also sense alarm bells.

We were told years ago our very very old boiler should be condemned by the man who came to service it.

It has been running fine then we had a scare with it,we got someone out of the local paper who almost without looking at it said its condemned.

Then My brothers mate came round, old boy been doing this all his life, took it apart said its clean as a whislte and should have many years left in it yet.

So yes, please get second opinion.

Suddengeekgirl · 08/11/2013 14:24

Yes! Ignore British Gas!

We had a radiator that wouldn't heat up. British gas wanted £700 to flush the pipes. Shock
Local plumber found the problem and fixed it for about £60! No power flushing required. :)

Pooka · 08/11/2013 14:25

Did the boiler man give a specific condemnation sheet - telling you exactly which part of the regs the boiler doesn't comply with any more?

I would second getting a second opinion from an independent gas safe registered engineer.

Original poster
edam · 08/11/2013 15:09

Thanks everyone, plenty of stuff to think about here.
Talkin, the rust was inside the boiler as in, the gasman took off the faceplate. Not inside as in taking the whole thing apart (I imagine, I wasn't there).

OP posts:
Original poster
edam · 08/11/2013 15:10

Oh, and pooka, I wasn't there but I'll ask dh for the sheet...

OP posts:
HettiePetal · 08/11/2013 15:21

Edam

CHECK THIS OUT

ElfontheShelfIsWATCHINGYOUTOO · 08/11/2013 15:24

who is this fabled.....piglet john Confused

Original poster
edam · 08/11/2013 15:32

Thanks Hettie, but we aren't on benefits - dh has just, this week, started a new contract after being out of work for a year. So we don't have £££ yet but equally don't qualify for help via that scheme.

Anyway, this thread has given me plenty of things to look into... thanks everyone!

OP posts:
HettiePetal · 08/11/2013 15:39

Really? You don't get tax credits?

What a shame. Thought I'd sorted it all out for you....my good deed of the day Wink.

That's the one good thing about renting. LL has to sort this kind of thing out.

Good luck. Really hope you find a solution :)

Original poster
edam · 08/11/2013 15:55

thanks sweetie - I think we might well qualify for tax credits, but haven't applied, because what with dh being out of work we didn't have any childcare. And could just about almost stretch to the end of the month if nothing went wrong...

OP posts:
Fenton · 08/11/2013 16:07

You might still qualify at least for a partial grant (?)

I hope it limps along until you get it sorted.

M&D had a similar thing, British Gas cancelled the service contract with them because the boiler was old and no longer complied with regs. It would have carried on for years more I reckon, but Dad went ahead and had a new one installed, - now the new one isn't compatible with the old rads. Hmm

fluffiphlox · 08/11/2013 16:21

Sounds like the thermostats on the radiator valves might have struck. Have heard tell that a whack from a hammer can unstick the pin inside but don't take my advice, get a second opinion.
New boiler: £2k plus, new valve: £15 or thereabouts.

digerd · 08/11/2013 16:33

It could just mean the cold rads need bleeding air out of them, but ime it is the thermostats that have slipped - old ones- or new TRVs getting stuck.
If you have just one rad changed, the whole lot may need balancing if some are at a lower temperature - ie. the lock shield valves adjusting.< the ones on the opposite side to the thermostat valves.

The boiler must be examined to make a comment on how bad it is, but to be condemned is rare.

DaleyBump · 08/11/2013 16:36

Get a second opinion!

Might be pointless but British Gas condemned our boiler in the middle of winter and we got a second opinion on it - boiler was fine and we got another five years out of it. They were just trying to get us to buy another boiler Angry