Old combi boiler (c2006) needs to be replaced.

There are two local installers for the boiler I have in mind, both
approved by the manufacturer:

1) A one man band

2) A company with several gas safe engineers

Pros and cons? Any views?

--
AnthonyL

Why ever wait to finish a job before starting the next?

On 13/04/2024 02:09, Graham. wrote:
> nospam@please.invalid (AnthonyL) Wrote in message:
>> Old combi boiler (c2006) needs to be replaced.There are two local installers for the boiler I have in mind, bothapproved by the manufacturer:1) A one man band2) A company with several gas safe engineersPros and cons? Any views? -- AnthonyLWhy ever wait to finish a job before starting the next?
>
>>
>>
> I'd prefer to deal with the sole trader.
> At least you'd know the guy who surveys your property, agrees with
> you what is going where, and gives you a quote, is the same one
> who will actually do the work.
> Also a personal recommendation (if that's what you've got) is much
> more meaningful when applied to an individual.

My replacement boiler was by a local company with a couple of gas safe
engineers. Total number of staff in the company = 2.

I had a written quote detailing* all the work I specified and what was
recommended. Type of boiler, moving the boiler to a new location,
changing from an open system with a loft tank to a sealed system,
removal of redundant pipework and associated tanks etc., disposal of all
waste including old boiler, power flush of CH system, addition of
corrosion inhibitor .....

The installer also arranged the manufacturers guarantee and building
control notification.

The question about the possibility of an asbestos flue lining in a
chimney was raised but in the old boiler location the chimney was lined
with stainless steel. I did note that the old boiler (30+ years)
disposal was passed on to a third party.

The company came by recommendation but I had to wait a good number of
weeks for the install because they were so busy. The installation,
flush and commissioning took 1.5 days.

I believe these days a new boiler requires a house heat loss check to be
made so it can be correctly sized. Historically a lot of boilers were
oversized and a lot of properties now have better insulation than when a
20+ year old boiler was fitted. A new boiler is not necessarily a like
for like with the old boiler and may not work efficiently if oversized.

*The owner of the company who provided the quote did most of the list on
his computer while on my premises discussing the job. Apart from a
signed paper copy of the quote all communication was via email and text
(text reminders of the time/date of installation). Invoice was via email
and payment via BACs.

--
mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk

On Sat, 13 Apr 2024 02:09:41 +0100 (GMT+01:00), "Graham. "
<graham-usenet@mail.com> wrote:

> nospam@please.invalid (AnthonyL) Wrote in message:
>> Old combi boiler (c2006) needs to be replaced.There are two local installers for the boiler I have in mind, bothapproved by the manufacturer:1) A one man band2) A company with several gas safe engineersPros and cons? Any views?

>
>>
>>
>I'd prefer to deal with the sole trader.
>At least you'd know the guy who surveys your property, agrees with
> you what is going where, and gives you a quote, is the same one
> who will actually do the work.
>Also a personal recommendation (if that's what you've got) is much
> more meaningful when applied to an individual.

From my experience with personal recommendations for boiler servicing
I've come to a conclusion that Joe Public doesn't have (much of) a
clue. That seems to apply to recommendations for most things that
require a bit of specialised knowledge. I was fairly set on taking up
a golfing associate's recommendation and the engineer came out to have
a look at the problem I was experiencing. We broadly discussed a
Worcester Bosch replacement (he was accredited). I emailed him to
clarify some of the pre-install procedures which I hadn't quite
followed and about 6 weeks later he responded with "happy to come
round and explain it all at �50/hr" !!!

Anyway, I've drifted off-topic. What happens with 10yr guarantees
such as WB offer if the original installer is no longer around? Or
what happens if you need to call out the sole trader because of a
fault and he's on holiday/sick/busy?

--
AnthonyL

Why ever wait to finish a job before starting the next?

On Sat, 13 Apr 2024 07:30:15 +0100, alan_m <junk@admac.myzen.co.uk>
wrote:

>On 13/04/2024 02:09, Graham. wrote:
>> nospam@please.invalid (AnthonyL) Wrote in message:
>>> Old combi boiler (c2006) needs to be replaced.There are two local installers for the boiler I have in mind, bothapproved by the manufacturer:1) A one man band2) A company with several gas safe engineersPros and cons? Any views? -- AnthonyLWhy ever wait to finish a job before starting the next?
>>
>>>
>>>
>> I'd prefer to deal with the sole trader.
>> At least you'd know the guy who surveys your property, agrees with
>> you what is going where, and gives you a quote, is the same one
>> who will actually do the work.
>> Also a personal recommendation (if that's what you've got) is much
>> more meaningful when applied to an individual.
>
>My replacement boiler was by a local company with a couple of gas safe
>engineers. Total number of staff in the company = 2.
>
>I had a written quote detailing* all the work I specified and what was
>recommended. Type of boiler, moving the boiler to a new location,
>changing from an open system with a loft tank to a sealed system,
>removal of redundant pipework and associated tanks etc., disposal of all
>waste including old boiler, power flush of CH system, addition of
>corrosion inhibitor .....
>
>The installer also arranged the manufacturers guarantee and building
>control notification.
>
>The question about the possibility of an asbestos flue lining in a
>chimney was raised but in the old boiler location the chimney was lined
>with stainless steel. I did note that the old boiler (30+ years)
>disposal was passed on to a third party.
>
>The company came by recommendation but I had to wait a good number of
>weeks for the install because they were so busy. The installation,
>flush and commissioning took 1.5 days.
>
>I believe these days a new boiler requires a house heat loss check to be
>made so it can be correctly sized. Historically a lot of boilers were
>oversized and a lot of properties now have better insulation than when a
>20+ year old boiler was fitted. A new boiler is not necessarily a like
>for like with the old boiler and may not work efficiently if oversized.
>
>*The owner of the company who provided the quote did most of the list on
>his computer while on my premises discussing the job. Apart from a
>signed paper copy of the quote all communication was via email and text
>(text reminders of the time/date of installation). Invoice was via email
>and payment via BACs.
>

Sounds good. Not in the East Midlands/Nottigham area by any chance?

The plan is to have the install over late spring/summer hence starting
now.

--
AnthonyL

Why ever wait to finish a job before starting the next?

In message <661a66f2.251470781@news.eternal-september.org>, AnthonyL
<nospam@please.invalid> writes
>Anyway, I've drifted off-topic. What happens with 10yr guarantees
>such as WB offer if the original installer is no longer around? Or
>what happens if you need to call out the sole trader because of a
>fault and he's on holiday/sick/busy?
>

I had a WB boiler installed ~5 years ago by a small local firm (nowhere
near the East Midlands). That came with a 10 year warranty. A few
months later, it developed a fault. I contacted the installer who
looked at it and said "warranty issue". He got hold of WB who sent
someone out to fix it. So I'm making a bit of an assumption that WB
will sort out the warranty issues regardless of whether or not the
installer is still around.

Adrian
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On 13/04/2024 12:15, AnthonyL wrote:

> Sounds good. Not in the East Midlands/Nottigham area by any chance?

No, sorry. I'm sure the company I would recommend would not travel from
SE Essex :)

--
mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk

On 13/04/2024 12:13, AnthonyL wrote:

> Anyway, I've drifted off-topic. What happens with 10yr guarantees
> such as WB offer if the original installer is no longer around? Or
> what happens if you need to call out the sole trader because of a
> fault and he's on holiday/sick/busy?

My 10 year boiler guarantee is from the manufacturer (2 years for the
other work carried by the installer). The small print in the guarantee
is that the boiler must be serviced annually.

--
mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk

On Sat, 13 Apr 2024 13:27:02 +0100, alan_m <junk@admac.myzen.co.uk>
wrote:

>On 13/04/2024 12:13, AnthonyL wrote:
>
>> Anyway, I've drifted off-topic. What happens with 10yr guarantees
>> such as WB offer if the original installer is no longer around? Or
>> what happens if you need to call out the sole trader because of a
>> fault and he's on holiday/sick/busy?
>
>My 10 year boiler guarantee is from the manufacturer (2 years for the
>other work carried by the installer). The small print in the guarantee
>is that the boiler must be serviced annually.
>

Good to know. Reading up a bit there is apparently a difference
between guarantee and warranty. I would intend to have the boiler
install and service such that the 10yr guarantee applies if for no
other reason than to ensure my wife has no problems in that time
period if I'm not around to deal with things.

--
AnthonyL

Why ever wait to finish a job before starting the next?