Any Plumbers / Heating Engineers Able to Advise

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taxboy

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I've got a rental property which is heated by oil with the boiler in the garage. Unfortunately my usual plumber is unwell at the moment and I've got a quote for the following works from one used by my letting agent with a breakdown of the work.

If anyone in the trade could please advise if this seems reasonable I would appreciate it. The reason for asking is that the first quote was a single figure and when I asked for an anlaysis the total dropped by £300 ! I just want to check that this guy isn't still trying to lift my leg for the work

Replace 6 thermostatic radiator valves
- Add a suitable inhibitor
- Recommission radiators and balance £ 255.00 + vat
- Replace the old circulation pump and valves including labour £ 150.00 + vat
Highly recommended as the existing pump is elderly
This cost is only if applicable if done at the same time as the job above

- Install a wireless programmable room thermostat - including labour
Installing this will give better timed control and allow the choice of room the
temperature is measured in.
- Install an up to date method of frost protection for the boiler in the garage to
include a new frost stat and a pipe stat - including labour £ 160.00 + vat
- Service of the boiler, visual oil tank inspection, service/maintenance certificate including a nozzle, filter and 2 x motor bearings £ 132.00 + vat

The cost of the above work materials and labour is £ 697.00
Plus VAT £ 139.00
Total £ 836.00

Any advice appreciated
 
How unwell is your usual plumber? Maybe he could give you an idea of what he would charge you for the same work for a beer or 2?
 
Are there thermostatic radiator valves already fitted - can you post an image?
Do you know what make/model of thermostatic radiator vaves will be fitted in their place?
Do you know what make/model of pump will be fitted as a replacement?
Do you know what make/model of wireless programmable room thermostat has been quoted for and does the £160 + vat include the frost thermostat provision (which should include an air sensing frost stat and a pipe thermostat).

I can give an opinion if the above information is known.

I can't comment on the oil boiler service/repair charge with any experience/knowledge but the price of £132 + vat seems reasonable if all the work is carried out as quoted.
 
Nod said:
How unwell is your usual plumber? Maybe he could give you an idea of what he would charge you for the same work for a beer or 2?
Click to expand...

He's in hospital so I would imagine thinking about plumbing works probably isn't top of his agenda at the moment !
 
chphotos said:
Are there thermostatic radiator valves already fitted - can you post an image?
Do you know what make/model of thermostatic radiator vaves will be fitted in their place?
Do you know what make/model of pump will be fitted as a replacement?
Do you know what make/model of wireless programmable room thermostat has been quoted for and does the £160 + vat include the frost thermostat provision (which should include an air sensing frost stat and a pipe thermostat).

I can give an opinion if the above information is known.

I can't comment on the oil boiler service/repair charge with any experience/knowledge but the price of £132 + vat seems reasonable if all the work is carried out as quoted.
Click to expand...

I'm afraid I can't post any images of the thermostatic valves already there and I have no idea of the make model of replacements. The £160 for the thermostat does include both an air sensor and pipe sensor.

Sorry I can't be more specific but just wondered if this "revised" quote is in the right sort of ball park
 
The quote he has offered you seems reasonable,as long as he does what the quote says he will.
 
Without informaton on the makes models of the thermostats, pumps etc. then as long as the work quoted for is actually carried out, then the price quoted is probably in the right ballpark.
 
taxboy said:
He's in hospital so I would imagine thinking about plumbing works probably isn't top of his agenda at the moment !
Click to expand...

I would imagine so as well! I was hoping that he was only mildly ill rather than hospitalised and am sorry to hear that he's "sick, bad and proper poorly". As said above, the quote doesn't sound too bad. BTW, make sure you get a proper written quote rather than an estimate [/suckingeggs!]...
 
Rad valves vary between £6 a pop and about £20 for the really good danfoss ones.

Wireless stats start at £40. Shouldn't take more than half hour to fit.

Get someone else to quote too. My gut feeling is that they're over priced if they drop 300 when you query their figure! See if the agent knows a non vat registered person as you save a lot not having to fork out extra for VAT on top.
 
taxboy said:
Replace 6 thermostatic radiator valves
- Add a suitable inhibitor
- Recommission radiators and balance £ 255.00 + vat
Click to expand...

.....reasonable.

taxboy said:
Replace the old circulation pump and valves including labour £ 150.00 + vat
Highly recommended as the existing pump is elderly
This cost is only if applicable if done at the same time as the job above
Click to expand...

....reasonable, if it does indeed need doing. An 'A' rated pump, which you now have to fit are not cheap, pump valves are less than a tenner a pair. ( get a quote from BG for it, you'd need a 2nd mortgage)

taxboy said:
- Install a wireless programmable room thermostat - including labour
Installing this will give better timed control and allow the choice of room the
temperature is measured in.
- Install an up to date method of frost protection for the boiler in the garage to
include a new frost stat and a pipe stat - including labour £ 160.00 + vat
Click to expand...

........Very reasonable.

taxboy said:
- Service of the boiler, visual oil tank inspection, service/maintenance certificate including a nozzle, filter and 2 x motor bearings £ 132.00 + vat
Click to expand...

servicing of oil burning appliances is not cheap....reasonable.

I am sorry but i don't see the problem? the dude has broken down the quote for you, it is in my opinion quite realistic, my guess is that anyone else quoting to do the same work is going to be there or there abouts.
 
I'll do no more than agree with Mex on this one. Seems reasonable to me (I'm a Surveyor for a large RSL).
 
mex said:
.....reasonable.



....reasonable, if it does indeed need doing. An 'A' rated pump, which you now have to fit are not cheap, pump valves are less than a tenner a pair. ( get a quote from BG for it, you'd need a 2nd mortgage)



........Very reasonable.



servicing of oil burning appliances is not cheap....reasonable.

I am sorry but i don't see the problem? the dude has broken down the quote for you, it is in my opinion quite realistic, my guess is that anyone else quoting to do the same work is going to be there or there abouts.
Click to expand...

Thanks for confirming that my concern was that I might still be being overcharged as the original quote dropped by £300 for exactly the same work once I asked for a breakdown of the work as I was considering not having all of it done only the essentials
 
The rates being reasonable is one thing, whether the work is essential is another and that's where you might want an alternative opinion.

There may be one or two things you could get away with not doing, but in my experience doing the bare minimum often simply shows up the next weakness in the system through a subsequent breakdown. An element of future proofing such as replacing the pump while the system is drained for example is a good idea if the age and condition of the current pump warrants it.

Plus, you avoid a pump failure resulting in water peeing every which way [emoji1]
 
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