new boiler installation story

[jacks0003]

Decided to put this up on here because i think it worth letting people know about how thing can go when you get someone to come round and fit you a new boiler.

The job was to adjust some pipe in my garage and fit a small radiator in my utility room and fit me a new boiler.
He said he'd do it in two days and have to start at 10am due to school run.

He arrived late on first day by an hour got about half the pipe work done and the radiator hung by the end ofthe fst day which was about 8.30pm. The radiator was also way bigger than i wanted
The next day he arrived an hour and half late (no phone call) started with pipe work in garage then left it to start the boiler installation about 4pm. He said he'd got a guy coming to help him with the flue fitting. This guy never showed and at 7.45pm he was telling he'd need my help to get the ladders off. At this time he also stated he needed to drill two holes to mount the boiler slightly further away from the wall. Through the course of the second day he spent about 2hrs having to nip out to go get something from Grahams plumbing and heating but when it got late he had to go to B&Q. He drank my coffee like a fish drinks water.
So at about 8.30pm i was stood holding the ladder for him in the pitch black while he fitted the flue. I noticed quite a few of the neighbours watching me. My next door neighbour arrived as we'd just finished. I took the opportunity to explain that he still needed to drill 4 holes. Luckily she was ok with this.
So i left him to tinker away at fitting the boiler and basically he failed to do it and the day ended with me having no fuctioning boiler and the guy having to come and finish in 2 days time because he was on a course the next day and i wasnt available in the afternoon. He's said 9.30 he'll be here, i doubt this will happen due to his general time keeping on the past couple of days he's been here. He only has Thursday morning to finish and i dont think he'll get it done.
There are pipes still to be moved, the earthing wire still to connect to the gas meter i'm not sure if he's seeled the flue up right. There's the old control panels from the previous boiler still to take out and of course the new boiler to finish installing. It was midnight when i finally got rid of him, hopefully thursday will be a better day. I will post an entry to let you alll know how it turns out.

 

[buryboy]

I would certainly ask to see his Gas Safe Registration card.
Check the back which show the areas of work he is qualified to work in.
Then check on the Gas Safe's Internet web site with his number to confirm that all is what it should be.
If he is not registered I'm afraid you'd better stop the job. Its in your own interests. Also if he is qualified to the earth bonding at the Gas Meter. This should only be done by a qualified electrician or if he has qualifications as a heating engineer to do that. Not many heating engineer / Gas Installers /Plumbers are qualified to do earth bonding.

 

[tamz]

Perhaps you should check his getting out of bed in the morning ticket too

Not all jobs are as straightforward as you think but any installer will give a reasonable estimate of timescales depending on their abilities which are "usually" never far away but unforseen obsticles and holdups do occur at times.

When the work is finished make sure he fills out the paperwork correctly and registers your boiler.

 

[ocentric]

From what you've said, I'd be very doubtful that this guy is gas safe registered, let alone a plumber. He's just the sort of person that gives our trade a bad reputation. I hope that you haven't parted with too much money yet. Did you get other quotes? It's always best to use someone that comes recommended.

 

[jacks0003]

This guy is on the register, i checked before i let him do the work. As far as qualifications go he got the lot which is quite odd. When he talks to me about what he's got to do you cant fault him he talks the talk but he dont walk the walk. He's back he tomorrow at 9.30am he better be here on time, so far he's not managed it.
What come back can i expect if i have to sack this guy mid way through the job.

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

he would probably be quite ****** off,his time keeping is terrible

 

[buryboy]

On a boiler change - bearing in mind - perhaps no heating or hot water, I tell my customers exactly what I expect to achieve based on the amount of work involved. I always err on the wrong side so when I tell them you'll have hot water and heating a day earlier than when I said, its met with smiles.

I've got an awful feeling the man you're dealing with spends the first couple of hours in a morning before he arrives checking manuals etc to see what he needs to do that day.

He might have the ticket but I'm afraid he doesn't sound like he has the practical experience. What kind of tools does he have?

Up a ladder in the dark drilling holes for the flue..................... hold on, the mind boggles.

I really think you have an awkward situation on your hands.

If he has got the ticket (qualifications) then you can only wait to see if he can actually do the job. I would report back with anything you feel is bad workmanship. With his time keeping and working into the night, I might be wrong but I think you might be in for a surprise either way.
As for sacking somebody half way through the job as gas man says, he will be mighty p****d off. Put your tin helmet on.

 

[jacks0003]

Yeah i think i 've got to see it through now, unless anything drastic happens. Will be reporting back tomorrow evening on what happens in the morning. im not expecting him to finish tomorrow but i'm hoping he can be back friday to complete the job.

 

[REDSAW]

i am still stuck on 'up the ladder while you are holding it when fitting boiler in a 'garage''...?????????????
how high is the boiler mounted?

 

[tamz]

I really would never critisise any other tradesmans work, no matter how good or bad it is as no matter who does the work, if i want to go over things with the fine toothcomb (my work incuded) i could pick faults. Everyone can have an offday and for all you know the guys wife may be packing her bags and his mind is elsewhere.

His biggest mistake as Buryboy said was giving you a specific timescale. Anyone with half a brain looks at the work, thinks of the worst and goes with that. If things come in early you are over the moon and he is brilliant.
For me (and i am fast) this is how i would have explained the work for 2 men, because i hate going out to the van.

We may get your heating back on the first day but it depends if we hit any obstacles.
(Now you have not mentioned the previous boiler position, how long (or how many pipes) the bit pipe run in the garage was, what floor covering you have etc etc we are only seeing half a picture)
It may run intio the 2nd day.
Finished on day one.........well pleased
Finished as estimated on 2nd day .........still very happy.

Speak to your installer and find out what has not gone to plan. The guy is guilty of underestimating his timescale!

What a great thing the internet is when you can attempt to find out if the guy fitting your heating is any good