old heating

[REDSAW]

went to a call out yesterday.
customer had a lock-valve leaking. one of those with the grey saucer shaped plastic caps with the screw inside from the 1970's?, from rad in bedroom in a fair sized house with 16 rads.
conventional open-vent system with a gloworm boiler installed 5 years prior.
the rads in the house (which was quite posh) must be at least 25 years old, not only that, there was at least 5 different types?. 5-6 of which were not working anyway...
drained down partially for upstairs rad, did the job, topped back up, ran heating.
went round upstairs venting off, first 3 ok, bathroom dead anyways as were 2 other bedrooms!.
other bedroom vent plug snapped as soon as i touched it water hissing out all over but finally managed to lock of with what was left of the nipple (pannic over).
all of the house painted white with cream carpet by the way.

the whole system and rads looked really dodgy and after this frightener i decided not to touch anything else because i knew it would hit the fan.
altough i did check the other rads for heat although there were a few cold spots and left at that..quickly.

what would you other guys have done with this one and has it happened often with you lot to know where to leave allone?.

incidently, they told me there was a light in the loft but the bulbs gone. after giving me 2 new bulbs to try still no luck so i got me torch only to find that the sparky who put some new lights in the bedrooms had chopped the cable from the loft light and took it to bedrooms

 

[princeknight]

hi redsaw, i been in situation where had to check a system and looking at the boiler which was probably before i was born and very very old rads, but BIG and heavy looking.
told client would check boiler..... but condition of boiler seemed to say "touch me and ur dead". asked client to turn on boiler just to make sure it was working and he wouldnt blame me if i tried switching on, as usual clients say "it was working before".
told him if anything breaks whilst checking i would not be held responsible for any damage caused. he agreed and i checked.

carefully checked with client watching over my shoulder, any rad bleed nipple too tight or seemed not to be going anywhere told client "this not going to bleed" so he says "okay, or he will try himself"

but its a bit difficult sometimes. best way just check how old and what condition heating system is

 

[REDSAW]

TOO right,
i told them to fire up boiler just in case, no way was i going to touch it, i wasnt born yesterday.
it took the woman all of ten minuites to switch it on.

i left there she took my card saying she needs a few other thing doing later on, gulp!.

 

[Bernie2]

It's not funny really!

I suppose all you can do is explain the situation to the people and try your best.

 

[REDSAW]

It's not funny really!

I suppose all you can do is explain the situation to the people and try your best.

its abit hard at the time though. i had to call her to tell her i am running 1/2 hour late from last job, she was panicing from the leak, i got there 20 minuites later and like allways i dive straight in to rectify the problem, then find out the mines. doh!
think next time i will take aa step back before i gat my fingers burnt.

 

[REDSAW]

well, it came back to haunt me this afternoon.
she called me whilst at selco having a bacon buttie.
the valve you changed is fine, but.....
three rads are not working and 2 have cold spots, when can you come around?.
then she asked if they are in danger of exploding?..proberbly, looking at the system.
i will accomadate by making the trip, but no way am i touchung owt without a letter from my solicitor.

 

[justlead1]

Hi. I have found this type of situation to be on the increase, especially on call out work. At best clients with selective memory at worst ambulance chasers. But how to avoid it have evaded me. There are times that i feel like Doctor Bernardo of the plumbing trade. Do and hours work and be responsible for a life time. Good Luck

 

[HTB]

Been there. Stupidly, after being had over by a snowy haired old lady once, I went back on another job for her, and even though was on my guard she flippin' had me again!! Both times on unrelated faults that she knew all about. To be fair I learnt from it, they have to work harder to fool me now.