The human race has survived for a long time without central heating!

However...we have had none at home since last Monday.  Not the biggest problem in the world, considering the plight of those hit by floods and power failures over the festive period but still a inconvenience that could have been avoided.

You see last Monday the Boiler Engineer visited to complete the annual service.  I explained the boiler had been a little temperamental recently but generally was working OK.  During the servicing the engineer broke a part of the ignition system...rendering the boiler incapacitated!  Parts were ordered by the engineer and fitted yesterday...result...still not working!  Three hours worth of investigations later the engineer concludes he needs another part..a simple lead that runs from the circuit board to the ignition system that tells the "brains" the boiler is lit!  Further he tells me that the he is surprised that his colleague who visited last Monday did not order the part in advance as it is usually replaced as part of the service!  Argh...

So today...I ring the company concerned who explain it "maybe" Monday before the part is available...with Tuesday, all being well, suggested as a likely fitting date..well!  I kinda think it a little shoddy and poor service! Also - completely avoidable!

To conclude it is cold in the house, we do have other sources of heating but at some point in the next few days we will have a warm house again!

Rant over...

British Gas "engineer" by any chance?

On this occasion..nPower..

Then I apologise. I've got a good local guy who, although he is a "one man band" gives excellent service.

Ah yes, npower... the company who took £430 from my colleague's bank account just before Christmas, for no reason whatsoever. Worryingly, I'm with them too...

Generally power companies get a bad press..for all sorts of justified reasons!

Kinda thinking I will find a local engineer..!

Quote from: lionwing on December 28, 2013, 11:17:57 AM
On this occasion..nPower..

Hmmm, sounds like the 'n' stands for 'no' ...

Sure it does...they just told me the 6th January would be the next available date to complete the repair...I' don't think so!

You said this started last Monday. Hope this is not the start of a Flanders & Swann episode - "The gasman cometh". Skip the ads if you view the video.


The Gas Man Cometh - Flanders and Swann

What brand is the boiler ?

It is a Glowworm Flexicom CX30.  Just about four years old.

Quote from: lionwing on December 29, 2013, 09:40:34 AM
It is a Glowworm Flexicom CX30.  Just about four years old.

If it had been a Worcester Bosch I could have suggested a way to get help.

No 5 year guarantee on these?  Maybe phoning the manufacturers own 7 days a week 24 hour Hotline is your best bet.

Another thought. Vaillant have almost certainly been giving 5 year guarantees during the last four years. If so then the guarantee will be with them and N Power would have been doing the servicing after year one to keep the guarantee in force.

Ring Vaillant.

I know it's not much help but I bet you don't let them service it in December again do you? I work in facilities and we have probably over 200 various types of heaters around the plant which are serviced between April and October for exactly this reason, availability of parts.
Also I would definitely recommend using a one man band or smaller firm if you can. You'll generally get a much better service from them including sending the same person out to you to complete repairs if they're not possible on the first visit.

Problem solved!

After finally getting through to someone at nPower who wasn't reading from a script common sense was applied which resulted in the boiler being fixed by early afternoon New Year's Eve!

Didn't half feel hot a few hours later!