Hello,

When I recently moved house, I kept my old house and rented it out.
It's my first experience as a landlord and things have not got off to
a good start ;(

Just before we left, the Glowworm combi boiler (model compact 100e)
packed-up and the cause was a bypass valve which had to be replaced by
a plumber for many pounds.

Today I had a phone call saying that now the CH works but not the HW.
I have phoned around a few plumbers from the Yellow pages and they all
seem to loose interest the minute I say "combi". Why is that? What is
so frightening about combi boilers?

A chap is going to visit this afternoon but he thinks it may be the
diverter valve and says it costs £190 for the part, plus £60 call out
plus £60 labour. Ouch!

I understand the boiler is discontinued. I don't know how old it is
exactly but it was there when I moved in in 2001, so at least 7 years
old. What is the life span of a boiler and since it seems to be
falling to pieces, would it be cheaper to rip it out and fit a new
one?

Whenever someone asks about gas, they seem to be politely reminded
that if they don't know, they shouldn't touch. I quite agree but how
can people learn if they don't ask questions? I have never worked on
gas and I don't intend to but I would like to learn a bit more so that
when the plumber says part x needs replacing for y pounds, it would be
nice to know what x does and whether it really needs replacing and
whether it really is worth y pounds. Where can I learn more?

Thanks very much in advance.

Fred wrote:
Hello,

When I recently moved house, I kept my old house and rented it out.
It's my first experience as a landlord and things have not got off to
a good start ;(

Just before we left, the Glowworm combi boiler (model compact 100e)
packed-up and the cause was a bypass valve which had to be replaced by
a plumber for many pounds.

Today I had a phone call saying that now the CH works but not the HW.
I have phoned around a few plumbers from the Yellow pages and they all
seem to loose interest the minute I say "combi". Why is that? What is
so frightening about combi boilers?

A chap is going to visit this afternoon but he thinks it may be the
diverter valve and says it costs £190 for the part, plus £60 call out
plus £60 labour. Ouch!

I understand the boiler is discontinued. I don't know how old it is
exactly but it was there when I moved in in 2001, so at least 7 years
old. What is the life span of a boiler and since it seems to be
falling to pieces, would it be cheaper to rip it out and fit a new
one?

Whenever someone asks about gas, they seem to be politely reminded
that if they don't know, they shouldn't touch. I quite agree but how
can people learn if they don't ask questions? I have never worked on
gas and I don't intend to but I would like to learn a bit more so that
when the plumber says part x needs replacing for y pounds, it would be
nice to know what x does and whether it really needs replacing and
whether it really is worth y pounds. Where can I learn more?

Thanks very much in advance.

My impression is that combis are a landlord's nightmare. I'd get a new
model fitted and have it covered by insurance. £200 quid out of your
rental income every year but at least you don't have to get involved if
it breaks down.

On Wed, 16 Apr 2008 12:27:53 GMT, Fred
wrote:


Whenever someone asks about gas, they seem to be politely reminded
that if they don't know, they shouldn't touch. I quite agree but how
can people learn if they don't ask questions? I have never worked on

proper training. which doesn't mean dismantle it yourself, poke about
with a screwdriver, miss tightening a valve up and blwoing half the
street up.

gas and I don't intend to but I would like to learn a bit more so that
when the plumber says part x needs replacing for y pounds, it would be
nice to know what x does and whether it really needs replacing and
whether it really is worth y pounds. Where can I learn more?


http://www.corgi-direct.com/become-an-installer.aspx
hth

Thanks very much in advance.
--
http://www.orderonlinepickupinstore.co.uk
Ah fetch it yourself if you can't wait for delivery
http://www.freedeliveryuk.co.uk
http://www.holidayunder100.co.uk

On Wed, 16 Apr 2008 12:27:53 +0000, Fred wrote:

Hello,

When I recently moved house, I kept my old house and rented it out. It's
my first experience as a landlord and things have not got off to a good
start ;(

Just before we left, the Glowworm combi boiler (model compact 100e)
packed-up and the cause was a bypass valve which had to be replaced by a
plumber for many pounds.

Today I had a phone call saying that now the CH works but not the HW. I
have phoned around a few plumbers from the Yellow pages and they all
seem to loose interest the minute I say "combi". Why is that? What is so
frightening about combi boilers?

1) The problem will require Glowworm specific parts, it's hard to get
people to pay for you to go shopping on their behalf, the parts are
likely to be expnsive.

2) Frankly there are a proportion of installers who diagnostic skills
need upgrading.


A chap is going to visit this afternoon but he thinks it may be the
diverter valve and says it costs £190 for the part, plus £60 call out
plus £60 labour. Ouch!

Well yes that's is ONE possibility.
The hot water flow detector is also a possibility.
Cheaper boiler have expensive spares (see Boiler Choice FAQ).


I understand the boiler is discontinued. I don't know how old it is
exactly but it was there when I moved in in 2001, so at least 7 years
old.
Spares should be available for many years after a model is discontinued.

What is the life span of a boiler and since it seems to be falling
to pieces, would it be cheaper to rip it out and fit a new one?

Low end combis maybe around 10 years, good ones 20+ years.
See Boiler Choice FAQ.


Whenever someone asks about gas, they seem to be politely reminded that
if they don't know, they shouldn't touch.
I disagree they are usually told: You may if you are competent.
But if you need to ask if you need to ask very basic stuff about gas
fitting then you are probably not competent.

I quite agree but how can
people learn if they don't ask questions?
By working under the supervision of a suitably qualified person, where
they can ask all the questions they like.

I have never worked on gas and
I don't intend to but I would like to learn a bit more so that when the
plumber says part x needs replacing for y pounds, it would be nice to
know what x does and whether it really needs replacing and whether it
really is worth y pounds. Where can I learn more?



The FAQs.

Working on the waterside of a boiler is, by the book "gas work" but many
people here would say provide you don't need to dismantle gas carrying
parts then it's not.






--
Ed Sirett - Property maintainer and registered gas fitter.
The FAQ for uk.diy is at http://www.diyfaq.org.uk
Gas fitting FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/GasFitting.html
Sealed CH FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/SealedCH.html
Choosing a Boiler FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/BoilerChoice.html

On Thu, 17 Apr 2008 16:29:06 +0000 (UTC) someone who may be Ed
Sirett wrote this:-

Whenever someone asks about gas, they seem to be politely reminded that
if they don't know, they shouldn't touch.

I disagree they are usually told: You may if you are competent.
But if you need to ask if you need to ask very basic stuff about gas
fitting then you are probably not competent.

Seconded. Some people do tend to stamp their foot if they are not
given a free remedial course on the basics. The information they are
after could nearly always be found with a search engine or in a
book.

It is similar to someone going to a discussion group on William
Shakespeare and asking what books he wrote. Anyone who asks such a
question would almost certainly be pointed, gently or otherwise
depending on circumstances, to a search engine or book to find out
about the plays he is reputed to have written.

Putting my grumpy old man hat on, I blame the education system. It
seems to be breeding more and more people incapable of, or too lazy
to, find things out for themselves. They remind me of baby birds,
sitting on their backsides, beaks open, squawking and expecting
mummy or daddy bird to ram worms down their throat.



--
David Hansen, Edinburgh
I will *always* explain revoked encryption keys, unless RIP prevents me
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2000/00023--e.htm#54

"Stuart Noble" wrote in message
...
Fred wrote:
Hello,

When I recently moved house, I kept my old house and rented it out.
It's my first experience as a landlord and things have not got off to
a good start ;(

Just before we left, the Glowworm combi boiler (model compact 100e)
packed-up and the cause was a bypass valve which had to be replaced by
a plumber for many pounds.

Today I had a phone call saying that now the CH works but not the HW.
I have phoned around a few plumbers from the Yellow pages and they all
seem to loose interest the minute I say "combi". Why is that? What is
so frightening about combi boilers?

A chap is going to visit this afternoon but he thinks it may be the
diverter valve and says it costs £190 for the part, plus £60 call out
plus £60 labour. Ouch!

I understand the boiler is discontinued. I don't know how old it is
exactly but it was there when I moved in in 2001, so at least 7 years
old. What is the life span of a boiler and since it seems to be
falling to pieces, would it be cheaper to rip it out and fit a new
one?

Whenever someone asks about gas, they seem to be politely reminded
that if they don't know, they shouldn't touch. I quite agree but how
can people learn if they don't ask questions? I have never worked on
gas and I don't intend to but I would like to learn a bit more so that
when the plumber says part x needs replacing for y pounds, it would be
nice to know what x does and whether it really needs replacing and
whether it really is worth y pounds. Where can I learn more?

Thanks very much in advance.

My impression is that combis are a landlord's nightmare.

Good combis are not. The Compact is a poor boiler. I think a re-badged
saunier.

On Thu, 17 Apr 2008 16:29:06 +0000 (UTC), Ed Sirett
wrote:

I quite agree but how can
people learn if they don't ask questions?

By working under the supervision of a suitably qualified person, where
they can ask all the questions they like.

Hello again,

I have now been told that it was the "wiring harness" that had to be
replaced. Apparently the part only cost £30-odd but labour and VAT
took it to £190!

What is a wiring harness and was the total cost about right?

I'm afraid that as much as I would love to work under the supervision
of a qualified person, I don't have the time to do so, I am otherwise
employed at the moment, so how can I find out the basics, just so I
know what these names mean the next time the plumber calls? Don't
worry, I haven't got gas at home and will not be driving two hours to
my tenant's house to explode hers!

Thanks.

On Thu, 01 May 2008 16:01:57 GMT, Fred wrote:


What is a wiring harness and was the total cost about right?


A wiring harness is simply all the wires necessary to make any piece of
equipment work, bound together into a kind of cable but with the individual
wires leaving where the 'harness' passes the appropriate component.

The most commonly known use is on a car, where the harness goes around the
engine bay, joiing the various bits and pieces together as necessary.

HTH
Andy

On Apr 16, 2:55 pm, Mogga wrote:
On Wed, 16 Apr 2008 12:27:53 GMT, Fred
wrote:

Whenever someone asks about gas, they seem to be politely reminded
that if they don't know, they shouldn't touch. I quite agree but how
can people learn if they don't ask questions? I have never worked on

proper training. which doesn't mean dismantle it yourself, poke about
with a screwdriver, miss tightening a valve up and blwoing half the
street up.

Heh... That reminds me of the engineer that came out from Worcester
Bosch to fix our boiler... CORGI registered of course, and presumably
trained in the process, but that didn't stop him forgetting to close
one of the the pressure test valves before he was about to leave. It
was only when I said I could smell gas did he realise what he'd done -
then he looked at me like I'd opened it when he was out of the room
putting his tools away...!

Mathew

Mathew Newton wrote:
On Apr 16, 2:55 pm, Mogga wrote:
On Wed, 16 Apr 2008 12:27:53 GMT, Fred
wrote:

Whenever someone asks about gas, they seem to be politely reminded
that if they don't know, they shouldn't touch. I quite agree but how
can people learn if they don't ask questions? I have never worked on
proper training. which doesn't mean dismantle it yourself, poke about
with a screwdriver, miss tightening a valve up and blwoing half the
street up.

Heh... That reminds me of the engineer that came out from Worcester
Bosch to fix our boiler... CORGI registered of course, and presumably
trained in the process, but that didn't stop him forgetting to close
one of the the pressure test valves before he was about to leave. It
was only when I said I could smell gas did he realise what he'd done -
then he looked at me like I'd opened it when he was out of the room
putting his tools away...!

Mathew

They're certainly a mixed bunch those WB engineers. They have been known
to take 2 hours to change a pump, and still manage to cross-thread the
connections and destroy the washers.

OTOH I've now watched it done perfectly in 20 minutes (30 including the
annual service!)