I generally work on the principle that if it's not broke you don't fix
it unless, like a car engine, for example, it clearly needs some TLC
like an oil change from time-to-time.

So how often does a boiler *need* to be serviced?

--
F

On Tue, 27 Dec 2016 18:42:52 +0000, F wrote:

I generally work on the principle that if it's not broke you don't fix
it unless, like a car engine, for example, it clearly needs some TLC
like an oil change from time-to-time.

So how often does a boiler *need* to be serviced?

Mostly the service interval is every 12 months.

Cursitor Doom wrote:
On Tue, 27 Dec 2016 18:42:52 +0000, F wrote:

I generally work on the principle that if it's not broke you don't fix
it unless, like a car engine, for example, it clearly needs some TLC
like an oil change from time-to-time.

So how often does a boiler *need* to be serviced?

Mostly the service interval is every 12 months.


That doesn't answer the question though. Unfortunately the best one can say
in general is that "it depends".

If the boiler is in a position to get clean dust free air and is well
designed it can probably go years without service safely. As all new
boilers are room sealed you could probably argue that they could all be
left until the break down BUT our boiler had a faulty seal on the
combustion chamber that would have been replaced at a service (had we had
one).

Despite it being (in my opinion) a "safety critical" fault, there was no
recall (or customer notification) as it was a part that would have been
replaced during a service.

So, unless you can get boiler specific advice, I think an occasional
service *before* a breakdown probably isn't a bad idea.

Tim

--
Please don't feed the trolls

In article ,
Cursitor Doom wrote:
On Tue, 27 Dec 2016 18:42:52 +0000, F wrote:

I generally work on the principle that if it's not broke you don't fix
it unless, like a car engine, for example, it clearly needs some TLC
like an oil change from time-to-time.

So how often does a boiler *need* to be serviced?

Mostly the service interval is every 12 months.

That's how often it is usually done, That doesn't answer the question.

--
from KT24 in Surrey, England

F wrote:
I generally work on the principle that if it's not broke you don't fix
it unless, like a car engine, for example, it clearly needs some TLC
like an oil change from time-to-time.

So how often does a boiler *need* to be serviced?

My W-B is in its 3rd winter from new with no servicing.
I did have the cover off to make some wires for monitoring and noticed
that the condensate syphon did have some gritty looking crap in the
bottom so it there is some in there then there is possibly some in the
sump of the burner too so maybe that indicates I ought to service it
sometime next year perhaps?

On 27/12/2016 21:07, Bob Minchin wrote:
F wrote:
I generally work on the principle that if it's not broke you don't fix
it unless, like a car engine, for example, it clearly needs some TLC
like an oil change from time-to-time.

So how often does a boiler *need* to be serviced?

My W-B is in its 3rd winter from new with no servicing.
I did have the cover off to make some wires for monitoring and noticed
that the condensate syphon did have some gritty looking crap in the
bottom so it there is some in there then there is possibly some in the
sump of the burner too so maybe that indicates I ought to service it
sometime next year perhaps?

Ours, too, is in its third winter since the cover was last off and
someone who knew what he was looking at pronounced it 'OK'.

Perhaps I ought to get him round again soon...

--
F

On 27/12/2016 18:42, F wrote:
I generally work on the principle that if it's not broke you don't fix
it unless, like a car engine, for example, it clearly needs some TLC
like an oil change from time-to-time.

So how often does a boiler *need* to be serviced?


If it is a newish Worcester-Bosch, then every 12 months so that it
complies with the warranty (5 or 7 years).

On Tue, 27 Dec 2016 21:13:07 +0000, F wrote:

On 27/12/2016 21:07, Bob Minchin wrote:
F wrote:
I generally work on the principle that if it's not broke you don't fix
it unless, like a car engine, for example, it clearly needs some TLC
like an oil change from time-to-time.

So how often does a boiler *need* to be serviced?

My W-B is in its 3rd winter from new with no servicing.
I did have the cover off to make some wires for monitoring and noticed
that the condensate syphon did have some gritty looking crap in the
bottom so it there is some in there then there is possibly some in the
sump of the burner too so maybe that indicates I ought to service it
sometime next year perhaps?

Ours, too, is in its third winter since the cover was last off and
someone who knew what he was looking at pronounced it 'OK'.

Perhaps I ought to get him round again soon...

Our WB hadn't been touched for nearly 4 years. Then it failed.

Turned out a seal had failed and fried the wiring harness. And a few
other things. The guy ended up replacing most of the innards, bar the wet
bits.

Luckily it was a prearranged fixed price repair...



--
My posts are my copyright and if @diy_forums or Home Owners' Hub
wish to copy them they can pay me £1 a message.
Use the BIG mirror service in the UK: http://www.mirrorservice.org
*lightning surge protection* - a w_tom conductor

On Tue, 27 Dec 2016 21:16:38 +0000, JoeJoe wrote:

If it is a newish Worcester-Bosch, then every 12 months so that it
complies with the warranty (5 or 7 years).

Mine had to wait 5 years for its first service. Doesn't seem to have done
it any harm. Going to get it done yearly from now on, though.

"Cursitor Doom" wrote in message
news
On Tue, 27 Dec 2016 18:42:52 +0000, F wrote:

I generally work on the principle that if it's not broke you don't fix
it unless, like a car engine, for example, it clearly needs some TLC
like an oil change from time-to-time.

So how often does a boiler *need* to be serviced?

Mostly the service interval is every 12 months.

but "why"?

My flat is now about 8 years old

I would stake my annual salary that the previous occupant did not get the
boiler serviced during her 5 years of ownership (as a 20 something girly she
probably didn't know it needed doing)

and when I moved in, whilst it was on my list of things to do on the "it
aint broke so don't fix it" basis I kept on putting it off until last
summer.

When the guy came all he did was sick his measuring devices in the
appropriate places, fiddled with the controls for a bit, and after about an
hour declared it OK, filled in a form and gave me the top copy.

All he said was that the length of the run of the exhaust/air intake pipe
was a bit marginal. But as a flat there is no way that it could be changed
even if it were wrong.

Calling this a "service" is a gross exaggeration IMHO and the idea that it
needs to be performed annually ridiculous

tim

"tim..." wrote in message
news


"Cursitor Doom" wrote in message
news
On Tue, 27 Dec 2016 18:42:52 +0000, F wrote:

I generally work on the principle that if it's not broke you don't fix
it unless, like a car engine, for example, it clearly needs some TLC
like an oil change from time-to-time.

So how often does a boiler *need* to be serviced?

Mostly the service interval is every 12 months.

but "why"?

My flat is now about 8 years old

I would stake my annual salary that the previous occupant did not get the
boiler serviced during her 5 years of ownership (as a 20 something girly
she probably didn't know it needed doing)

and when I moved in, whilst it was on my list of things to do on the "it
aint broke so don't fix it" basis I kept on putting it off until last
summer.

When the guy came all he did was sick his measuring devices in the
appropriate places, fiddled with the controls for a bit, and after about
an hour declared it OK, filled in a form and gave me the top copy.

All he said was that the length of the run of the exhaust/air intake pipe
was a bit marginal. But as a flat there is no way that it could be
changed even if it were wrong.

Calling this a "service" is a gross exaggeration IMHO and the idea that it
needs to be performed annually ridiculous

tim

After about 1hr?
Gordon Bennet, my bloke is here maybe 20 mins, every 3 years or so.
Even then he has to dream up what to do to make it look legit.
An easy 50 quid in his sky rocket.
Yes i know, i'm insane.

On Tue, 27 Dec 2016 18:42:52 -0000, F news@nowhere wrote:

I generally work on the principle that if it's not broke you don't fix
it unless, like a car engine, for example, it clearly needs some TLC
like an oil change from time-to-time.

So how often does a boiler *need* to be serviced?

Never. I've not serviced my Baxi boiler for 16 years. It's failed ONCE.. It cost me £8 to fit a thermocouple myself. Why bother ****ing about when it's working?

--
Watching your daughter being collected by her date feels like handing over a million dollar Stradivarius to a gorilla.

In article ,
Tim+ wrote:
So, unless you can get boiler specific advice, I think an occasional
service *before* a breakdown probably isn't a bad idea.

Not actually convinced regular servicing makes any difference to the
number of breakdowns. It might make more sense to wait for a breakdown and
have a 'service' then. But it makes sense for the owner to do regular
inspections to check for water leaks or anything obviously amiss, like a
change in performance.

--
*OK, who stopped payment on my reality check?

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

In article ,
Bob Eager wrote:
Our WB hadn't been touched for nearly 4 years. Then it failed.

Turned out a seal had failed and fried the wiring harness. And a few
other things. The guy ended up replacing most of the innards, bar the
wet bits.

Luckily it was a prearranged fixed price repair...

Thing is would that seal have been replaced during routine yearly
servicing?

--
*Forget the Joneses, I keep us up with the Simpsons.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote in message
...
In article ,
Bob Eager wrote:
Our WB hadn't been touched for nearly 4 years. Then it failed.

Turned out a seal had failed and fried the wiring harness. And a few
other things. The guy ended up replacing most of the innards, bar the
wet bits.

Luckily it was a prearranged fixed price repair...

Thing is would that seal have been replaced during routine yearly
servicing?

No chance.
The bloke who does mine, the bloke [company] who fitted the system wouldn't
know if it worked or not, he hadn't a clue as to what hysteresis meant and
prolly though its what women have.
Corgi registered, of course.

On Tue, 27 Dec 2016 18:42:52 +0000, F news@nowhere wrote:

I generally work on the principle that if it's not broke you don't fix
it unless, like a car engine, for example, it clearly needs some TLC
like an oil change from time-to-time.

So how often does a boiler *need* to be serviced?
Had my WB for 7 years, never been serviced. At 5 years it stopped
working, called an engineer out (not WB), syphon blocked, common
problem, he cleaned, cost £60. I watched him do it, easy, next tile
I'll DIY it. OK, an annual service (probably) would have found this,
but cost of 5 annual services vs one off £60 - no brainer.
Boilder failed again a couple of months back during that really cold
spell (as they do). Called same engineer, transformer burnt out and
took out the pcb, I watched him take out the bits and could smell it
(and no, it wasn't due to a leaking seal). £260 this time, but that
wouldn't have been picked up by service either.

In article ,
Davidm wrote:
On Tue, 27 Dec 2016 18:42:52 +0000, F news@nowhere wrote:

I generally work on the principle that if it's not broke you don't fix
it unless, like a car engine, for example, it clearly needs some TLC
like an oil change from time-to-time.

So how often does a boiler *need* to be serviced?
Had my WB for 7 years, never been serviced. At 5 years it stopped
working, called an engineer out (not WB), syphon blocked, common
problem, he cleaned, cost £60. I watched him do it, easy, next tile
I'll DIY it. OK, an annual service (probably) would have found this,
but cost of 5 annual services vs one off £60 - no brainer.
Boilder failed again a couple of months back during that really cold
spell (as they do). Called same engineer, transformer burnt out and
took out the pcb, I watched him take out the bits and could smell it
(and no, it wasn't due to a leaking seal). £260 this time, but that
wouldn't have been picked up by service either.

I installed my boiler in 1988. I have cleaned it out a couple of times and
it's had a few new thermocouples. Otherwise it works.

--
from KT24 in Surrey, England

On 28/12/2016 10:52, charles wrote:
In article ,
Davidm wrote:
On Tue, 27 Dec 2016 18:42:52 +0000, F news@nowhere wrote:

I generally work on the principle that if it's not broke you don't fix
it unless, like a car engine, for example, it clearly needs some TLC
like an oil change from time-to-time.

So how often does a boiler *need* to be serviced?
Had my WB for 7 years, never been serviced. At 5 years it stopped
working, called an engineer out (not WB), syphon blocked, common
problem, he cleaned, cost £60. I watched him do it, easy, next tile
I'll DIY it. OK, an annual service (probably) would have found this,
but cost of 5 annual services vs one off £60 - no brainer.
Boilder failed again a couple of months back during that really cold
spell (as they do). Called same engineer, transformer burnt out and
took out the pcb, I watched him take out the bits and could smell it
(and no, it wasn't due to a leaking seal). £260 this time, but that
wouldn't have been picked up by service either.

I installed my boiler in 1988. I have cleaned it out a couple of times and
it's had a few new thermocouples. Otherwise it works.

Glad to see I'm not alone. I installed a Potterton Netaheat about 1989,
and it's heating the house as I write. It's also been cleaned out only
every three or four years. One replacement PCB (£50) and one earth
electrode (£2.50) is all that I've spent on it - so the fact that it is
probably deemed to be inefficient doesn't really come into it. Changing
it will be a hassle as the gas supply to the boiler will need upgrading
to 22mm - not an easy run. But will have to be done at some time as I'm
told that the gas valve is no longer available, nor is there a suitable
alternative.

Peter

On 28/12/2016 11:27, Peter Andrews wrote:
On 28/12/2016 10:52, charles wrote:
In article ,
Davidm wrote:
On Tue, 27 Dec 2016 18:42:52 +0000, F news@nowhere wrote:

I generally work on the principle that if it's not broke you don't fix
it unless, like a car engine, for example, it clearly needs some TLC
like an oil change from time-to-time.

So how often does a boiler *need* to be serviced?
Had my WB for 7 years, never been serviced. At 5 years it stopped
working, called an engineer out (not WB), syphon blocked, common
problem, he cleaned, cost £60. I watched him do it, easy, next tile
I'll DIY it. OK, an annual service (probably) would have found this,
but cost of 5 annual services vs one off £60 - no brainer.
Boilder failed again a couple of months back during that really cold
spell (as they do). Called same engineer, transformer burnt out and
took out the pcb, I watched him take out the bits and could smell it
(and no, it wasn't due to a leaking seal). £260 this time, but that
wouldn't have been picked up by service either.

I installed my boiler in 1988. I have cleaned it out a couple of times
and
it's had a few new thermocouples. Otherwise it works.

Glad to see I'm not alone. I installed a Potterton Netaheat about 1989,
and it's heating the house as I write. It's also been cleaned out only
every three or four years. One replacement PCB (£50) and one earth
electrode (£2.50) is all that I've spent on it - so the fact that it is
probably deemed to be inefficient doesn't really come into it. Changing
it will be a hassle as the gas supply to the boiler will need upgrading
to 22mm - not an easy run. But will have to be done at some time as I'm
told that the gas valve is no longer available, nor is there a suitable
alternative.

I've kept a boiler going via eBay. many gas engineers, or their
partners, seem to offload a lot of the freely gotten gains.

Does your Netheat also have a mercury filled water thermostat?

In article ,
F news@nowhere writes:
I generally work on the principle that if it's not broke you don't fix
it unless, like a car engine, for example, it clearly needs some TLC
like an oil change from time-to-time.

So how often does a boiler *need* to be serviced?

If a boiler isn't room sealed, I would say annual service
is essential because of the danager of carbon monoxide.

For modern room sealed boilers, most don't need an annual
service, but you need to know the boiler well (and how it's
used) to know what it does need.

All gas appliances need an annual safety check in rented
properties, but that's not the same as a service.

I can't answer for a Worcester-Bosch as I don't service any.

I do service a variety of boilers around the family. I've
done Potterton Profile and Suprema about every 7 years,
although the rise in CO in the flue gasses (co/co2 ratio)
hasn't got significant in that period. (The CO/CO2 ratio
should be checked every year or two, to see if a service
is needed more frequently.) However, you will find a layer
of dead insects to vaccum out below the burners, and I
take out the burners and blow out any dust from the jets
and air mixing tubes. I have also tried cleaning the flue
paths through the heat exchangers, but found nothing there
to clean off. (This builds up very quickly if burner air
paths start to get blocked with dust, and then with the
resulting soot debris which forms in the heat exchanger,
some of which falls into the burners and makes it much
worse.) You can recheck burner pressures, although I have
never found them to change once initially set.

As mentioned in another thread, I also look after a Keston
Celcius 25 condensing boiler, and this needs more attention.
At least once a year, I take the cover off and inspect it
carefully whilst operating (which is safe with this boiler,
but not with many). Various of the seals fail and you can
see this when it's starting to happen, before it does damage,
Same with the rubber internal flue pipe. About once every
3 years, I open the heat exchanger and clean it out - a fine
grey dust slowly collects on the surface of the corregated
stainless steel water tubes which can be vacuumed or rinsed
off. Also, debris collects in the bottom of the heat exchanger,
and on a couple of occasions this blocked the condensate drain,
causing the heat exchanger to start filling with condensate
until it blocked the flue exit and the burner would no longer
stay alight. I found this is easily avoided by pouring a
couple of litres of water into the exhaust flue to wash out
the debris before it builds up, once or twice a year, which
is much easier than opening up the heat exchanger this often.

I also service an instant gas water heater, and this needs
cleaning annually, as dust and dead insects build up in it.
Again, it's vacuuming it out, and using compressed air to clean
the jets and air mixing tubes, and checking the room seal.

If you're going to do this, you need to understand fully
how the appliance works, how safety features such as room
seals work, and you will need a flue gas analyser, which has
a regular ongoing maintenance cost itself (the oxygen sensors
only last 24 months, and they need recalibrating). This will
cost more than getting one boiler serviced. You can hire
them too, e.g. for a weekend.

--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]

On Tue, 27 Dec 2016 21:07:19 +0000, Bob Minchin wrote:

F wrote:
I generally work on the principle that if it's not broke you
don't fix it unless, like a car engine, for example, it clearly
needs some TLC like an oil change from time-to-time.

So how often does a boiler *need* to be serviced?

My W-B is in its 3rd winter from new with no servicing.

You might find that the 10-year warranty on new W-B boilers requires
regular servicing on the manufacturer's schedule. OOps!

On Tue, 27 Dec 2016 18:42:52 +0000, F wrote:

I generally work on the principle that if it's not broke you don't
fix it unless, like a car engine, for example, it clearly needs
some TLC like an oil change from time-to-time.

So how often does a boiler *need* to be serviced?

Is it still under warrany (maybe 10 years for W-B)? If so stick to
the manufacurer's recommendation for servicing.

In article ,
mechanic wrote:
On Tue, 27 Dec 2016 18:42:52 +0000, F wrote:

I generally work on the principle that if it's not broke you don't
fix it unless, like a car engine, for example, it clearly needs
some TLC like an oil change from time-to-time.

So how often does a boiler *need* to be serviced?

Is it still under warrany (maybe 10 years for W-B)? If so stick to
the manufacurer's recommendation for servicing.

I'd want to work out if the costs of 'servicing' are less than paying for
a repair outside a normal warranty. My guess is they will be very much
higher.

--
*I was married by a judge. I should have asked for a jury.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

In article ,
"Dave Plowman (News)" writes:
In article ,
Bob Eager wrote:
Our WB hadn't been touched for nearly 4 years. Then it failed.

Turned out a seal had failed and fried the wiring harness. And a few
other things. The guy ended up replacing most of the innards, bar the
wet bits.

Luckily it was a prearranged fixed price repair...

Thing is would that seal have been replaced during routine yearly
servicing?

I explicitly look for this on the Keston, and replace them as
needed, so far before any catastrophic failure.

I am a lot less certain a heating engineer would do so though.

--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]

On 28/12/2016 13:29, mechanic wrote:
On Tue, 27 Dec 2016 21:07:19 +0000, Bob Minchin wrote:

F wrote:
I generally work on the principle that if it's not broke you
don't fix it unless, like a car engine, for example, it clearly
needs some TLC like an oil change from time-to-time.

So how often does a boiler *need* to be serviced?

My W-B is in its 3rd winter from new with no servicing.

You might find that the 10-year warranty on new W-B boilers requires
regular servicing on the manufacturer's schedule. OOps!

There is quite a lot of law on the servicing of cars to maintain a
warranty, does any of this extend to boilers?

There is also the Sales of Goods Act, and although there is a 6 year
time limit. Perhaps it could be argued that that the clock can start
any time in the 10 year warranty period. Bosch would have to provide
evidence the fault was caused by the lack of maintenance, or be apparent
in a service and hence avoidable, which IMHO would be unlikely.

Its another reason I don't buy things on the basis of their warranty.
Their small print is set to get you.

Added to UK.legal

On 27/12/16 21:07, Bob Minchin wrote:
F wrote:
I generally work on the principle that if it's not broke you don't fix
it unless, like a car engine, for example, it clearly needs some TLC
like an oil change from time-to-time.

So how often does a boiler *need* to be serviced?

My W-B is in its 3rd winter from new with no servicing.
I did have the cover off to make some wires for monitoring and noticed
that the condensate syphon did have some gritty looking crap in the
bottom so it there is some in there then there is possibly some in the
sump of the burner too so maybe that indicates I ought to service it
sometime next year perhaps?

I had a W-B for seven years without a service. When it broke W-B fixed
it for a standard charge including parts. It then went for another three
years before another repair was needed.

Apart from that the only attention it needed was to remove the grit from
the condensate syphon. After several years it had built up enough to
cause it to overflow. It's a trivial job to remove it and empty it and
thereafter check it from time to time.

--
djc

(–€Ì¿Ä¹Ì¯–€Ì¿ Ì¿)
No low-hanging fruit, just a lot of small berries up a tall tree.

Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
In article ,
mechanic wrote:
On Tue, 27 Dec 2016 18:42:52 +0000, F wrote:

I generally work on the principle that if it's not broke you don't
fix it unless, like a car engine, for example, it clearly needs
some TLC like an oil change from time-to-time.

So how often does a boiler *need* to be serviced?

Is it still under warrany (maybe 10 years for W-B)? If so stick to
the manufacurer's recommendation for servicing.

I'd want to work out if the costs of 'servicing' are less than paying for
a repair outside a normal warranty. My guess is they will be very much
higher.

I tend to agree Dave. Annual service cost for the typical lifetime of
the boiler will be pretty close to the price of a new one.
Best to put the service charge amount in a savings account and fund
repairs/replacement from that.

On 28/12/2016 22:20, Bob Minchin wrote:

Best to put the service charge amount in a savings account and fund
repairs/replacement from that.

As is the case with extended warranties that the likes of Domestic and
General and Currys try to sell.

--
F

On Wed, 28 Dec 2016 22:20:34 +0000, Bob Minchin wrote:

Annual service cost for the typical lifetime of
the boiler will be pretty close to the price of a new one.

That's what insurance is all about. Really useful at the end of the
period when spares may not be available and replacement is the only
option.

Bob Eager wrote:
On Tue, 27 Dec 2016 21:13:07 +0000, F wrote:

On 27/12/2016 21:07, Bob Minchin wrote:
F wrote:
I generally work on the principle that if it's not broke you don't fix
it unless, like a car engine, for example, it clearly needs some TLC
like an oil change from time-to-time.

So how often does a boiler *need* to be serviced?

My W-B is in its 3rd winter from new with no servicing.
I did have the cover off to make some wires for monitoring and noticed
that the condensate syphon did have some gritty looking crap in the
bottom so it there is some in there then there is possibly some in the
sump of the burner too so maybe that indicates I ought to service it
sometime next year perhaps?

Ours, too, is in its third winter since the cover was last off and
someone who knew what he was looking at pronounced it 'OK'.

Perhaps I ought to get him round again soon...

Our WB hadn't been touched for nearly 4 years. Then it failed.

Turned out a seal had failed and fried the wiring harness. And a few
other things. The guy ended up replacing most of the innards, bar the wet
bits.

Luckily it was a prearranged fixed price repair...



Bob, Out of interest and maybe something I should check on mine, which
seal was it that failed and which is the model of your boiler please.

Another Bob!

On Thu, 29 Dec 2016 16:57:12 +0000, Bob Minchin wrote:

Bob Eager wrote:
On Tue, 27 Dec 2016 21:13:07 +0000, F wrote:

On 27/12/2016 21:07, Bob Minchin wrote:
F wrote:
I generally work on the principle that if it's not broke you don't
fix it unless, like a car engine, for example, it clearly needs some
TLC like an oil change from time-to-time.

So how often does a boiler *need* to be serviced?

My W-B is in its 3rd winter from new with no servicing.
I did have the cover off to make some wires for monitoring and
noticed that the condensate syphon did have some gritty looking crap
in the bottom so it there is some in there then there is possibly
some in the sump of the burner too so maybe that indicates I ought to
service it sometime next year perhaps?

Ours, too, is in its third winter since the cover was last off and
someone who knew what he was looking at pronounced it 'OK'.

Perhaps I ought to get him round again soon...

Our WB hadn't been touched for nearly 4 years. Then it failed.

Turned out a seal had failed and fried the wiring harness. And a few
other things. The guy ended up replacing most of the innards, bar the
wet bits.

Luckily it was a prearranged fixed price repair...



Bob, Out of interest and maybe something I should check on mine, which
seal was it that failed and which is the model of your boiler please.

Another Bob!

Sorry, don't know which seal but I think it may have been something to do
with the flue! Had a look for the details but can't find them.

It's a WB 24Ri.



--
My posts are my copyright and if @diy_forums or Home Owners' Hub
wish to copy them they can pay me £1 a message.
Use the BIG mirror service in the UK: http://www.mirrorservice.org
*lightning surge protection* - a w_tom conductor

Bob Minchin wrote:
Bob Eager wrote:
On Tue, 27 Dec 2016 21:13:07 +0000, F wrote:

On 27/12/2016 21:07, Bob Minchin wrote:
F wrote:
I generally work on the principle that if it's not broke you don't fix
it unless, like a car engine, for example, it clearly needs some TLC
like an oil change from time-to-time.

So how often does a boiler *need* to be serviced?

My W-B is in its 3rd winter from new with no servicing.
I did have the cover off to make some wires for monitoring and noticed
that the condensate syphon did have some gritty looking crap in the
bottom so it there is some in there then there is possibly some in the
sump of the burner too so maybe that indicates I ought to service it
sometime next year perhaps?

Ours, too, is in its third winter since the cover was last off and
someone who knew what he was looking at pronounced it 'OK'.

Perhaps I ought to get him round again soon...

Our WB hadn't been touched for nearly 4 years. Then it failed.

Turned out a seal had failed and fried the wiring harness. And a few
other things. The guy ended up replacing most of the innards, bar the wet
bits.

Luckily it was a prearranged fixed price repair...



Bob, Out of interest and maybe something I should check on mine, which
seal was it that failed and which is the model of your boiler please.

Another Bob!


Dunno about WB but our Vaillant fried its seal that goes around the front
of the combustion chamber. This led to much of the innards getting slowly
frazzled.

Tim

--
Please don't feed the trolls

In article ,
mechanic wrote:
On Wed, 28 Dec 2016 22:20:34 +0000, Bob Minchin wrote:

Annual service cost for the typical lifetime of
the boiler will be pretty close to the price of a new one.

That's what insurance is all about. Really useful at the end of the
period when spares may not be available and replacement is the only
option.

You have an insurance policy which will pay to replace the boiler when
spares are no longer available? How much does it cost a year?

--
He who laughs last, thinks slowest*

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote in message
...
In article ,
mechanic wrote:
On Wed, 28 Dec 2016 22:20:34 +0000, Bob Minchin wrote:

Annual service cost for the typical lifetime of
the boiler will be pretty close to the price of a new one.

That's what insurance is all about. Really useful at the end of the
period when spares may not be available and replacement is the only
option.

You have an insurance policy which will pay to replace the boiler when
spares are no longer available? How much does it cost a year?

I reckon it's ~£17 per month (from tv adverts) that's ~£200 a year.
10 years and you've paid for 2 boilers.
Reminds me of my AA payment. I subscribe to "the works" in case my campervan
needs to be transported somewhere.
Last year they wanted £140, phoned them (fully prepared to cancel) and it
decreased to £110.
This year the same. We don't complain enough.
They actually have a menu containing "press 2 if you are thinking of
leaving."

Bob Eager wrote:
On Thu, 29 Dec 2016 16:57:12 +0000, Bob Minchin wrote:

Bob Eager wrote:
On Tue, 27 Dec 2016 21:13:07 +0000, F wrote:

On 27/12/2016 21:07, Bob Minchin wrote:
F wrote:
I generally work on the principle that if it's not broke you don't
fix it unless, like a car engine, for example, it clearly needs some
TLC like an oil change from time-to-time.

So how often does a boiler *need* to be serviced?

My W-B is in its 3rd winter from new with no servicing.
I did have the cover off to make some wires for monitoring and
noticed that the condensate syphon did have some gritty looking crap
in the bottom so it there is some in there then there is possibly
some in the sump of the burner too so maybe that indicates I ought to
service it sometime next year perhaps?

Ours, too, is in its third winter since the cover was last off and
someone who knew what he was looking at pronounced it 'OK'.

Perhaps I ought to get him round again soon...

Our WB hadn't been touched for nearly 4 years. Then it failed.

Turned out a seal had failed and fried the wiring harness. And a few
other things. The guy ended up replacing most of the innards, bar the
wet bits.

Luckily it was a prearranged fixed price repair...



Bob, Out of interest and maybe something I should check on mine, which
seal was it that failed and which is the model of your boiler please.

Another Bob!

Sorry, don't know which seal but I think it may have been something to do
with the flue! Had a look for the details but can't find them.

It's a WB 24Ri.



OK Thanks Bob
It is the same model as mine.
I'll dig out the service/installation manual and see if it is obvious
which one might be the vulnerable one.

In article ,
F news@nowhere wrote:
I generally work on the principle that if it's not broke you don't fix
it unless, like a car engine, for example, it clearly needs some TLC
like an oil change from time-to-time.

So how often does a boiler *need* to be serviced?

If you have house insurance, check the small print (probably on page 74a!)
for a requirement that gas, electricity, water and oil appliances need to
be serviced to the manufacturers recommendations otherwise the insurance
is invalid for a claim involving them. Just another way that insurance
companies can wriggle out of paying claims.

Alan

--


Using an ARMX6

On Fri, 30 Dec 2016 00:57:11 +0000 (GMT), Dave Plowman (News) wrote:

In article ,
mechanic wrote:
On Wed, 28 Dec 2016 22:20:34 +0000, Bob Minchin wrote:

Annual service cost for the typical lifetime of
the boiler will be pretty close to the price of a new one.

That's what insurance is all about. Really useful at the end of the
period when spares may not be available and replacement is the only
option.

You have an insurance policy which will pay to replace the boiler when
spares are no longer available? How much does it cost a year?

We were talking W-B, who quote 10yrs warranty included in the
installed price.

On Fri, 30 Dec 2016 01:41:28 -0000, bm wrote:

I reckon it's ~£17 per month (from tv adverts) that's ~£200 a year.
10 years and you've paid for 2 boilers.

£2k for two boilers, installed? I don't think so.

On Fri, 30 Dec 2016 11:32:22 +0000 (GMT), Alan Dawes wrote:

If you have house insurance, check the small print (probably on
page 74a!) for a requirement that gas, electricity, water and oil
appliances need to be serviced to the manufacturers
recommendations otherwise the insurance is invalid for a claim
involving them. Just another way that insurance companies can
wriggle out of paying claims.

Discourages these d-i-y types from cocking things up, then claiming
for a replacement.

On 28/12/2016 01:09, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
In article ,
Tim+ wrote:
So, unless you can get boiler specific advice, I think an occasional
service *before* a breakdown probably isn't a bad idea.

Not actually convinced regular servicing makes any difference to the
number of breakdowns. It might make more sense to wait for a breakdown and
have a 'service' then.



But it makes sense for the owner to do regular
inspections to check for water leaks


I thought that water leaks made themselves a bit obvious!






--
Adam