Central heating pump job Bit of a rant

[herbert]

I was asked to sort a leak on the valve above the central heating pump which by the looks of it had been leaking for ages as it was all furry down the valves around the connection to the pump across the pump and the same below it so I estimated the job saying to change both sides of the pump. The valve was right next to an end feed with loads of solder run down and into the compression joint so I just cut it out. The problem I had was when I drained down the system one of the bleed nipples snapped in a round top radiator. I informed the customer. After drilling it the customer tryed stud extractors whilst I carried on with the job for the customer to tell me I need to sort it so I replaced the rad and billed him for it. When I handed him the invoice he refused to pay because it was ok before I touched it. Thus being my fault and why should he pay for it. WHAT A JOKE.

 

[Subby]

Had yourself a rogue customer there.

 

[chris watkins]

Golden rule, herbert, do not do any extra works until they have agreed to pay. In the commercial world always in writing & if at all possible I would do this of domestic ones as well.
I know it is easy to say after the event but there are some nasty, lying, cheating, unreasonable people out there.

 

[mountainman]

Trust works both ways for sure.

Perhaps you were overly heavy handed with the bleed valve.
I have never myself snapped one but I have found plenty that were rounded.

 

[herbert]

Trust works both ways for sure.

Perhaps you were overly heavy handed with the bleed valve.
I have never snapped one. .

thing is I wasn't. It was stuck. I even heated the rad up

 

[AWheating]

i would have removed the radiator whilst live and took it with me, but then again im an angry man LOL.

 

[Best]

Should have asked the guy, what would HE have done to remove a stuck (therefore FAULTY air screw) without the strong possibility of the weak thin brass screw snapping?
Surely he should pay for the rad, minimum.

 

[WHPES]

Last time I had one of these I gave the radiator key to the customer and let him do it at his risk!

Should really have informed the customer that the screw was stuck and warned him that it may break.

The only time it happened to me was here at home, and being a tight git I left the radiator unbled for a couple of years until I came across a spare one the same size I removed from a job.

 

[Best]

Wonder what make the round top rad was?
The Barlo/Quinn rads made a few years ago had air screws that would seize solid from new. I think it was something to do with a slight bit of paint on the last thread or two of the air screw. I used to remove them & clean the thread carefully with a Stanley knife & a dot of oil on them. They never seized then. If you broke one of those trying to remove it, then it probably wasn't your fault. All I would have tried was WD40.

 

[SimonG]

Business Opportunity Alert:-

Little bleed valve with self tapper on back. Drill pilot hole into rad and screw in new bleed valve. Sorted

 

[petercj]

Business Opportunity Alert:-

Little bleed valve with self tapper on back. Drill pilot hole into rad and screw in new bleed valve. Sorted

Next time it happens try a few light taps using a small drift or a nail punch.

 

[johnnyplumb]

I was asked to sort a leak on the valve above the central heating pump which by the looks of it had been leaking for ages as it was all furry down the valves around the connection to the pump across the pump and the same below it so I estimated the job saying to change both sides of the pump. The valve was right next to an end feed with loads of solder run down and into the compression joint so I just cut it out. The problem I had was when I drained down the system one of the bleed nipples snapped in a round top radiator. I informed the customer. After drilling it the customer tryed stud extractors whilst I carried on with the job for the customer to tell me I need to sort it so I replaced the rad and billed him for it. When I handed him the invoice he refused to pay because it was ok before I touched it. Thus being my fault and why should he pay for it. WHAT A JOKE.

think you probably made a couple of mistakes here, you could have used a pipe freezer on both sides of the pump valves, therefore no need to drain the system or as has been said , dont replace the radiator, just drill a new bleed screw on the opposite side of the radiator.

this is a handy tool to keep in your van
Toolstation > Hand Tools > Engineering Tools > Tap and Die Set

 

[herbert]

I don't like pipe freezers. It puts you on a timescale.

 

[johnnyplumb]

not with an electric pipe freezer:wink_smile:

 

[herbert]

Too expensive.

 

[WHPES]

Expensive for a DIYer or a handyman, but an essential bit of kit for a professional plumber

 

[herbert]

Guess I'm not a professional plumber then eh

 

[AWheating]

i dont have a freeze kit as it would not be cost effective for me. i have only frozen a pipe about 10 times in 17 years. maybe im just lucky.

 

[Subby]

I have used a freeze kit 3 times this month, and hired a big electric freezer out last month

 

[alltouraine]

Does nobody 'easy drain' anymore??

 

[Subby]

Does nobody 'easy drain' anymore??

What is this mysterious 'easy drain' technique?

 

[stevetheplumber]

New one on me ????

 

[Subby]

Must be an Irish thing

 

[LPC]

If i've got a stuckfast bleed screw which is liable to snap, I will talk the the customer first and inform them that I have to undo it, but in doing so it could snap off and require a new rad. All customers have said ok, but luckily not one bleed screw has ever snapped when i've done it. But yeah, just talk to the customer first and inform them it could go wrong.

 

[Dannypipe]

I have a big freezing machine and probably use it 6 times a year. Its paid for itself now, and everytime I use it, I am saving time and money. So I'm a big fan, and wouldn't be without it.