Working pressure.

[diamondgas]

Hi all interested What are your thoughts on undersized pipework and poor supply pressure?

A friend asked me to check out his mothers boiler today! Installed in 2010 under the Keep Newcastle Warm lot, the freebie given to older customers by the local authorities I believe?

Boiler installed is a vaillant 824 Combi. Inlet working pressure 13mbar, meter 20mbar working. That is quite a significant drop and there is also a gas fire on the same supply!
"what do you think I should do Steve?" he asked me!!
I suggested he contacted the installer first of all see what they're gonna do! Then suggested if he gets no joy there he should contact Gas Safe! Bear in mind i am here kind of arms length, unofficial!

He rang me back; Installer not interested as it has not been brought to there attention before now and has been maintained regularly!!! I checked the servicing paperwork whilst i was there, the service guy, in my opinion, made up the figures, said the boiler was 28kW imput working!

He rang Gas Safe, not interested! Whoever he talked to seemed to fob him off with something about gas leaking or fumes was their only interest!!!

So KNW fitted a boiler substandard off a gas fire 15mm supply and the custard, OAP, appears to have to foot the bill!

Anyone know of any other advice I could suggest to my pal to help him get the installer back? Or am I wrong in laying the blame on them?

 

[Rickster123]

Hi diamond, just out of interest how was the boiler performing? Was the lady happy with the heating and hot water?

 

[quality]

I am not to sure on the legal front but I have gas rated many boilers with a pressure drop over 3-4 mbar and most have been fine (some have not) coupled with correct FGA readings I do not see what we can do other than record the details on a cp12 and advise

 

[diamondgas]

Hi diamond, just out of interest how was the boiler performing? Was the lady happy with the heating and hot water?

Must admit i didn't want to get to involved as I honestly thought it would be a formality for my pal to get it sorted! However they didn't complain of any issues other than the gas fire flame "lowering" when the bath was run! After the phone call I said I could attend 'officially' if need be if they didn't get things sorted but would rather the installers foot the bill for their poor installation.

 

[diamondgas]

I am not to sure on the legal front but I have gas rated many boilers with a pressure drop over 3-4 mbar and most have been fine (some have not) coupled with correct FGA readings I do not see what we can do other than record the details on a cp12 and advise

Cheers quality ... I too have found that gas rate wise they're fine. however its how they effect other appliances that bothers me and the fact that the installers didn't register this or do anything about it

 

[quality]

I agree mate

 

[SimonJohns]

In the defence of the warm front
You can get a 4mb drop across valve but even then. The mi state it must have above 17.

Shouldn't gas safe pick this one up as a saftey issue. Especially since I was slated for leaving 3" of overflow outside before the upgrade in pipe size. I would of said that this is a far bigger and more important issue than a condense

 

[wnjswozo]

from what i,ve heard about these lads who are working on the warm front contracts,they are worked half to death,and i can see how they cut corners on piping up gas,to boiler,ie picking up 15mm feeds under floors,

 

[diamondgas]

In the defence of the warm front
You can get a 4mb drop across valve but even then. The mi state it must have above 17.

Shouldn't gas safe pick this one up as a saftey issue. Especially since I was slated for leaving 3" of overflow outside before the upgrade in pipe size. I would of said that this is a far bigger and more important issue than a condense

I totally agree Simon!

My pal on behalf of his mother via me...lol... Seemed to be gettin the run around! In my mind trully unbelievable!! I thought it an obvious install mistake that needed rectified! However all parties are wiping their hands by the looks of it! Grrrrrrr

 

[diamondgas]

from what i,ve heard about these lads who are working on the warm front contracts,they are worked half to death,and i can see how they cut corners on piping up gas,to boiler,ie picking up 15mm feeds under floors,

I know where you're comming from but still no excuse IMHO ... I'd be okay with a couple of Mbar's to be honest but 13mb is nearly half the requirement of the boiler manufacturer and fire!!

 

[Mike Jackson]

Has the gas fire got a FSD? If not this could be a serious issue. Undergassing an appliance with a flame failure device is one thing but when it is affecting another it becomes a lot more serious in my books.

 

[diamondgas]

Has the gas fire got a FSD? If not this could be a serious issue. Undergassing an appliance with a flame failure device is one thing but when it is affecting another it becomes a lot more serious in my books.

Yeh Mike it was insatalled a year before the boiler and has an FSD! I didn't check it's working pressure or what the MI's request! As said i want to keep as wide a berth from this as possible, Only because I think the installer should rectify the fault. I also am appaled as gas Safe's response to be honest!

 

[AWheating]

whats the warranty period? i think its 2 years on these jobs?

i would be tempted to get them the phone warm front up and say that the installation has been AR, turned off etc.... and request its fixed under warranty. Even if the warranty period is up its a latent defect in that its a fault in design and installation and not a fault from use or wear.

The problem with this sort of thing is its tax payers money paying for illegal poor work, if you/they complain hard enough they should get somewhere hopefully. I think there is an offical complaints proceedure you can go throught to report the defects.

 

[diamondgas]

I like that AWheating! and agree ... 2 years is up in april! My concern is that Gas Safe aren't interested when Joe Publlic phone up with a serious concern involving potentialy At Risk situations! I really don't want to go down them lines of getting involved to be honest but it seems such a shame that the powers that be and the installers are shaking their hands! *sigh*

 

[CMairiD]

Any of the local rags interested in picking up the story? See they can be shamed into fixing it.