"Clive Summerfield" wrote in message
k...

"timegoesby" wrote in message
om...
Clive Summerfield )
Date: 2005-02-01 06:10:08 PST

"http://tinyurl.com/7y8y4" wrote in message
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"Al Reynolds" wrote in message
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"Bob Eager" wrote in message
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A colleague bought a house on a new estate (from new) 2 years and
8
months ago. The main water tank is leaking, and needs
replacement
(quoted price 350 quid). The builder says he won't replace it as
it's
outside some '2 year period'.

That will be correct.

He says he's been told that NHBC doesn't cover this (I guess
it's
structure only?), but what are opinions of him getting this paid
for
(eventually) by the builder?

Very little chance.

I doubt the actual tank is leaking. Far more
likely to be one of the connections to the tank.
I bet the plumber who quoted for replacement
will be able to find one that looks *identical*.

snip

I would assess using a heat bank/thermal store that can be pulled
through
the hatch, eliminating a cold tank, giving instant hot water, high
prerssure
showers and liberating an airing cupboard. It is easy to fit as all
the
pipes are in the airing cupboard. This will bring the system uop to
date.
Cold tanks in lofts is yesterdays technology

Another option is replace the existing boiler with a high flowrate
combi,
assuming an easy change and it fits in the same cupboard.


Another classic Adam/John Curtis/IMM/Dr Evil response. The house is
less
than three years old and yet you rekon a good solution to the original
poster's problem is to replace the tank with a heat bank in the loft,
or
replace the existing boiler with a combi. Madness, utter madness!

The problem is unlikely to be a tank failure, but rather a problem
with the
installation. If the builder is being awkward, then I'd first get as
much
evidence as possible, then either DIY or pay someone to fix it. Then
take
the builder through the small claims route at court to reclaim the
costs.

Cheers
Clive

If this man is to pay £350 to fix a cold tank and then pay about £500
for a good power shower pump, fitted, then he would be better off
modernising his system with a thermal store. That is £850 in all. He
has all to gain and little, except a little extra cost, to lose.
Having a cold tank in the loft in a new house, is a builder with no
idea of current water systems.

Why is he going to pay £500 for a good shower pump? May already have one.
And why should he have to pay £350 for a cold tank that should have lasted
longer? The bottom line is that he shouldn't have to pay a penny to return
to the status quo, yet instead of helping him with his problem IMM/Dr
Evil,
and now yourself, seem determined to have him spend money on so-called
"improvements" to his existing system. Yet apart from the fact that the
house is less than three years old, that his cold tank is leaking in some
unspecified manner and thus he doesn't have a mains pressure hot water
system, you, I and all the other posters who have responded have not the
faintest idea of the actual circumstances. So to claim that solving his
original problem is going to cost £850 is more than a little disingeneous.
Compare the cost of your proposal against the cost the original poster to
restore the status quo (i.e. £0 in all probability, albeit at an initial
cost of some money to fix the tank which he should recover, if he even
needs
to pay it out in the first place).

Hang on. He said the house was guaranteed for 2 years. It is now three
years. Hard luck he has to pay £350 to stop the leak, and be no further on.

If this man has no power shower pump, which most new builds do not have,
then to get a decent shower using a £250 Stuart Turner pump, plus fittings
and labour, it is going to be over £500, more like £600-700. Alumber will
be tghere all kring doing it. Then the electrical side of it too. A
thermal store solves the two prime points of tank, and lack of decent
shower, and liberating an aring cupboard. What if he has two showers? He
will need two pumps, or a lot more money for very large pump, which is a lot
more extra cost.

The cheapest way out with all the benefits which have been outlined (full
mains pressure to all taps and showers and no silly pumps in the house), is
a new heat bank or thermal store in the loft. Replacing the tank and
putting a power shower pump in, is the pits.

You have to learn to look at the "big picture", not "oh the tanks is broke
fix it".