Boilers! I know its off topic but I need help.

[Andy302]

I know its nothing to do with cobs :OT well it could be as the money Ive spent below was my cob fund!

Has anyone had any problems with their Ideal Icos M3080 system boiler? Ours has gone wrong yearly since we had it installed. (2 years ago)

First the condensate trap filled up with casting sand left over from the manufacturing process, that caused the boiler case to fill with water! Major issue! That was fixed under warranty. Ideal do not accept responsibility.

Now condensation from the flue has dripped down into the boiler and corrded the insides causing another error, guess what this time its out of warranty.

It looks like the flue seal is not up to the job had has allowed condensate to run back into the boiler case, the seal is intact and in good condition as agreed both by my installer and Ideals engineer, but it is leaking.

Ideals response to the problem "We dont know what the problem is,it could be heat!! HEAT its on a flue for pitys sake its not going to stay cold!!, it gets hot!!!! or the best one "your installer must have used flux or something to help the seal on to the flue". Thats rubbish! He would never do that, he has 30 years experience and is a friend of the family who would not bodge a job. Its quite insulting actually to think they would blame him.

Rant over.

So has anyone else had any problems like this, I need ammo to go to Ideal with.

Also has anyone got a current set of installation instructions for this boiler and flue extention as we strongly believe they have been changed since ours was installed as to quote an Ideal area rep "in some circumstances, certain combinations give problems!!!" he would not go official on that of course!

Many, many thanks

Andy
Study filling up with bits, wife not so amused! :tu

http://images.animfactory.com/animat...lls_md_wht.gif

[Miket]

Andy

Best thing you can do is get British Gas full system cover, costs about £15 per month including 1 annual service, wait a couple of weeks after you have got it, then call them out.

I've had there cover for years, full parts and labour, I've had them out loads of times without quibble.

[Trigger]

Rip it all out and buy an oil boiler! Some modern stuff is really not up to it. I installed an oil fired boiler in 1987 in the house I'm in now and have spent £30 on a solenoid about 5 years back. Only thing that's gone wrong with it. No servicing, no insurance but I've had the burner unit out twice for cleaning and ispection. I installed a stainless steel flexible flue. When it fires up cold it does condense a little but that runs down and re-evaporates and causes no problem. I have a 1000 litre tank in an out house. When it's full it's all mine and I can use it as fast or slow as I want but no gas bill!! Dreading the day I have to replace it and go for the "new stuff" x(

[Miket]

Hi Trigger

Bet you wouldn't treat your Cobra like that }( }( }( }(

[SimonP]

Andy,
It's a condensing boiler so it's *designed* to produce condensation in the flue if it's working properly - the exhaust gases are "cold" compared to older boilers. Yes, a longer flue will provide more opportunity for condensate to form.

I take it you have the installation instructions the boiler came with?
I'd recommend you go over them (with your installer friend) to ensure everything was installed in accordance with them - was there anything in there telling the installer to check the condensate trap for example?

Flue condensate is acidic. If that got into areas that weren't designed to contain it (ie not stainless steel or plastic), it would obviously cause some corrosion.
Who repaired the boiler under warranty? If it was an engineer from the manufacturer, you would have better grounds for getting the job done FOC by them this time - or even just the parts for free would be a start.

As for the 15 quid a month service plans....make your own up.
Put the cash into a savings account, then use it to pay for things as required. Unless you are unlucky (as you appear to have been), you will be quids-in. Enough to pay for a new boiler in 10 years' time!

Simon.

[Miket]

Simon

I've had my money's worth, 3 new curved radiators, 4 flat radiators, 5 thermostat valves, 3 new pumps, 1 hot water thermostat, 1 time clock, complete system clean out, which included taking 13 radiators off completely and flushing them separately and loads of bits in my 20 yr old boiler, I'm very happy paying £15 per month, depends on how big your house is as to whether its worth the money.

[Andy302]

Simon,

Thanks for that, Im on the case and have now sourced a more up to date set of instructions.

We have now all agreed, thats me, the original installer and Ideals own engineer that there was nothing wrong with the installation, all seals are intact and in place correctlt its just leaking!

So Ideal are now sending me a new seal and if its different to the one Ive got theres going to be trouble!!

Last year it was serviced by Ideal and they didnt spot the problem, prior to that my installer did spot the moisture, spoke to Ideal who couldnt come up with any answers. Now all of a sudden their engineer walks in, spots the problem, blames someone else and has a reason why its not Ideals fault and is putting his coat on before Ive drawn breath!! And Im supposed to believe this s the first time they have seen the problem!! I dont think so.....

Needless to say Im not letting this drop. But I feel it could be a long battle.

Heres the rub though. Ideal will charge me £135+VAT for yesterday, their guy didnt even put the boiler back together. My installer is of the old school and even though the job is 14 months outside his warranty and its not his problem he wont take any money from me for fixing it until its been proved whos fault it is.

As to these gas insurances, before this I wouldnt have thought about it but now as my boilers life is questionable, maybe!

Andy
Study filling up with bits, wife not so amused! :tu

http://images.animfactory.com/animat...lls_md_wht.gif

[SKL]

Andy
I would echo the British Gas route; not only does it work but it is also the least pain route.
I live in a house that was built for us, two and a half years ago. The Central Heating system has been mildly unreliable since new in 2001. The two year builders warranty having expired I waited till the boiler broke down again then called British Gas in on a known fault contract.
Since that time in the last 6 months they have replaced two presuure switches and two PCB's. The last two call outs have been on a Sunday and the fixes were done with expertise and no issues. My contract is £26 per month and I have already had two years worth of engineers visits in half a year- so I am winning. Incidentally Potterton the manufacturer of the boiler could not give a damn when I approached them they blamed the installer. This seems to be the easy way out for big companies. The result being that when the time comes to replace the boiler I shall not buy a Potterton and will probably buy a Vaillant (which I have experience of as 100% reliable in two previous houses- another loss for British manufacturing!!)However to stop the pain: "stop hitting your head against a brick wall". An Email to the MD's office was never answered or noted or forwarded.

So your choice but I want to spend leisure time with the Family/Friends/Cobra at weekends not worrying about my family being warm or having hot water.

Good luck
Stephen

[mark]

sorry to hear of your problems ,i would talk to the warranty department regarding a sympathetic warranty as you or they would not expect there product to fail in the timescale you discribe

ps make sure you talk to the person who has the position to sort your problem because he will not want you on to him every other day which of corse once you have his number you will be



good luck regards mark

[RichardG]

Spookily I've just had a new boiler installed this week and although it’s not that relevant here’s what happened to me. Bought the boiler last summer, on unpacking it this week the fitter noticed on that the case was bashed in and control panel cracked – no doubt where the courier had dropped it I phone up the manufacture yesterday and a new case arrives by courier today, facia plate to follow asap. Not bad My advice, as unhelpful as it may seem is, after you finally attack you boiler with a big hammer - and you will - my father has had absolutely nothing but trouble with his condensing Ideal, buy a boiler from Keston!

In the meantime, good luck.

Richard