Odd One, need a new boiler

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Ok, shot in the dark, but here at Mucky Mansions we need a new boiler supplying and installing, preferably before my fingers drop off from frost bite and the Nikons are up for sale [or in other words, in the next month or so as old Potterton has given up for good]. We live right on the Nth London/Hertfordshire border, nr Jn23 of M25 [where it meets the A1].
So, does anyone know of a reliable, quality Corgi Installer, perhaps friend or family, or even better, one you have used and can recommend. Obviously I dont want to pay the earth but would rather pay a little more for a good reliable job than peanuts for monkeys. So far I have had "we are mad busy, can't even get someone out to do a quote for 4 weeks", "4 bed you say, oh, that'll be a nice big job, so around X Grand then" {over the phone}, and several other such variations on the theme :bang:

Obviously I am happy to contact them independently, or I can PM details if you wish to pass them on.

Any help or information from any of you guys would be very much appreciated. ;)
 
I can't help, but good luck. In my next incarnation I'm gonna be a vet, plastic surgeon, or plumber. ;)
 
andrewc said:
Our Potterton boiler has gone on the blink. It keeps cutting out. Common problem. Have bought a replacement PCB off Ebay and should be fitting it over the weekend.
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Ours is over 25 years old and you would be frightened by its list of faults before it decided it had enough :gag: Luckily it lives outside in its own little brick built shed against the side of the house. Time for a Combi, fed up of fighting over one tank of hotwater :help:

CT - I know what you mean :bonk:
 
LadyLens said:
Ok, shot in the dark, but here at Mucky Mansions we need a new boiler supplying and installing, preferably before my fingers drop off from frost bite and the Nikons are up for sale [or in other words, in the next month or so as old Potterton has given up for good]. We live right on the Nth London/Hertfordshire border, nr Jn23 of M25 [where it meets the A1].
So, does anyone know of a reliable, quality Corgi Installer, perhaps friend or family, or even better, one you have used and can recommend. Obviously I dont want to pay the earth but would rather pay a little more for a good reliable job than peanuts for monkeys. So far I have had "we are mad busy, can't even get someone out to do a quote for 4 weeks", "4 bed you say, oh, that'll be a nice big job, so around X Grand then" {over the phone}, and several other such variations on the theme :bang:

Obviously I am happy to contact them independently, or I can PM details if you wish to pass them on.

Any help or information from any of you guys would be very much appreciated. ;)
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Minimum inside M25 area you will be looking at £1500 just for a decent worcester boiler. This just to replace the boiler. Boiler costs about £900 and the rest in labour charges. This because you need a condensing boiler now and it means more work for the heating engineer, its not just a straight swap.

DON'T get a cheapy charlie boiler from B&Q as their internal parts (boiler not B&Q :lol:) are made from plastic.

British gas will give you a quote but they tend to be a bit dearer but they still use worcester.
 
Thanks Tiler, dont worry, the price you mention is the cheapest I have heard, and frankly, its that peanuts for monkeys thing.... ;) I certainly want a 'brand' boiler, and a good one and of course it wil be aq conversion, not a straight swap.

The real bummer is that if I still lived up north, I could have it done next week, by a very reliable local chap my dad found a couple of years ago, at a good price, etc...in London? PAH!! The good ones are really busy and the rest.. :gag:
 
LadyLens said:
Thanks Tiler, dont worry, the price you mention is the cheapest I have heard, and frankly, its that peanuts for monkeys thing.... ;) I certainly want a 'brand' boiler, and a good one and of course it wil be aq conversion, not a straight swap.

The real bummer is that if I still lived up north, I could have it done next week, by a very reliable local chap my dad found a couple of years ago, at a good price, etc...in London? PAH!! The good ones are really busy and the rest.. :gag:
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Pay for his petrol and a nights' accommodation? Might still work out on the money and save stress!
 
tiler65 said:
https://www.britishgas.co.uk/BookingAnAppointmentFromHomePage

Try this link and click on which applies to yourself. They will send somebody soon as they need the dosh. and I am quite sure that you can add the cost to your monthly bill ............................................which is nice.
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Except our monthly bills are to Powergen :lol: Thankis anyway, I am considering getting a quote from BG anyway, I know they charge double everyone else, but at least we have heard of them. Powergen now do installations, but not in our area yet, or that would have been ideal. :(

Anyway, the only company that has been capable so far has just been, so wil await their quote with some anticiaption, but one proper quote isnt really enough to compare, so same question still stands if anyone knows anyone.
 
marky_h said:
Pay for his petrol and a nights' accommodation? Might still work out on the money and save stress!
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I am a tiler not a plumber, I lay things for a living. Although not today as my van is poorly sick in hospital :'(
 
marky_h said:
Pay for his petrol and a nights' accommodation? Might still work out on the money and save stress!
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Dont think I hadnt considered that, but his wife is not too well and hasnt been for a year or two, so he doesnt want to be away from home overnight, which is understandable. Good idea otherwise though.
 
I replaced my back boiler with a condensing boiler the year before last. Because nobody ever meets my standards I fitted it myself. Altered all the plumbing, fitted the boiler on the eaves in the loft and wired it up. I got a Corgi fitter to run the gas pipe to it and he didn't make too much of a botch of it ;).
What I will say though is that if you are replacing an antique like a back boiler, don't get too hung up on the costs. I made back the cost of the new boiler in a year on the gas bills. The difference in efficiency is staggering. In the second year I've also made back the cost of the new gas fire I had to fit in the crater left by the back boiler. If you have to pay a little more to get a good quality boiler and satisfactory workmanship then just take a deep breath and pay it, it makes sense in the end.
 
Two years ago our old boiler sprang a leak , got local plumbing agency out & they declared it dead. They quoted £1700 to supply & install a Potterton Promax HE plus . This seemed to be the going rate from other calls I made

I had a look round the local heating shops and found out that the Boiler was available to Joe Public for £580 inc vat + £20 for new pipes & stuff .


So that worked out £1100 to

Move / reconnect two water pipes
Move / reconnect one gas pipe
Move / reconnect Power
Install new condensation drain
Drill new flue hole / fill old flue hole
Fill / commision system
Dispose of old Boiler

That's approximately 8 hours work for a 'competent' DIY person, I would guess 5 hours for a 'Pro'


Nice work if you can get it :)
 
mrgubby said:
Two years ago our old boiler sprang a leak , got local plumbing agency out & they declared it dead. They quoted £1700 to supply & install a Potterton Promax HE plus . This seemed to be the going rate from other calls I made

I had a look round the local heating shops and found out that the Boiler was available to Joe Public for £580 inc vat + £20 for new pipes & stuff .


So that worked out £1100 to

Move / reconnect two water pipes
Move / reconnect one gas pipe
Move / reconnect Power
Install new condensation drain
Drill new flue hole / fill old flue hole
Fill / commision system
Dispose of old Boiler

That's approximately 8 hours work for a 'competent' DIY person, I would guess 5 hours for a 'Pro'


Nice work if you can get it :)
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I can take a kidney out but will you trust me and also whats the point in being corgified if it does not put a little on the bill for being a pro.

Us TRADES people are worth our weight in gold. Because we are fast, clean and do the right job thats how we charge what we do. Sorry for the rant.

You also forgot that you have to drain the system down.
 
tiler65 said:
You also forgot that you have to drain the system down.
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That was covered under the boiler was leaking bit ;)

I fully understand that being Corgi (a privately owned monoply) costs money and the vast majority of Plumbers give a good service but £1100 for a days work must be what is termed " a nice little earner" . Obviously Plumbers can't hope to fill 40 hours week with Boiler exchanges but charging £140 an hour does seem a little OTT.


Ps I've told my kids not to bother with University , they should be Plumbers / Electricians or Funereal Directors. They'll always be needed and they can't be farmed out to India etc :)
 
My Dad is a corgi gas installer in the SE (not sure if he will go that far up but worth a call) lenslady have difficulty PM due to internet issues - will forward details asap:)
 
Ladylens havent got the reply think i have sorted the internet issue can u retry thanks x
 
tiler65 said:
and also whats the point in being corgified if it does not put a little on the bill for being a pro.
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What people dont know is that CORGI costs a lot of money, time off work for regular training and regular inspections. These costs are passed on to the customer. :shrug:
I am a CORGI registered gas engineer but not for domestic, only commercial and it cost me £2000. :eek: This is not a one-off payment as you have to resit the exams every few years!

Hope you get it sorted soon LadyLens
 
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