Hi all,
Just after some other plumbers' views on an issue.
I serviced a pro boil tap this week (PROBOIL 2 - Steaming Hot Water Boiler - https://www.pronteau.co.uk/3-in-1/proboil-2). It was just under three years old, and never serviced. It should be serviced annually, and a new filter every six months in hard water areas (such as mine). All went well with descaling and changing the filter. I then set about calibrating it, following the MIs. Partway through the process, hot water spurted from the tap (indicating the stat needed to be turned down further). So I turned the stat down, at which point, I noticed water on the floor, coming from the pro-boil boiler unit. As I felt around the boiler, the drain plug popped out, sending boiling water gushing onto my hand. On later inspection, I found the drain plug (plastic) had sheared off, leaving half its threaded body in the boiler. The issue is one of liability, as I'm now off the tools for two weeks (with second degree burns), personal inconvenience, and a lot of pain in the process. I would like compensating for my loss of income. Likewise, the customer is left with a damaged boiler. Proboil has offered him a discount on a new one. Pro-boil also say they aren't liable for damages, because the boiler hadn't been serviced to their MIs. However, I would expect a lot of these boilers go three years or more without being serviced. That should be considered at the design stage. The drain plugs should be designed to withstand such pressures, as this is a major safety issue. If these tap/boilers are as dangerous as they now appear, with the kitchen tap unable to adequately reduce the pressure inside the boiler (it ejects hot water, if the pressure builds, but in the case the ejected water didn't release the pressure), surely they should be fitted with PRVs/tundishes? And more safety devices, if necessary. The design is inherently dangerous. I'd love to hear your views. TIA, Jennie.
Just after some other plumbers' views on an issue.
I serviced a pro boil tap this week (PROBOIL 2 - Steaming Hot Water Boiler - https://www.pronteau.co.uk/3-in-1/proboil-2). It was just under three years old, and never serviced. It should be serviced annually, and a new filter every six months in hard water areas (such as mine). All went well with descaling and changing the filter. I then set about calibrating it, following the MIs. Partway through the process, hot water spurted from the tap (indicating the stat needed to be turned down further). So I turned the stat down, at which point, I noticed water on the floor, coming from the pro-boil boiler unit. As I felt around the boiler, the drain plug popped out, sending boiling water gushing onto my hand. On later inspection, I found the drain plug (plastic) had sheared off, leaving half its threaded body in the boiler. The issue is one of liability, as I'm now off the tools for two weeks (with second degree burns), personal inconvenience, and a lot of pain in the process. I would like compensating for my loss of income. Likewise, the customer is left with a damaged boiler. Proboil has offered him a discount on a new one. Pro-boil also say they aren't liable for damages, because the boiler hadn't been serviced to their MIs. However, I would expect a lot of these boilers go three years or more without being serviced. That should be considered at the design stage. The drain plugs should be designed to withstand such pressures, as this is a major safety issue. If these tap/boilers are as dangerous as they now appear, with the kitchen tap unable to adequately reduce the pressure inside the boiler (it ejects hot water, if the pressure builds, but in the case the ejected water didn't release the pressure), surely they should be fitted with PRVs/tundishes? And more safety devices, if necessary. The design is inherently dangerous. I'd love to hear your views. TIA, Jennie.
