Bleed'n bureaucracy!

[Gibbo2286]

My Vaillant gas boiler fitted in 2006 has become troublesome so I decided to replace it with the latest version of the Vaillant range, got a quote from British Gas and accepted it, boiler delivered as arranged yesterday, guy came to fit it this morning.

After fussing around for fifteen minutes making phone calls back to base he says he can't fit it because the flue is too close to the boundary so he picked it all up and went on his way.

He says he cannot install it because the flue needs to be 60cm from the boundary and it's only 50cm so 4 inches too close.

The boundary is a chain link fence, there is a 50 metre garden between my place and the nearest house.

He said the only way round it is to go vertical up through the roof which would mean extra unspecified cost.

[Paul-R]

Find another installer who is more amenable.

[mickthemaverick]

Given you're already equipped with solar power and storage I would think it is worth considering a conversion to an electric boiler Gibbo. Read all about it on the Which website. https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/boilers ... ler-brands
I'll be interested to follow this story

[Gibbo2286]

I've already considered that Mick but the numbers don't work, even with my solar etc. it's still too costly to run on electric.

[mickthemaverick]

I can't say that surprises me, in which case maybe follow Paul's advice and try a few local gas registered engineers and buy the boiler yourself?

[PaulC5]

Getting another fitter might not help, there seems to be guidance about boiler outlets and this dated 2017 might help explain it. You might be able to angle the outlet so it does not point direct across the boundary rather than putting a pipe all the way through the house. https://registeredgasengineer.co.uk/wp- ... in_016.pdf

[Stickyfinger]

Have a chat with next door.....move the bit of fence temporally ?

My Father had similar with gas bottles, wanted to store them/feed from a side of the garage so access was easy/short feed pipe to the boiler room/could not see them etc ...No, DANGEROUS

They had to be connected/chained to the side of the house/bedroom wall with a long feed pipe around the house to the boiler room !

[Gibbo2286]

Have a chat with next door.....move the bit of fence temporally ?

My Father had similar with gas bottles, wanted to store them/feed from a side of the garage so access was easy/short feed pipe to the boiler room/could not see them etc ...No, DANGEROUS

They had to be connected/chained to the side of the house/bedroom wall with a long feed pipe around the house to the boiler room !

Can't do that unfortunately the neighbouring houses are former council houses and now in the hands of some housing association,

[Gibbo2286]

Getting another fitter might not help, there seems to be guidance about boiler outlets and this dated 2017 might help explain it. You might be able to angle the outlet so it does not point direct across the boundary rather than putting a pipe all the way through the house. https://registeredgasengineer.co.uk/wp- ... in_016.pdf

Spoke to Vaillant on the phone they sent another installer to have a look he said "Simple just needs an elbow to turn it along the barge board and out over my own yard."

It will cost a tiny bit more than the BG quote (which he said was 'keen') but won't need to go up through my flat roof at some unknown cost.

Four inches never caused so much bother.

[Paul-R]

Any chance of getting BG to do the same with an angled elbow?

[Sloppysod]

Gibbo, bit of experience advice.
When my boiler was moved, they placed the boiler slightly to high so the vent pipe angled done a few degrees, consequently when the boiler was working hard the condensation did not fully evacuate the flue, so every no and then I had to empty the flue at the elbow.
So, when the guy fits it, the flue needs to be either level, or tilted towards the boiler.
Good luck.

[mickthemaverick]

Four inches never caused so much bother.

You've not met my kids then Gibbo?

[Gibbo2286]

Well I have a feeling the BG guy got a bollocking off his boss, they came on the phone and asked why Vaillant had emailed them, I explained their guy said it couldn't be done but that another company's installer said it can.
Next morning their guy turned up unannounced and had another look and agreed it was easy enough but would cost a few quid more for the additional work and they can do it next Friday, so for now BG is back on............we'll see.

[CitroJim]

Ahh that's a relief Eric - potentially good news

[Paul-R]

Next morning their guy turned up unannounced and had another look...

Was it the same bloke?

Never mind costing a bit more, I think I would have asked for a little discount for messing you about.