Good evening to all,
my mum's oil fired boiler needs renewing. She is elderly and registered
blind. I live 4 hours travel away.
Gas is not available where she lives.
I will be paying the costs for the new installation and thus would like to
be kept informed.
Existing 15yo boiler is 50K btu and, frankly, on its last legs.
A locally recommended heating engineer has been invited to quote. I find his
statements bewildering and he refuses to speak with me.
Please excuse me, this may be long, but I (no spring chicken) am struggling
to understand:
15.02.2010
"The non condensing boiler made by Grant is a 50/70 which is big enough to
do your mother's properties at XXXX which is quite lucky because they only
make a 50/70 at present in non condensing as they are not so popular any
more and thats why they only make them to order. To remove the existing oil
boiler and install a new Grant 50/70 non condensing with a flue connection
from the top to the existing flue, a Megaclean, copper tube, fittings,
replace thermostatic radiator valves as your mother said that some of them
do not work properly, refix some of the plumbing pipework that goes to
certain radiators that have broken away from their existing fittings..
Refill adding a full treatment, commission. This would be for the sum of
£xxxx.xx plus V.A.T. The reason I havent quoted for a new flue is because
after the boiler has been removed we would need to take the top of the
existing flue and have a good look at it. If it is a case we need to refix
it and brush it clean then this can be done under the same price as above.
The SW double insulation s/steel flue which is similar to that at present is
very expensive and if it has to be replaced you would be looking around
£xxx.xx plus V.A.T.
It takes approx 4 weeks to make the boiler and then it gets transported down
here so you are looking approx 5 weeks. If you are happy with the above
quote we require a letter of confirmation that you accept the quote but if
you could let me know by email then I will get it ordered so that we can get
your mother sorted due to our workload is extensive."
15.02.2010
"Answers to questions. Yes the boiler is big enough and you want it
to work just under full volume i.e. 65,000 btus, that is why we went round
with your mother so that we could measure each radiator. Bigger boiler will
keep recycling costing more oil, more wear and tear on boiler.
Megaclean. We fit them on every boiler installation we do they are
absolutely top end, weather its oil, gas or LPG. It helps keep the system
running clean, I don't know where you got your information from but that is
total crap, ring British Gas for their opinion!
Full treatment means we flush the system, guess what? We use a large
Megaclean flushing system and then we back fill adding a full Sentinal
treatment.
I do apologise for calling it SW flue as that is its correct name but
it is the same flue as is there at present but as I said it is expensive
thats why we were trying to save a bit of money if it passes perhaps I
should not have thought of the customer!
All our work is ALWAYS done correct to the Regulations and registered
with Oftec for Building Regulations Certificate, I really don't know what
kind of **** you turn out!
We only supply appliances we don't make them, if they say a time
period that is all I can go on and I know your mother is elderly but we do a
vast amount of work for people who are elderly, but unfortunately there is
times when they have just got to hang in there.
As for our service and maintenance, locally its known as second to
none as well as our after sales service!
When xxxx called me his wife was putting the casing back on your
mother's boiler because the 1st man they used when the boiler was giving
trouble didn't bother to turn up, he was good wasn't he? The 2nd man he
turned up buggered about, left off all the casing, said you need a new
boiler, I will come back sometime and see if I can get it running, never
seen him again! Mum does need her creature comforts, I met your brother he
was desperate to find somebody who was relieable, I said I can get it
running but only use it for small periods, not all day, we must change this
appliance, if you push it too hard it could break down, keep a tight eye on
it.
All our work meets all Regulations, our service and maintenace, we
even repair boilers late into the evening, thats why I was well recommended
from xxxx because of my reputation. All I will say is you have got a lovely
mother, you can't have everything!
Now I would suggest you start ringing now throw your hook."
20.02.2010.
"I appreciate that your mother has already spoken to you by now but
yesterday we changed direction due to the local authorities and Grant moving
the goal posts. The authorities want at least 10 days before meeting and
completing my application and Grant told me it would be 3/4 weeks to make
the boiler, they now inform me it could be 6/7 weeks so I waved goodbye with
a local gesture, made a couple of phone calls and contacted your mother and
explained the situation, she is now going to have a condensing boiler, a
full up-date system, new flue, without too much upset. She was hightly
delighted, we have asked 2 of our customers if they would accept a delay on
their work, no problem there, so we will start work at your mother's approx
2 or 3rd March. The above work will be done within the same price structure
as the 2 quoted prices you have already been sent on behalf of your mother.
Any other information I will pass on to your mother."
20.02.2010.
"The Planning Control Officer is an office that we go to if you
are going to fit a standard efficiency boiler and it works on a points
system, as you tick the boxes on my form if you don't go over a thousand
points the installation can be installed. In early 2006 when I did a
standard installation I had an appointment with the office, showed them my
form, told them all about the premises, discussed it in full and had
permission, 20 mins max. I returned with the same idea and its all changed.
Now I have to write an application form in for an appointment, then we have
to meet on site, then we discuss it on site then we pass it, all this takes
approx and I do say that loosely 10 days! Plus a fee so we couldn't order
the boiler until after that period and then we got Grants time, out of the
question or I said words very similar. This is a lady that needs urgent
attention, you just as well talk to the wall! Thats why I rang your mother
and explained we will go for the new system, it will be kept within the
quote."
The above is verbatim except for some personal details.
I hope it gives some idea of the dilemma I am in, and my thanks
in advance for any sensible replies or advice.
Nick.
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