Is replacement boiler all compression fittings above boiler normal?

[kcwright]

Hi opinions please

replacement boiler same location as old, descending water pipes adapted to fit with 3 compression fitting each so each has 2 90 bends, short horizontal pipes and a coupler.

overall 6 fittings with 12 olives and 4 bends all above new boiler, previously straight unjointed pipe

I would never have asked for this to be done this way but do I have to accept it ?

looks to me as bit tortuous for the pumped water and has

avoidable risk of leakage.

picture attached

seal on inner wall looks off as well

 

[rpm]

Did they turn up on horseback and did they hang the boiler on the wall and do any gas work.

 

[exedon2]

To be truthful depends on what asked for/paid.
If you used box slinger par for course. To put pipework strait would need access above ceiling,.
Out of interest where did they fit system filter?

 

[gmartine]

Not pretty but safe and would've cost'em quite alot in brass compared to a few fittings, being able to use a bender and a blob or two of solder.

Another good sign of a quality install is that the mounting board was cut to the correct size and even the pipe clip was left open.

 

[kcwright]

I got a lead from Ideal for a local Ideal Approved Installer, company has taken specific courses and is able to sell Ideal Max warranty kit. I also confirmed Gasafe registration of estimator & install engineer.

Complete job was replace boiler, pump, mid port valve, 5 sets of sticky rad valves , specifcally requested to sort old wiring in airing cupboard. After parts I reckon some £800-1k of leeway for quality fitting work in their quote over 1.5 days.

The ideal filter was installed in the airing cupboard (Y plan set up) where I suspect its on the return but thats Ok by ideal if required

Lots of other niggles on this job. That nots the plus model asked for or a rear flue is it!

Do I get this fitting mayhem replaced or jsut hope it gets thorugh tehns of thousands of heat cycles ok?

Estimator was told they could remove plaster board carefully if needed as we suspected they might have to access the gas feed that proved to be a good size jsut above.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

It will be fine you have to use compression fittings straight off the boiler as manufacturer insist on it as if warranty issue eg bad hex they can undo the compression fitting and remove the pipes etc

 

[kcwright]

I'm fine with the straight couplers they have a good reason to exist its just the mayhem of many compression bends which will be boarded in (that jobs now harder and box bigger) if it leaks Im not going to know about it until water has passed through the boiler.

For the mis seated flue rubber, is this a seal or a trim part or a bit of both? If its a seal its not sealing, if its just a trim I will need to check for a proper seal behind it. Outside flue was bedded in with mortar behind the flue rubber which is reassuring (assistant fitter did that)

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Yea but even with soldered fittings you will have to box in the same also the flue needs to be left exposed so tbh I would just paint the pipes and fill in the hole

The flue rubber is a vanity cover

 

[Chuck]

I'm fine with the straight couplers they have a good reason to exist its just the mayhem of many compression bends which will be boarded in (that jobs now harder and box bigger) if it leaks Im not going to know about it until water has passed through the boiler.

You might consider putting a couple of doors on your 'box' to make it look like a high-level cupboard. This would allow you to hide the flue but still allow access for servicing. IMO, a white painted finish looks best up near the ceiling but you'll stop seeing it after a couple of weeks so it's not critical.

I wouldn't worry about the compression fittings leaking. If they were assembled correctly and survive the first couple of months I'd expect them to last a lot longer than the boiler.

 

[kcwright]

thanks everybody

frustrating that we asked for and were quoted for a rear flue to help with the overall boxing & neatness and were given these extra steam punk ugly and very large compression fittings with an unwanted top turret instead.

hard to be confident in the fittings when you already have the wrong boiler & wrong flue as the first issues to discuss









.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Bring this up to the contractors and see why they didn’t ?

 

[kcwright]

Contractors defensive about the wrong boiler and flue and aren't talking sensibly .

Behind the ineffective inner wall trim/seal theres no sealant of any kind. Noticable draught to/fraom the cavity as the winds blowing today.

The white seal/trim on the inside wall is in the manufacters instructions and is also part of TB 152.

TB 152 has either the manufacters seal properly in place on the inner wall or some approved sealant like sand/cement

Modern houses have to pass airtightness testing, not sealing inner wall from cavity would be a defect and who with an older house wants an easily avoidable draught?

 

[Chuck]

Contractors defensive about the wrong boiler and flue and aren't talking sensibly .

Then it's time to treat it as a breach of contract case. In essence, you need to put your complaints and what you want done to remedy them in writing to the contractor. Explain that if they don't bring the work up to the specifications and implied standards in their quotation / your order by a specific (reasonable) date you will get another company to remedy their work and will reclaim the money, by court action if necessary, from them.

Consult a lawyer or Citizens Advice for step by step instructions. If you use CA and can afford it, please given them a donation to help them continue to offer their excellent service free to those in need.

 

[kcwright]

Then it's time to treat it as a breach of contract case. In essence, you need to put your complaints and what you want done to remedy them in writing to the contractor. Explain that if they don't bring the work up to the specifications and implied standards in their quotation / your order by a specific (reasonable) date you will get another company to remedy their work and will reclaim the money, by court action if necessary, from them.

Consult a lawyer or Citizens Advice for step by step instructions. If you use CA and can afford it, please given them a donation to help them continue to offer their excellent service free to those in need.

Cheers

CAB gave same advise, they suggest first checking for membership or willingness to use dispute resolution in the contract and with company.

A CAB referral to trading standards is in hand due to threats and unfair terms slipped onto their documentation. Very unlikley given threats they will be allowed back.

A GS inspection is available and I would expect it to find fault with the flue and electrics and maybe the boiler mounting.

Based on the handy replies above the compression fittings are the least of the issues!

 

[gmartine]

Bare this in mind, a GS inspection will just be concerned with gas safety not the quality of the work.

 

[kcwright]

Bare this in mind, a GS inspection will just be concerned with gas safety not the quality of the work.

agree seems limited what they will look at. Their site refers to both safety and building regs issues being examined / reported on but what that means on the day I dont know.