Do I need an annual boiler service ?

katy39

Do I need a annual boiler service If there is no problem and I have a Carbon Monoxide detector ? The reason I ask is the last time i had a service all he done was hoovered in and around the boiler for 5 minutes and that was it, at a cost of 80 euro:(

MicktheMan

Yes you do.
Change your service technician.:)

DGOBS

Your boiler wasn't serviced and you got no safety checks at all

Billy Bunting

katy39 wrote: »

Do I need a annual boiler service If there is no problem and I have a Carbon Monoxide detector ? The reason I ask is the last time i had a service all he done was hoovered in and around the boiler for 5 minutes and that was it, at a cost of 80 euro:(

A correctly serviced boiler could easily save you the cost of the service and you get piece of mind thrown in as a bonus.

Carbon Monoxide detectors are not an alternative to a service.

katy39

DGOBS wrote: »

Your boiler wasn't serviced and you got no safety checks at all

So apart from the hoovering what should I expect from a service ?
The guy asked was there any problem's I said no. But I then asked would
the boiler be more efficient after he was finished andhe said no.
So that's why I felt short changed and a few of my neighbours had the same
kind of service from other service men.
Money for nothing if you ask me.
Anyway thanks all.

DGOBS

There are lots or testing to be done, some mandatory, some not (but all should be done IMHO) if the guy isn't there for 45min minimum then it's not a service

I won't go listing all the checks here again as there is now several posts with them (and to be honest, they mean more to the servicemen than the general public)

Joey the lips

Yes you do need an annual service but from what i can tell there is services and there is services. It would be worth asking board gais what is covered by the service, chances are they will not be able to tell you. They will just spout some RGII crap so my advice is to ring a service engineer and ask what exactly they do besides hoovering the boiler out.

JohnnieK

Board Gais will quote from a list of 16 points that they check. This list is irrelevant because when it comes to a gas appliance the current regulations AND manufacturers instruction pervale. Every appliance has a maintenance and service section of the manual and this must be followed to satisfy the manufacturer and not some check list made up by a suit.

Vego

also used to get the oil boiler "serviced" and all he did was hoover something

Billy Bunting

Vego wrote: »

also used to get the oil boiler "serviced" and all he did was hoover something

Ooo! no you didn't.

DGOBS

You seem to choose your servicemen very poorly,
Why not ask what's included and how long it will take before booking them?
I couldn't properly service an oil boiler in under an hour

Vego

How am I ment to know whats ment to be done how long it will take etc ?? get your boiler regularly serviced I was told ..so I did ...and now I dont

anuprising

not your fault ,you got a 'service'

verb (used with object)
32. to make fit for use; repair; restore to condition for service: to service an automobile.

it was left fit for service

the whole problem with annual boiler servicing ,gas or oil ,is the wording .
i have come across people who offer boiler cleaning 'service' €50, this is just a boiler clean but a boiler 'service' including all the required annual maintenance can really only be done by oftec registered guys now and will be €100 and take an hour
what customers and posters on here mix up or use wrongly is the word service when they should be using the word maintenance (annual)main·te·nance

   /ˈmeɪntənəns/ Show Spelled[meyn-tuh-nuhns] Show IPA
noun 1. the act of maintaining.

2. care or upkeep, as of machinery or property: With proper maintenance the car will last for many years.

anuprising

anuprising wrote: »

the whole problem with annual boiler servicing ,gas or oil ,is the wording .
i have come across people who offer boiler cleaning 'service' €50, this is just a boiler clean but a boiler 'service' including all the required annual maintenance can really only be done by oftec registered guys now and will be €100 and take an hour
what customers and posters on here mix up or use wrongly is the word service when they should be using the word maintenance (annual)main·te·nance

I disagree, a service engineer is either compertent to do his/her job or not.

The problem as I see it is we are badly served by the registration bodies who have allowed unskilled fruit loops in to the service industry's, their is no way for a consumer to tell the difference between a 18 day wonder and a timed served professional. It's the unskilled worker who gives the rest of us a bad name and feeds the "I'm not getting it serviced anymore" lobby:mad:

OFTEC and RGI should hang their heads in shame as their registration process can't be used to determining the technical ability of a cardholder as that cardholder is given the answers to the technical questions required to be answered for accreditation, if no answers were given then we'd be sucking diesel and let each man rise or fall depending on his ability to work safely and competently:eek:

Billy Bunting

gary71 wrote: »

OFTEC and RGI should hang their heads in shame as their registration process can't be used to determining the technical ability of a cardholder as that cardholder is given the answers to the technical questions required to be answered for accreditation, if no answers were given then we'd be sucking diesel and let each man rise or fall depending on his ability to work safely and competently:eek:

Come on Gary!! there are inspectors :D:D

anuprising

it's open book in the uk now also Gary -
you can check this if you want but the single biggest occupation that exits rgi on a yearly basis through self dereg and suspensions andstrike offs are plumbers
at the moment I am working through a housing estate (1000 houses/apartments) where a big plumbing outfit installed all the gas boilers

the manufacturer took over the yearly service and bord sierra muscled in recently, every one of them was certified safe for 8 years until now when an 18 day wonder pointed out the faults with the installs . everyone of them has to be checked and safety upgraded

I put myself in the 18 day bracket but I'm working in the industry since 1995 but only had to do my g1 g2 and g3 when rgi formed in 2009 , before that I was free to work as an engineer ,had the city and guilds but no formal gid recognised here

goat2

katy39 wrote: »

Do I need a annual boiler service If there is no problem and I have a Carbon Monoxide detector ? The reason I ask is the last time i had a service all he done was hoovered in and around the boiler for 5 minutes and that was it, at a cost of 80 euro:(

my service man come once a year, he spend about an hour on the boiler, he take apart the the thing, clean out all that black muck that accumulate, take out the baffles and clean them down, he changes the oil feed to boiler and check that everything is running perfectly, and if anything is needed he buys, comes back and put parts needed in and gives me receipt for same, he charges me sixty euro for his time, and does not charge me for the second come out to fut the new bits,

if your man spent five minuits with yours and charged you eighty euro, ask for your money back, as it takes time to do the boiler, also you have have the bioler off for a couple hours before the call so he can work on it, did he ask you to do even that

Hoffmans

if it aint broken then dont fix it, what exactly are the serviceable parts in a gas boiler?

Billy Bunting

Hoffmans wrote: »

if it aint broken then dont fix it, what exactly are the serviceable parts in a gas boiler?

Mmm!! and just how would a customer know if its broke, it could still be keeping you and your house toasty warm but also spilling CO into the room. :eek:

anuprising

anuprising wrote: »

it's open book in the uk now also Gary

it's always been open book, i'v been setting these papers for over 20 years for my sins and I'm fully up to date with my ACS:D. Also there is a big difference between in UK ACS and GID/GIS, for my ACS it was just me the papers and all my reference books, no help was given, I sat 6 papers. For my GID/GiS I was given answers for all questions( I look stupid:)) and I would say anybody can pass GID/GIS.

anuprising wrote: »

every one of them was certified safe for 8 years until now when an 18 day wonder pointed out the faults with the installs . everyone of them has to be checked and safety upgraded

The job isn't rocket science, all I ask for is a industry that has a decent level of competence with a pinch of safety as well.

anuprising wrote: »

I put myself in the 18 day bracket but I'm working in the industry since 1995 but only had to do my g1 g2 and g3 when rgi formed in 2009 , before that I was free to work as an engineer ,had the city and guilds but no formal gid recognised here

You can put yourself wherever you want;) it's a question of competence, How do you or i prove we are safer than the RGIs you have mentioned.

JohnnieK

anuprising wrote: »

I put myself in the 18 day bracket but I'm working in the industry since 1995 but only had to do my g1 g2 and g3 when rgi formed in 2009 , before that I was free to work as an engineer ,had the city and guilds but no formal gid recognised here

I wouldn't put you in that bracket if you are working in the industry since 95. Like wise I was working in the industrial/ Commercial sector since 2000 and regarding gas works every thing was picked at with a fine tooth comb when it came to installation and commissioning and I'm just shocked since starting up my own company the level of " ah sure it will be all right" in the domestic market.
I'm not some kind of know it all when it comes to boilers but I do have the number of a man who is and if I'm stuck I call him.

Another aspect is the actual plumbing and heating systems I have come across they are shocking and the peoples attitude is there is water flowing through it so it must be working.:rolleyes:

nightster1

Hoffmans wrote: »

if it aint broken then dont fix it, what exactly are the serviceable parts in a gas boiler?

My father in law who is a plumber for the last 50 years says service an oil boiler anually as they are dirty, but dont do a gas boiler as the gas is pure and clean most likely a service will lead to something being broken! My gas boiler ran unserviced and un touched for last 12 years.

nightster1

nightster1 wrote: »

My father in law who is a plumber for the last 50 years says service an oil boiler anually as they are dirty, but dont do a gas boiler as the gas is pure and clean most likely a service will lead to something being broken! My gas boiler ran unserviced and un touched for last 12 years.

Well I'm a gas engineer I can tell you he's miss informed so feel free to tell him;) now I don't care if you service your boiler or not, but here is a fact for you gas appliance(s) can kill :eek: I'm not going to pretend that a service is the be all and end all but for safety and to confirm everything is as it should be you can't beat it;)

nightster1

gary71 wrote: »

nightster1 wrote: »

My father in law who is a plumber for the last 50 years says service an oil boiler anually as they are dirty, but dont do a gas boiler as the gas is pure and clean most likely a service will lead to something being broken! My gas boiler ran unserviced and un touched for last 12 years.

Well I'm a gas engineer I can tell you he's miss informed so feel free to tell him;) now I don't care if you service your boiler or not, but here is a fact for you gas appliance(s) can kill :eek: I'm not going to pretend that a service is the be all and end all but for safety and to confirm everything is as it should be you can't beat it;)

Fair enough advice. My potterton suprima 50 is outside the house in a shed. The controls are inside the house. An I safe from co2 poisoning?

Incidentally, I'm told that this boiler is old and the board will probably go soon and isn't worth fixing. A new condensing boiler was recommended. Any recommendations? Cheers!

nightster1

nightster1 wrote: »

Fair enough advice. My potterton suprima 50 is outside the house in a shed. The controls are inside the house. An I safe from co2 poisoning?

I would feel uncomfortable debating your safety on the Internet, but safety first get it serviced, having a boiler outside would help dilute any harmful CO that the boiler may or may not produce.

Below is the servicing instructions for your boiler:

Service the Boiler & Component Replacement - Page 22

To ensure continued efficient operation of the appliance, it is recommended that it is checked and cleaned as necessary at regular intervals.

The frequency of servicing will depend upon the particular installation conditions and usage but in general once per year should be adequate.

It is the law that any service work must be carried out by a competent person who is C.O.R.G.I. Registered.

Before servicing, fire the appliance and check that the flames are blue. Yellow flame and excessive lifting indicate poor combustion.

WARNING Before commencing work turn the temperature control knob to 'O' Off and allow the appliance to cool, isolate the electricity supply.

If the gas valve is to be removed turn off the gas supply at the appliance service cock.

IMPORTANT Always test for gas soundness after completing any servicing of gas carrying components and carry out functional checks of controls.

IMPORTANT Ensure that the outer white case is correctly fitted and that the sealing strip fitted to the door is forming a tight seal with the boiler casing.

Notes on Cleaning Boiler Components

Heat Exchanger Place a sheet of paper under the heat exchanger then using a flat blade tool (Part No. 907736), scrape the flueway fin surfaces in a downward movement. This will ensure that most of the deposits will be collected on the paper. Burner Brush the burner top and check that the flame ports are clear. Any blockage may be removed with a fine wire brush. Turn the burner upside down and tap gently to remove any debris (Protect the electrode). Electrode If the electrode requires cleaning wipe the surface using a solvent. Main Injectors Omit this operation if the gas rate is correct, otherwise clean by blowing through. Do NOT clear the injector with a pin or wire. Fan Assembly Examine the fan impellor and carefully clean if necessary. Flue Inspect the flue terminal and flue/air tube for blockage and integrity, rectify if necessary.