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Anybody know how long they legally have to fix your boiler?
We've been without a working combi boiler for 5 days now, apparently it's going to be at least 2 weeks.
Ideal Isar m301000 has a leaking heat exchanger, covered with Homeserve but the problem is that Ideal don't have the part, having to get it made at their factory in Hull so the customer services say, (didn't know we made stuff in the UK anymore) which doesn't open until 3rd January!! It's Ideal engineers and customer services etc that we're dealing with, but I can see this dragging out well after the first week of January.
What is even more annoying is that it looks like I can get a new heat exchanger or whole heat engine on ebay and some other online spare part shops.
Would love to demand they fit a new boiler because of the delay in getting the part!
That's just excuses mate, dont let then fob you off. ideal parts are generally very easy to get hold of. I never recommend that anyone get one of these boiler cover agreements gnomes they have a particularly crap boiler. Unfortunately yours fals into that category, the isar is not a reliable unit in general.
If you're getting desperate, it's a fairly easy diy fix if you're handy, requiring only a few spanners and a drain down
Homeserve are 5hite- my MIL got fobbed off in the real cold snap last year for over 20 days- every excuse under the sun- engineers turning up with the wrong kit, lying that theyd been round when they hadnt (she stayed in for days just waiting because of the promises)- we got what we could out of them and then sacked them off.
I suggest you do the same asap
Funny, the system had been losing pressure for a while and was down to 0.5 Bar cold, thought it was nothing major and was going to put it up to 1 Bar using the filling valve, before I could do that it started dripping last Wednesday, after loads of hassle got an Ideal engineer out later that afternoon, said it was a leaking heat exchanger, but we could use it as it was only a drip, fine, then he put the pressure up to 1.5 Bar, put boiler on for a few seconds and left saying he'd order the parts that day or tomorrow.
A few minutes after he'd left the boiler was gushing water, had to switch it off.
So it is actually worse now than before the far from ideal "engineer" got his paws on it.
They've got you by the 6alls really.
They're should be a legal time limit on how long they get to fix it. I think they have to have spares for upto 10 years after manufacture.
Commiserations.
Ideal used to make some good boilers pre condensing era, then their ventures into that market have been nothing but a disaster. And their technical help / customer service is the worst.
Push to get them to change the boiler as will be able to get a new boiler quicker.
Went to a launch of the Icos range saying we've learnt our lessons etc this is the most tested and reliable boiler we've produced etc. Fitted a few, have changed most since, utter utter rubbish.
Get rid of the boiler and fit something else.
Try and find the part yourself online or at a local factor.
Get a plumber in and fix it. Get a refund from Homeserve and don't fall for their shite again.
Having to make it in the New Year? Your name must be Jebus; they think you were born yesterday.
Loads on EBay even; get the boiler manual out and Google the part numbers.
To me, it sounds like ideal are on seasonal shutdown and homeserve have been caught out interms of carrying spares.
Unacceptable as seasonal 'high' claim period they should carry spares they project they need IMO. Its firmly homeserves fault. Your call but I'd contact watchdog, you never know if they've got more customers like this. I'd also change from homeserve and tell them you'll spread the word/watchdog.
I've just remembered: Call a local plumber, if he can fix easily/quickly without sourcing etc I'd then tell homeserve you'll send them the bill.
British Gas came out to our IT bloke to fit his boiler under warranty. BG bloke gave up saying he needed a part/not particularly familiar with this boiler, matey phoned round and found a local bloke who knows the brand and who fixed.
Unrelated response - I have had Homeserve out about 4 times in total over the last 10 years and have always had more than my moneys worth from them.
BG bloke gave up
I reckon he probably didn't
Also, I know a company who has a shit load of isar heat engines sitting on their shelves at the central stores in Leicster.
He gave up. IT fella thinks he'd actually broken/made it worse by accident but didn't have proof.
I think the Thermistor has gone on my boiler (happens every year) and homeserve always take about 5 days to sort it out. Is this a DIY job as its only replacing a chip.
Forgot to update. Got the heat exchanger fitted before new year, "Engineers" go out to their vans to have a chin wag, 5 minutes later water is running down back of boiler, luckily they are still outside yapping. I had to hold my wife back, she was getting a bit angry at their crap.
They came in and announced it must be the expansion vessel. Eventually got that fixed a week later, although they said it wasn't in stock, but then phoned them up the next day and it was all arranged for them to come and fit it, weird.