Fernox Tf1 total filter reversed flow

[snowhead]

You need to get this sorted out.
If there's a warranty issue with the boiler the first thing the manufacturer will want is the Benchmark paperwork.
If the guy is not registered you'll have to pay for any repairs.

First I'd contact the Guy who fitted it and ask him to fill in the Benchmark paperwork and say you have concerns about all that you've stated.

The flue is a serious situation.
He'll need to employ a roofer as he clearly doesn't have the appropriate skills.

If it turns out the guy that fitted it is not Gassafe you'll end up having to have the boiler removed and refitted by someone who is.
But by that time Gassafe must have got involved.

 

[DaveB0360]

Haha, love how your initial concern is with the filter and then on a side note describe a very poor and possibly dangerous gas installation . I don't know why you feel bad at possibly getting the fitter into trouble, you've paid a professional to come into your home and by the sounds of it all he has done is put you and your family at risk. I wouldn't think twice about notifying gas safe.

Hi, my initial was intended to see how effective this forum might be at providing some help, responses were helpful, thanks, so I then thought I'd sound out any respondents on their opinions of other concerns I have.
I'm a very fastidious person and like things done right. I was grateful for this fitter coming out and getting us up & running because we were cold with no heating. So when he powered the system up and we were warm at last, we celebrated and were happy. It's only since, that I've been trying to finish the job (box work, earthing etc) that I've noticed these errors. I showed him the flue from an upstairs window and he simply said, I don't think rain will get in. Not the response I was expecting so I looked in more detail. I've got a detector nearby and not had any alerts but I doubt flue the flue will survive one of our northeast Coast storms.

 

[DaveB0360]

You need to get this sorted out.
If there's a warranty issue with the boiler the first thing the manufacturer will want is the Benchmark paperwork.
If the guy is not registered you'll have to pay for any repairs.

First I'd contact the Guy who fitted it and ask him to fill in the Benchmark paperwork and say you have concerns about all that you've stated.

The flue is a serious situation.
He'll need to employ a roofer as he clearly doesn't have the appropriate skills.

If it turns out the guy that fitted it is not Gassafe you'll end up having to have the boiler removed and refitted by someone who is.
But by that time Gassafe must have got involved.

Thanks for the advice. I checked him with gas safe and he was a genuine gas safe registered fitter. His qualifications included 'non masonry flue' so assumed he could competently install the flue. I even precision cut the elliptical ceiling opening for him .... There were also references on a local Web site praising him so I thought I'd be in safe hands.

 

[DaveB0360]

Thanks for the advice. I checked him with gas safe and he was a genuine gas safe registered fitter. His qualifications included 'non masonry flue' so assumed he could competently install the flue. I even precision cut the elliptical ceiling opening for him .. There were also references on a local Web site praising him so I thought I'd be in safe hands.

Here's some photos.

 

[Aire]

Obviously we cant see everything from the photos but nothing immediately concerns me with those photos, obviously I can't see how the tiles are fixed but I can't see the gap you mention. The filter looks Ok but again I can't see which way the direction arrow is pointing, if it's pointing up then all is good. So the only concerning parts is the benchmark not filled it, the flue not been clipped and the possibility he hasn't commissioned the boiler, and the condensate looks like it might be running slighlty up hill. If you are generally concerned then you can either call gas safe or another local engineer to come and check it over.

 

[DaveB0360]

Obviously we cant see everything from the photos but nothing immediately concerns me with those photos, obviously I can't see how the tiles are fixed but I can't see the gap you mention. The filter looks Ok but again I can't see which way the direction arrow is pointing, if it's pointing up then all is good. So the only concerning parts is the benchmark not filled it, the flue not been clipped and the possibility he hasn't commissioned the boiler, and the condensate looks like it might be running slighlty up hill. If you are generally concerned then you can either call gas safe or another local engineer to come and check it over.

OK, like you say, you can't see all from the photos. The arrow on the tf1 is indeed pointing upwards but the return pipe connected to the upper port is flowing downwards from a downwards return pipe from behind the boiler. The lower port bends upwards to the return tail of boiler.
The flue is way off vertical for starters, is not held to any structure in the roof by any clamp or brackets, it's only held by its own downwards weight and a loose fitting collar of the lead slate. The roof slates are layered loosely behind the upwards section of the flue.
The condensate pipework is forced behind the filter pipework. There's an adey calmag cold supply filter tightly fitted between other pipes running downwards and is dripping but no space to get wrench on it to tighten up. Out of shot are also 2 crossovers that are not freely crossing, they are forced against the pipes they're crossing over. The mains supply cable has been scarred with heat from the torch, as has a few areas of the boiler under tray.
I could go on..... Yes, I'm fussy but there are several areas that are clearly and unnecessarily bodged.
Having watched the guy work, I don't believe he has the skills or finesse to put this right to a satisfactory standard so I can't see any sense in confronting him with a view to putting it right.
I'm screwed I reckon..

 

[Aire]

Sorry I see what you mean about the filter now, so the return comes down through the filter and then back up again to the boiler, so yes that is wrong. The flue is very dangerous too. Your right not to trust the engineer to put it right, if he's capable of tidy and safe work he would have done it properly in the first place. Your only option is to get another engineer to put it right, it's going to cost you but its needs doing.

 

[DaveB0360]

Sorry I see what you mean about the filter now, so the return comes down through the filter and then back up again to the boiler, so yes that is wrong. The flue is very dangerous too. Your right not to trust the engineer to put it right, if he's capable of tidy and safe work he would have done it properly in the first place. Your only option is to get another engineer to put it right, it's going to cost you but its needs doing.

Annoys me primarily because we didn't hammer down his price or haggle or nit pick. I supplied all pipe, fittings, filter etc and even paid him £50 ott as a Christmas tip. When he came to view the job, he didn't put ladders up properly, slipped off them, destroyed the bathroom door, scratched and part damage our new bathroom rad and twisted the pipework.... That should have been my clue..... But we were cold and desperate and our original fitter couldn't get to us as originally arranged.... Kicking myself now.... You live & learn I guess. But for the gas safe regs, I'd have done it right myself. He didn't even seem to know what the anti thermosiphon leg was for in the supply pipe.... But he did it more or less the way I specified..... And it works!!

 

[Aire]

Pfft, he didn't even know what an anti thermosiphon leg was for, what an idiot

 

[DaveB0360]

Pfft, he didn't even know what an anti thermosiphon leg was for, what an idiot

Well, he looked mystified when I mentioned it as a feature of intergas piping, instead of a check valve, I suggested a 600mm drop loop instead.

I'm gonna try see when the first engineer is available next, he was referred by family electrician that I trust.
Just wish the law wasn't such an bum and I could do it all myself like I used to.
Thanks all.

 

[Ric2013]

Not many RGIs would put up with working for an engineer who makes suggestions, to be honest. I do do work for an engineer and find it interesting, but we have some interesting discussions on the best way to do things that some people might find annoying.

Not necessarily your fault, but do be mindful that many in this trade are not academic but have spent a lot of time learning the trade and can feel threatened when someone who in their mind knows nothing about it challenges their knowledge.

As others have said, there is nothing obviously wrong with the work carried out, but if you call out Gas Safe, then if the work is not to standard then you know, and if it is to standard then Gas Safe will say so. I wouldn't worry about getting people into trouble as I suspect Gas Safe inspects a proportion of its installers' installations anyway, so if he's the real thing, he will get the odd check anyway.

 

[Scott_D]

I haven't read all post but from the pictures it looks like a decent enough install.
Cant the valves be isolated and the body rotated on the TF1?

 

[Riley]

Might just be angles but is the flue pic from a window above

 

[DaveB0360]

Might just be angles but is the flue pic from a window above

Yes it is from the landing window.

 

[Riley]

I think it looked closer than it was. Ignore me