[Misc] Have you had the central heating on yet [2019 and 2020 editions]

[Falmer Wizard]

Hoped to leave it off until November, but didn't quite make it - thermostat set to 18 though, so not exactly belting out heat.

Switched on central heating a couple of weeks ago, thermostat is set at 70F, radiators have been getting hotter day by day

 

[swindonseagull]

Test run last week after heating being off all summer....heating went wrong in 30 mins.......engineer called from Baxi (on insurance) turned up 2 days later and fixed it within an hour....

Always pays to test the heating before it gets to cold.....leave it until winter and everyone will want an engineer at the same time.

You have not been charged for this useful tip ( or HACK ) as the kids say.

 

[BN9 BHA]

Always pays to test the heating before it gets to cold.....leave it until winter and everyone will want an engineer at the same time.

You have not been charged for this useful tip ( or HACK ) as the kids say.

Very good advice.
I don’t repair boilers but fit radiators and valves, as soon as it starts to get cold I will always get lots of calls for new radiators and radiators not working.
Unbelievable how many people tell me they were going to get their rads replaced in the summer months

 

[swindonseagull]

Very good advice.
I don’t repair boilers but fit radiators and valves, as soon as it starts to get cold I will always get lots of calls for new radiators and radiators not working.
Unbelievable how many people tell me they were going to get their rads replaced in the summer months

Ive got a rad with a cold area in the middle....excluding cost of a new rad what should be an average price to replace? Ive not had it done due to what I consider to be crazy prices.....( obviously we dont miss the rad)

 

[BN9 BHA]

Ive got a rad with a cold area in the middle....excluding cost of a new rad what should be an average price to replace? Ive not had it done due to what I consider to be crazy prices.....( obviously we dont miss the rad)

The cost would depend on if the heating system had to be drained down to change the rad and valves, this could take most of the day with refilling, testing and balancing the system.
Cost approximately £300, including new valves and inhibitor ( Fernox )

If the radiator valves are in good condition the job would take no more than a couple of hours.
Approximately £100

 

[swindonseagull]

The cost would depend on if the heating system had to be drained down to change the rad and valves, this could take most of the day with refilling, testing and balancing the system.
Cost approximately £300, including new valves and inhibitor ( Fernox )

If the radiator valves are in good condition the job would take no more than a couple of hours.
Approximately £100

Thanks

Considering my brother is part owner of Adey I will get the inhibitors and filters free that should save a bit!

 

[zefarelly]

Fixed my Step fathers heating ( PCB fault) and ours ( builders disturbed cable from controller)

in both instances HW was fine. bit of a result.

also keeping ultra toasty burning our old hip end of roof as the new loft conversion takes shape. Should be enough to keep us going until Easter!

 

[BN9 BHA]

Thanks

Considering my brother is part owner of Adey I will get the inhibitors and filters free that should save a bit!

Thats handy!! I have got an Adey filter on my heating system.

 

[swindonseagull]

Thats handy!! I have got an Adey filter on my heating system.

So you contributed towards his 3rd Ski Chalet!!

 

[portslade seagull]

Ours is set to come on when the temp goes below 19 degrees. Come on a couple of times so far but wifey moaning it's too hot, bloody menopause

 

[bhanutz]

Ours is set to come on when the temp goes below 19 degrees. Come on a couple of times so far but wifey moaning it's too hot, bloody menopause

Ha Ha... feel your pain...fans everywhere in our house!

 

[Rowdey]

Very good advice.
I don’t repair boilers but fit radiators and valves, as soon as it starts to get cold I will always get lots of calls for new radiators and radiators not working.
Unbelievable how many people tell me they were going to get their rads replaced in the summer months

Friday 25th September, on a train to Devon with the Mrs.. Took 8 calls/WA messages/texts about heating faults.. Seems everyone put it on the same day.

One, the programmer was off.. another sent me pic of him holding the stat (while sleeveless..) showing 20deg on the screen.. 'You're not actually cold are you?' 'Well no, but thought i should put the rads on just in case..'

 

[BN9 BHA]

Friday 25th September, on a train to Devon with the Mrs.. Took 8 calls/WA messages/texts about heating faults.. Seems everyone put it on the same day.

One, the programmer was off.. another sent me pic of him holding the stat (while sleeveless..) showing 20deg on the screen.. 'You're not actually cold are you?' 'Well no, but thought i should put the rads on just in case..'

I couldn’t do heating all the time, must be a nightmare getting calls and messages like this, I can usually swerve messages like above because i tell them I’m just a plumber, not a heating specialist.
I’ve fitted loads of boilers and full heating systems in the past, but the novelty has worn off now ( and my gas registration)

I sometimes feel like I really cannot switch off from this job, I put a temporary voice mail on my mobile when I’m having a day off but I’m still getting texts, WhatsApp messages and emails.

 

[Wrong-Direction]

Very good advice.
I don’t repair boilers but fit radiators and valves, as soon as it starts to get cold I will always get lots of calls for new radiators and radiators not working.
Unbelievable how many people tell me they were going to get their rads replaced in the summer months

"It was working fine before you came"

Sent from my SM-A600FN using Tapatalk

 

[Wrong-Direction]

I couldn’t do heating all the time, must be a nightmare getting calls and messages like this, I can usually swerve messages like above because i tell them I’m just a plumber, not a heating specialist.
I’ve fitted loads of boilers and full heating systems in the past, but the novelty has worn off now ( and my gas registration)

I sometimes feel like I really cannot switch off from this job, I put a temporary voice mail on my mobile when I’m having a day off but I’m still getting texts, WhatsApp messages and emails.

I dont touch broken boilers unless it's something obvious like repressuring. Know someone that basically only fixes them which leaves me to do the 80% of other plumbing jobs..

Sent from my SM-A600FN using Tapatalk

 

[BN9 BHA]

"It was working fine before you came"

Sent from my SM-A600FN using Tapatalk

On more than one occasion.

The amount of times I’ve fitted bathrooms and the job has gone to plan APART from taking a radiator off to fit a towel rail, this is when i usually find out the heating is full of sludge, the cold feed is blocked, the pump doesn’t work properly or there is an air lock ( always on a Friday afternoon FFS )
But everything worked fine before you touched it.

 

[Wrong-Direction]

On more than one occasion.

The amount of times I’ve fitted bathrooms and the job has gone to plan APART from taking a radiator off to fit a towel rail, this is when i usually find out the heating is full of sludge, the cold feed is blocked, the pump doesn’t work properly or there is an air lock ( always on a Friday afternoon FFS )
But everything worked fine before you touched it.

Yeah, I tend to freeze pipes and stick valves in instead of draining down, always fun when cutting through..

Sent from my SM-A600FN using Tapatalk

 

[DavidinSouthampton]

We've had our heating on a coupke of weeks to check it out, thermostat on low so radiators only came on a coupke of times but showed it worked. Then, weekend before last, Saturday morning no not water, turned up thermostat no heat in radiators. Checked boiler in garage and it's not firing up.

Called regular plumber, saying it's not urgent as we have an immersion heater and other firms of heat. So a couple of days later he comes. PCB blown and a couple of other things possibly. Said plumber has kept it going valiantly for a while, but time for a new one.

So waiting for a new boiler and, when we found the invoice, the old one was fitted in 1991 - 29 years not bad.

 

[Rowdey]

We've had our heating on a coupke of weeks to check it out, thermostat on low so radiators only came on a coupke of times but showed it worked. Then, weekend before last, Saturday morning no not water, turned up thermostat no heat in radiators. Checked boiler in garage and it's not firing up.

Called regular plumber, saying it's not urgent as we have an immersion heater and other firms of heat. So a couple of days later he comes. PCB blown and a couple of other things possibly. Said plumber has kept it going valiantly for a while, but time for a new one.

So waiting for a new boiler and, when we found the invoice, the old one was fitted in 1991 - 29 years not bad.

Being nosey...
Make/model..? Guessing Potterton..Profile..? And what are you replacing it with..?

 

[DavidinSouthampton]

Being nosey...
Make/model..? Guessing Potterton..Profile..? And what are you replacing it with..?

Mind your own business!!!!!!!!

Oh, alright then. It was a Potterton Profile.
New one will be a Worcester Bosch - slightly bigger output because we have more radiators - 24kw.