Blowback damage/explosion risk

[Riley]

I’m not sure what you really Want us to say my friend. No one on here is going to say you are completely in the right go after your landlord. You’re in the wrong safety wise. He’s in the wrong in terms of procedure

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Wouldn't he need a proof of me actually having a good reason to do it? Like disputes. I have always been good tenant, no problems ever.

So you didn’t put rags in the heater ?

 

[Peter79]

So you didn’t put rags in the heater ?

If he was to follow procedure and told me he is coming to do work on the heater I would have removed it. Its not like I returned his property with rug in a flange. I was still a tenant and no one else had access to the property.

 

[SimonG]

Stop feckin about on an Internet forum and put your efforts into a legal offensive.

All I'm getting from your posts is clutching at straws.

You had blocked the flue because of a draught. You are liable.
You forgot to remove blockage. You are liable.
The landlord accessed the property after you had moved out but are still the tenant. Depends what it says in the agreement.

 

[Riley]

Yes but it’s tit for tat you shouldn’t have meddled with an appliance you were neither allowed or competent to work on

 

[Millsy 82]

1) who disconnected the boiler?
2) if you have been in the unit with it disconnected what about the last 2 safety checks?
3) you say you disconnected the flue then put the bag of rags in did you put the flue back on?

 

[ShaunCorbs]

If he was to follow procedure and told me he is coming to do work on the heater I would have removed it. Its not like I returned his property with rug in a flange. I was still a tenant and no one else had access to the property.

So you would of put the heater back together when you left and made sure it was safe by employing an oftec engy to make sure it was safe ?

 

[Peter79]

1) who disconnected the boiler?
2) if you have been in the unit with it disconnected what about the last 2 safety checks?
3) you say you disconnected the flue then put the bag of rags in did you put the flue back on?

It was disconnected when we moved in. I didn't get certificate with my lease documents. I don't know if landlords keeps them or I get a copy too. Last year no one came in to do any checks.
We had to put flu back and connect it to the flange, otherwise it would drop on the floor.

 

[Riley]

I know the LL has done things wrong but all I’m hearing here is someone tampering with a combustion appliance

 

[Peter79]

So you would of put the heater back together when you left and made sure it was safe by employing an oftec engy to make sure it was safe ?

Would remove it, its obvious, but why call anyone if heater is disconnected from power and oil supply thus not operational. We still had some property inside the property.

 

[Riley]

You have no recourse really you bunged it up. BUT you do have the right to pay a fair price IF damage was caused. Get an invoice or send a solicitors letter to your LL

 

[Peter79]

You have no recourse really you bunged it up. BUT you do have the right to pay a fair price IF damage was caused. Get an invoice or send a solicitors letter to your LL

I already told him I will pay for damages, so its not like I have no recourse. Problem is that landlord is refusing to come clean on the cost, so I don't know how much it is. According to him he already spent 500+vat and still waiting for more parts 4 months after the incident.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Would remove it, its obvious, but why call anyone if heater is disconnected from power and oil supply thus not operational. We still had some property inside the property.

Well he’s fired it up so can’t be that much disconnected

 

[Riley]

This is where I’m saying. Get a letter drawn up. Say if he will not provide you with costing then you will be seeking to get an independent assessment carried out of the works involved to find a “fair” total

 

[Peter79]

Well he’s fired it up so can’t be that much disconnected

Well he got an engineer to do it, so no surprise. Average Joe would not know how to connect this things don't you think.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Well he got an engineer to do it, so no surprise. Average Joe would not know how to connect this things don't you think.

I very much doubt it was disconnected from the oil lines just turned off / fuse pulled

Hence the needing for a safety check for the new tennant

If it was disconnected he wouldn’t need to do this

 

[Riley]

I think you’re missing the point

 

[Peter79]

I've found in my email from the landlord that both combustion unit and firing unit were damaged from the blowback and need replacement. Could any engineer comment on that? How likely is it?

 

[Chuck]

I've found in my email from the landlord that both combustion unit and firing unit were damaged from the blowback and need replacement. Could any engineer comment on that? How likely is it?

Without inspecting the installation? For free? On an open internet forum?

No.

 

[Peter79]

Without inspecting the installation? For free? On an open internet forum?

No.

Fair enough. Could you at least tell me if a blocked flue is something any engineer should notice straight away when servicing oil heater. Is it possible to service it and just after you finish and switch it on you would realize there is a blockage.

 

[snowhead]

Is it possible to service it and just after you finish and switch it on you would realize there is a blockage.

See my post #6

 

[Riley]

I think you have to look at it from the perspective of the engineer too. Why would you look for something blocking it asbthe first port of call. When I go out and do a gas inspection on a boiler I don’t check the flue first to make sure someone hasn’t wedged stuff in it.

You are going in circles here. We cannot confirm what damage could have been caused as we can’t see the appliance. You can either enlist an engineer and get a formal invoice for works from your LL or just move on

 

[Peter79]

See my post #6

Make sens. Thanks. Do you know if this type of heaters require annual inspection on commercial property? Is it done only once new tenant moves in? Who is responsible for the service and should tenant be provided with a copy of certificate?

 

[Scott_D]

Have you checked the tenancy agreement?

 

[snowhead]

Why would you look for something blocking it as the first port of call.

But if as stated the oil (or gas) and electrical supply was disconnected wouldn't you be suspicious as to why?
It could have been disconnected as faulty.

Re servicing, yes all combustion appliances require at least annual servicing and there should be evidence available that it's been done, but as above it may be in the Lease / Tenancy agreement for the tenant to do it.