Hi all,
My Worcester Bosch boiler is making some funny rumbling noises and has started flashing up an error code “EA” which means there is a problem with the flame detection.
So time to get someone in to look at it. But how do you find someone reliable?
I’ve asked work mates but no one had any local recommendations. Asked a couple neighbours but no luck with them.
Are websites like “check a trade” or “trusted traders” any good?
Or I see British Gas offer boiler repairs too. Are these a good choice as they are a big national company or are they the Halfords of the boiler world?
I’m based in Hemel Hempstead in case any has a boiler repair person they can recommend to me.
Thanks in advance!
I can recommend a guy, based in Croxley. Always reliable for me (though I’ve moved away and haven’t used him for a few years). I’ll drop you a PM when I’ve dug out his details.
Worcester Bosch run their own repair scheme with their own technicians. fixed price ( or used to be) I used them a few times to keep an old boiler going. Great service. Its a bit of a gamble in that you could pay £150 for a 2 min fix and a 2 p part of you could pay the same fixed price for £300 in parts and 4 hours time
the techs have all the parts in their van and are usually on site in 24 hours
It would be my first port of call
I've always found that the generic find a tradesman sites are a real lottery. They like to give the impression that they do some checking but I really don't think they do. For heating I've had best luck going to the manufacturers website and seeing if they have an approved person nearby. It's still no guarantee but it has been more successful for me
Abbotts Boiler Services is based in Hemel - 01442 402578
He replaced my complete system 8 years ago - massive job as the original system was a 70s single pipe system so all the floors up to install new pipe. He's a really nice guy too.
I now use Steve Barnett as he lives in the same village as me and his kids went to the same school as mine. Another good bloke. He's in Hyde Heath so a little further from you https://www.stevebarnettplumbing.co.uk/
Maybe try your nearest fireplace shop.
We have a neighbours WhatsApp group which is useful for this (if nothing else). Sounds like you've tried this so maybe ask in the local plumbers merchants?
This forum is amazing! Thank you all for the recommendations. I’ll start making some calls in the morning.
Or I see British Gas offer boiler repairs too. Are these a good choice as they are a big national company or are they the Halfords of the boiler world?
Worse than Halfrauds, there is a high likely hood of your boiler being in worse shape after they have "fixed" it my mine and some of my friends experience. Then they will claim its a different fault and double charge you!
We just had our 11yo Worcester Bosch repaired by them & I can't speak highly enough of the service we received. The only local plumber I could find to come out couldn't visit for a week so contacted WB who offered us a couple of different options for repair. We opted for a repair plan @ £300 payable over 6 months but they were there next day, fitted a load of new parts then discovered a bigger problem than they had allocated time for so arranged for another engineer to come on a Saturday to finish the job. By the time they'd finished I think the only original parts were the casing & flue pipe so I've effectively got a new boiler for £300. As part of the plan they say that once they've attempted repair if they can't fix it they'll give you £750 off of a new one, I couldn't see a catch.
We have a neighbours WhatsApp group which is useful for this (if nothing else).
+1
Or I see British Gas offer boiler repairs too.
Their technicians are (or at least were) on commission, so if they found your boiler unrepairable they got a cut of the new one they would install for you. Big incentive to say 'sorry mate, can't get spares anymore for that boiler, it's over 2 years old. You'll have to replace it.' NB I can still get spares for my 35 year old Potterton Nettaheat.
On the flip side, we had British Gas come out and replace the main PCB on our 25 year old Potterton Suprima no questions asked. Though they did ring up a few days later to tell me it was getting old just in case I was wanting to replace it!
"Potterton Nettaheat" - brillaint boiler ours is also 30 + years old - finally got round to replacing the pcb board this weekend after a year of it occasional doing a few clicks before firing up
Board cost me £50 quid and now its a good as new now, weirdly enough changing the pcb has caused the pump to be quieter now as well, and no servicing costs at all- apart from me taking the cover off once year to hover out the gas compartment
Worcester Bosch owner and had EA error code but without strange noises; turn off, turn on, press and hold performance reset as per instruction manual, press reset.
That cleared it for me and no problem since.
Sounds like a blocked condense trap to me if it makes a rumble gurgle type noise and comes up with EA.
Sometimes you can see the condense trap from below without having to remove any significant case. Some you could probably remove the bottom plug to clean trap too
Board cost me £50 quid and now its a good as new now, weirdly enough changing the pcb has caused the pump to be quieter now as well, and no servicing costs at all- apart from me taking the cover off once year to hover out the gas compartment
Great if you're competent but setting fire to gas inside my house is one of those things I'm quite happy to pay someone expert to check for me!
@Bear and @Frankconway,
Thanks for the tips, I am reasonably competent so will give those a go as they are quick and easy to try out. Otherwise will call in the experts as I don't really have the time to look into it further.
apart from me taking the cover off once year to hover out the gas compartment
Have to confess I've not cleaned it out for years! Only ever take it apart to repair it. Changed the PCB and the pressure switch in the last 24 years of ownership.
The drain tap on the back of the heat exchanger weeps rusty water down the kitchen tiles occasionally - luckily it normally self seals with rust after a few days....
Great if you’re competent but setting fire to gas inside my house is one of those things I’m quite happy to pay someone expert to check for me!
Top tip - turn the gas off before pulling your boiler apart....
but if you're not competent, 'put it back together', turn gas on again....... what could possibly go wrong?
Honestly surprised that folk are self servicing boilers. Or not servicing and waiting for them to break before repairing. The wet end, maybe but the firey/explody bits.....no ta!
Thank you Bear, I think your tip worked! 🥳
I cleared out the condensate trap and its currently working fine, no weird rumble / gurgling noises and no flashing lights and error codes. Ran the hot water for quite a few minutes while I did some washing up and it performed fine no issue.
We've recently had 3 different plumbers in our house. We had a problem with the heat and water not switching on and off correctly. All of them took ages to actually show up with most people saying they were booked up months in advance. They all took money in excess of £100 for parts which didn't fix the problem and were impossible to contact afterwards.
We signed up for the British Gas service plan when they had a sale on so I think we pay £13 a month. Their engineer came out and fixed the cause of the issue first time. £50 excess to pay and it's working perfectly again.
For us it's worth it just for peace of mind. With a baby in the house we can't live without heat and hot water for long and the little fella gets us preferential appointments.
Sounds like a blocked condense trap to me if it makes a rumble gurgle type noise and comes up with EA.
Sometimes you can see the condense trap from below without having to remove any significant case. Some you could probably remove the bottom plug to clean trap too
Had this on the fridge recently - overnight the door became really hard to open - like breaking a vacuum seal. Took a while to twig what was causing it, there's a condense drip onto the pump at the back which a grape had fallen into and blocked.....