"We have to keep the heating off until it's serviced later today"

Frank Bullitt

Help me settle a really stupid argument going on in the house right now.

With the current temps, my da saw it fit to get the boiler serviced sometime later today (totally unknown when). He is insistent on the heat and water not being turned on before then, he says it has to stay off but doesn't give a reason, just that it has to.

I have a jacket and a hat on and I am frozen solid here, is there any legit reason why the boiler has to stay off before it is serviced? Help me out here.

bucketybuck

Because the plumber can't work on boiling hot pipes...

The Continental Op

Sorry but you da's and idiot. I've had gas boilers and oil boilers serviced in this sort of weather and never gave a thought to turning them off.

Frank Bullitt

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119987014#Comment_119987014

He is saying because someone is servicing it today, it needs to be cold before they can service it...

8valve

Probably best, so it can be tested on a cold start after the service?

The Continental Op

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119987017#Comment_119987017

It doesn't. Tell the plumber when he calls he'll have a good laugh.

Now if there was a specific problem that occurred as the system was heated up then it would be much easier to show it if the system was cold but this is just a service of a system that is obviously working.

jimf

as somebody who service oil boilers i agree 100% with your dad

try reaching into a red hot boiler to remove baffles and you will know why

gas would be different

Frank Bullitt

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119987091#Comment_119987091

It is a gas boiler.

Xander10

Maybe asking the service guy is a good idea

The Continental Op

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119987091#Comment_119987091

How long do they take to cool down?

Frank Bullitt

Update, he isn't coming until tomorrow and he said of course we can use the heating until he gets there and not to be silly.

To be fair to my Da, he was as mad as me with not having the heat on, so we are aligned on that much.

I can hear the click of the heat now...lovely.

Thank you all for being my therapists today :)

bmc58

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119987542#Comment_119987542

Happy Christmas and stay warm😎

the_amazing_raisin

To be fair to your dad, having the boiler serviced is important and is a lot less inconvenient than having it break down over the Christmas holidays when you can't get a technician out

Of course, one might be tempted to ask why he didn't get it serviced back in September when the heating wasn't needed but that's between you and him. Maybe he just forgot 🤷‍♂️

jimf

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119987259#Comment_119987259

about an hour they are workable

front servicing are a lot easier to work on when hot

L1011

I've had the reverse of "it needs to be cold" - gas installer moaned at me when it was cold when he came to test, as it needed to be at operating temperature for the flue gas analysis!

supermans ghost

MOD NOTE deleted this post. Totally unhelpful.

jimf

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119988070#Comment_119988070

if they are too close to max temp it can burst your chops if you need to do a bit of adjusting

dendof

Similar-ish question...

My water is gone since Friday. Tank empty for flushing toilets.

Can I have the oil on? Can I light stove with back boiler?

greasepalm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119995340#Comment_119995340

Interesting as i would think frozen/burst pipe having no water from mains but could use rainwater from a water butt if handy ?

Heating system should be sealed so it has its own built in water supply but venting/bleeding rads will lower your level too low.

Boiler should work as it has a pump to circulate the water and stove should be okay also.

Mains water when back should fill tank again and fill toilets .

Was it frozen in your area?

dendof

Yeah I have had exposed mains pipe for a couple of days where some building happening next door and it froze last week.

I was hoping that it would be sealed system and I could use either oil or stove without doing damage.

And yeah, once mains comes back should be good to go when tanks fill. I just wondered about the heating

Victor

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119987013#Comment_119987013

I can appreciate this, but need it be off the whole day?

greasepalm

Wondered why a plumber is coming to service a gas boiler as need a registered person?

I would think 1 hour would be enough for system to be cold as the fresh air would chill it down when not on

Wearb

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119995666#Comment_119995666

Seeing as you have a solid fuel boiler, it's most likely that you have a small tank in the attic. Make sure theres water in this.

If the oil is on a sealed system, you'll have a pressure gauge somewhere. If there is pressure in the system, then I would just use the oil until I get my water supply sorted. If the oil is an an open system, then to be sure that it's got water in it (not leaking) by checking the small tank for water.

bucketybuck

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119995681#Comment_119995681

The OP said they did not know when the tradesman was arriving.

So its either off all day until he arrives or run the risk of it still being on when he arrives.

Stone Deaf 4evr

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119996065#Comment_119996065

plumbers can be registered installers?