Waterford Stanley Cooker & Central Heating boilers

Arthuro

I purchased a Stanley Cooker 100K Brandon model twin burner, installed same with a dual system running a back boiler. It cost 6000.00 and was commissioned by Stanley themselves. Stanley sell these units, but outsource the servicing to various companies nationwide. After 4 years the thermostat blew, and was replace a second and third time (3 call out charges). I purchased the fourth one 60.00 cheaper than the service technician and refused to let him install it until he found out why they were blowing...so I watched what he was doing and noticed a tiny drop of liquid on the floor that he had not seen. The upshot was the boiler was leaking, on the seam or join of the boiler. That service technician cost me over 1350.00. At the time I felt it was a faulty boiler, Stanley insisted I was wrong and claimed that I should not have a back boiler on the same system. I was quoted from 1500.00 to 2500.00 plus vat for the repair. (I had the boiler welded and it worked fine until now again it is leaking in a different spot underneath again on the seam. I am now advised again that I have to take out the back boiler, and repair the stanley at huge additional cost. I cannot understand how or why the Commissioning agent did not say when it was initially installed that back boilers were incompatible as dual systems with their Stanley Cookers. I have spent 7000.00 + ( I had to replace 5 leaking radiators as well) and not had consistent properly functioning heating system for one winter without trouble. It was my dream to have a stanley I saved and waited until I was 45 to put it in - and if anyone asked me I would not recommend Stanley. Their agent charged me a fortune, represented that he worked for stanley, when I contacted Stanley he was not working for them for 2 years, and that the works I had done were between me and him, and stanley were not party to (which I accept) the engineer knew I didnt know much about the systems and I now think ensured he was coming back for more work by not fixing the problem, more money in his pocket. My experience has been so appalling, and now I must limit my costs as Im out of work, and do not see myself getting work in immediate future, question is do I remove the stanley, sell it, or risk fixing it again at huge cost, or put in an ordinary central heating boiler that can be serviced by anyone. If anyone knows a stanley service engineer (Enfield co meath/Kildare, or where I can purchase a replacement boilers/parts cheap please let me know. Any advice on what is the best solution would be appreciated. The stanley was situated in the kitchen the core heart of the home on a middle wall of the house...ie a strange place for a boiler to be inserted. Any suggestions welcomed Thank you. .

dudara

Moved to the Plumbing & Heating forum

dudara

Dtp79

Arthuro wrote: »

I purchased a Stanley Cooker 100K Brandon model twin burner, installed same with a dual system running a back boiler. It cost 6000.00 and was commissioned by Stanley themselves. Stanley sell these units, but outsource the servicing to various companies nationwide. After 4 years the thermostat blew, and was replace a second and third time (3 call out charges). I purchased the fourth one 60.00 cheaper than the service technician and refused to let him install it until he found out why they were blowing...so I watched what he was doing and noticed a tiny drop of liquid on the floor that he had not seen. The upshot was the boiler was leaking, on the seam or join of the boiler. That service technician cost me over 1350.00. At the time I felt it was a faulty boiler, Stanley insisted I was wrong and claimed that I should not have a back boiler on the same system. I was quoted from 1500.00 to 2500.00 plus vat for the repair. (I had the boiler welded and it worked fine until now again it is leaking in a different spot underneath again on the seam. I am now advised again that I have to take out the back boiler, and repair the stanley at huge additional cost. I cannot understand how or why the Commissioning agent did not say when it was initially installed that back boilers were incompatible as dual systems with their Stanley Cookers. I have spent 7000.00 + ( I had to replace 5 leaking radiators as well) and not had consistent properly functioning heating system for one winter without trouble. It was my dream to have a stanley I saved and waited until I was 45 to put it in - and if anyone asked me I would not recommend Stanley. Their agent charged me a fortune, represented that he worked for stanley, when I contacted Stanley he was not working for them for 2 years, and that the works I had done were between me and him, and stanley were not party to (which I accept) the engineer knew I didnt know much about the systems and I now think ensured he was coming back for more work by not fixing the problem, more money in his pocket. My experience has been so appalling, and now I must limit my costs as Im out of work, and do not see myself getting work in immediate future, question is do I remove the stanley, sell it, or risk fixing it again at huge cost, or put in an ordinary central heating boiler that can be serviced by anyone. If anyone knows a stanley service engineer (Enfield co meath/Kildare, or where I can purchase a replacement boilers/parts cheap please let me know. Any advice on what is the best solution would be appreciated. The stanley was situated in the kitchen the core heart of the home on a middle wall of the house...ie a strange place for a boiler to be inserted. Any suggestions welcomed Thank you. .

Maybe I'm wrong here but I cannot see any reason why a dual system is not allowed with these cookers. And I certainly don't see how it would cause the cooker to leak. Have you ever checked the small tank in your attic to see if the ballcock was refilling??

jimf

Dtp79 wrote: »

Maybe I'm wrong here but I cannot see any reason why a dual system is not allowed with these cookers. And I certainly don't see how it would cause the cooker to leak. Have you ever checked the small tank in your attic to see if the ballcock was refilling??

especially with 5 leaking rads replaced as well

Dtp79

jimf wrote: »

especially with 5 leaking rads replaced as well

Missed that!

corkgsxr

Mm you have other problems apart from the stove. If you dont find them youll always have problems

oikster

Seems like the back boiler side of the system may be pitching. There is absolutely no reason that the cooker cannot be installed along with a back boiler or any other boiler for that matter as long as it is done properly.

Arthuro

HI all, thank you for replying, I meant to say I am a female, My dog was called arthuro....but the reason I put this up was to get
a better insight into what I can do about the problem. I am not a fellow, brilliantly technically minded plumber or central heating engineer, but I have now had an email saying I can run the two systems together - but I have to get a plumber to look at the possibility that the back boiler is probably 'pitching'/. Does anyone know what this means. I am just so afraid to spend a lot of money (expecially now) and end up with more problems. any more information would be greatly appreciated. And many thanks to those of you who have already replied.

jimf

Arthuro wrote: »

HI all, thank you for replying, I meant to say I am a female, My dog was called arthuro....but the reason I put this up was to get
a better insight into what I can do about the problem. I am not a fellow, brilliantly technically minded plumber or central heating engineer, but I have now had an email saying I can run the two systems together - but I have to get a plumber to look at the possibility that the back boiler is probably 'pitching'/. Does anyone know what this means. I am just so afraid to spend a lot of money (expecially now) and end up with more problems. any more information would be greatly appreciated. And many thanks to those of you who have already replied.

what area do you live

Wearb

Grin

oikster

An e-mail ???????????????:rolleyes:
And you don't need a plumber to tell you if your system is pitching.

deandean

Think you have a system design problem there, not necessarily a Stanley problem.
All aspects of your heating system need to be right for the system to work well.
Think you need an experienced plumber in to review the entire system. I can't recommend one, but hopefully you will get sorted.

deandean

Think you have a system design problem there, not necessarily a Stanley problem.
All aspects of your heating system need to be right for the system to work well.
Think you need an experienced plumber in to review the entire system. I can't recommend one, but hopefully you will get sorted.

oikster

Maybe the phantom e-mailer can sort it out.:D

oikster

I don't think that too many plumbers would be rushing out to fix this one.
Sounds a complete disaster area,but I'm sure the phantom e-mailer explained all this.That is if he knows what he's talking about and not just piggy-backing on someone elses guess to look knowledgeable.
Anyway OP if your system is pitching (pumping water over into the small tank in the roofspace when the system is in use)it is easily confirmed.
Simply take a look at the small tank when your back boiler is in use.If this is the case you can then explain this and all that you have already said in your original post to any potential plumbers willing to have a go.But I'm sure you already know all this from our phantom fiend/friend.

Arthuro

Oikster,

Thank you for your response...I have to explain, the email I received is from a fellow (who fixes stanley cookers living ten miles away) I have never used him before. I have no references for him, but he gave me his email address, and I scanned him the specs of my cooker model, diagrams etc, and asked him if he guaranteed the work, hou much his call out charges are (so I know for the future). I am quite transparent actually! The only thing I know is that he is the second person who mentioned the word 'pitching' as you have explained that water is pumping into the small tank - so I believe that this may be the problem) This fellow who emailed, says he will fix my cooker ie put in a new boiler, at huge cost, and has made it clear he wont fix the problem ie the pitching as he says that is a plumbers job. So, being a woman, I thought plumbers and heating was all the one but not so. But - a person must spend money carefully, especially with limited work, ie I think it would be stupid to replace a boiler without fixing the pitching problem - in the same way it is stupid to replace a transformer repeatedly without finding out why its is blowing (fault finding) otherwise you keep replacing it time after time. (It would seem because there is no thermostat a back boiler fireplace, water pumps over into small tank - is this normal, i presume overheated water has to go somewhere - can anyone tell me where this pitching water should go if it cant go into small tank - or is it that the back boiler needs a thermostat? - and I am asking this so that I might understand what a plumber says to me when he gets here - thanks) Do I understand then that I need a Stanley service engineer, and a plumber heating fellow in the house at the same time - to fix this issue. I put this post out because I need to understand what is taking place, as I have spent over 2K now (excluding the cost of new radiators ) and still no system working..(we have endured a siberianl winter with no heat) .so yes, I am being cautious, and I wouldn't blame anyone in my position for trying to understand totally so that it is done right this time. And thank you Dean Dean I think you are right -= I think I need both people - I think I am beginning to understand what is wrong.
If I can't get certainty of functionality - I will have to consider removing the cooker, selling it and buying an ordinary heating boiler that anyone can service.. it might be the most trouble free option.

oikster

I had to assist in the replacement of a Stanley cooker boiler recently. The reason was simply old age and it was a solid fuel model. The Stanley guy whom I know personally asked me to remove the cooker. He then dismantled the cooker and replaced the boiler. Back to me then to refit the cooker and refill the system.The only difference between this job and yours is that we knew that the boiler had failed through age,some size of a boiler by the way.
Now I know that it won't be easy to organise a plumber and a Stanley engineer at the same time but if you are determined to keep your cooker you have no choice.
Your first job would be to get a plumber/heating engineer to find the root of your corrosion and explain exactly to you what has to be done and why. As you say transparent. It may be something simple like pump position or it may be something more serious like a lack of pipework (more likely).If you can sort this problem and leave the system compatible with both heat sources then you can afford to wait for the Stanley engineer, might make things a little easier on you.
I don't envy your task and I'm raging that in this day and age that people still can't be honest with their customers as long as they keep paying up

Arthuro

I have been thinking what could have happened to my system, (which I installed when doing an extension) and I remember there was a leak of water from my attic pouring into the kitchen, so I inspected the attic and I found a water pipe (it had been tied somewhere I dont know where because there was rope on it) I put this pipe which had water coming out of it into one of the tanks in the attic, I think this is where the water is being pumped when it over heats ...it might be from the back boiler and maybe it was meant to be discharged outdoors, I will have to show it to the plumber when I get him/them down to do the job. I have to save up first to get the money together, which is harder when work is not so plentyful. I actually don't think it is a major problem at all, -I think it was the stupid pipe in the attic, .... the biggest problem is getting someone to agree to (a) look at it (b) do what is needed. But when I do this job in say June, I just don't know whether to take the risk with repairing the stanley, or take it out and put in an ordinary boiler. The stanley is where all the pluming is, the heart of the kitchen so to speak. Anyway thank you for coming back to me.

Cliffhanger48

My Stanley has developed a fault recently. The heating side fires up fine as does the cooker side. However if I try and select both at once the first selected will fire up but the other one will not. If I then switch off the one that fired up the one that didn't fire up will. Any ideas guys

Billy7777

The fault with only the first burner coming on is with your time clock. So if you switch on the heating the oven wont come on and the same if you switch on your oven first the heating won't come on. The only way to solve this is to replace the time clock

Sammy2012

Hi there....not sure if I'm posting in the right thread but here goes. I have a stanley cooker and this morning I realised that it hadn't come on during the night to heat the water...I pushed the boost button on it this morning but nothing happened. I then tried to turn in the heating but nothing happened. After this I pushed the orange button on the bottom and the water came on for a minute and then turned off again.

Can anyone advise me on what to do next? It's a Brandon cooker..4yrs old.

Billy7777

Sammy2012 wrote: »

Hi there....not sure if I'm posting in the right thread but here goes. I have a stanley cooker and this morning I realised that it hadn't come on during the night to heat the water...I pushed the boost button on it this morning but nothing happened. I then tried to turn in the heating but nothing happened. After this I pushed the orange button on the bottom and the water came on for a minute and then turned off again.

Can anyone advise me on what to do next? It's a Brandon cooker..4yrs old.

Hi
If the Orange button is coming on at the bottom it is a burner fault. Sound like you might be out of oil? If not you will need to call your engineer.

Sammy2012

Definitely not out of oil..checked that.. where would I find out wHo my local engineer is?

Sammy2012

Definitely not out of oil..checked that.. where would I find out wHo my local engineer is?

Billy7777

Sammy2012 wrote: »

Definitely not out of oil..checked that.. where would I find out wHo my local engineer is?

What county are you in? If you ring Stanley 051302333 they can give you the nearest engineer.

Sammy2012

In county wexford...can give them a call though...

F.Giles

Stanley Brandon oil fired Twin Series 80k version, Serial no. 8T/08423, circa 1998

This stove has recently started to make cracking noises (often loud) when the central heating burner is active. It sounds to me like some movement due to expansion. I can not locate the source.

Any ideas on how to find it and fix it?

I sympathise with those having problems finding a qualified, competent, Stanley approved engineer. I have not found one in spite of Stanley's recommendation.