Think my F&E tank is leaking

Firstly my Boilermate has no suffix so assume it is an original boilermate Inspection date is 1992. I noticed a strange noise today when my wife was having a shower, while looking at the tank I noticed the gap between the main boilermate housing and the F&E tank was full of water and it was collecting in the trough around the top of the housing. Is this likely to be the F&E tank leaking or are there any other problems that can cause this symptom.

I have a service & maintenance contract with Scottish Gas which covers the complete heating/hot water system (Homecare 200), will a repair to my boilermate be covered by this type of contract ??

Hi

Often this type of problem is caused by the 3/4" fibre washers that connect the header tank to the unit deteriorating and leaking. They simply need replacing.

If however the fibre washers are ok, then the problem is as simple as the header tank leaking (they sometimes pin hole around the bottom edge or the brazed seam).
It can be replaced with a new one (these are made to order by Gledhill) or you can use a standard 10gallon FE tank.
As to whether you are covered, it depends on the wording of your cover policy. Most companies try to use a loop hole saying that unvented cylinders are not covered, but the Boilermate is NOT an unvented cylinder, it is a thermal store. The header tank on the unit is part of the central heating system, so it should be covered for you (fingers crossed).

Regards
Dave Hickey
Midland Boilercare Ltd
service@midlandboilercare.co.uk

Thanks for that Dave, I have had a visit from Scottish Gas and after much humming and haying and many phone calls the "engineer" has decided that the whole boilermate is beyond repair, no spares are available apparently the unit is now obsolete and there for should be replaced at my expense. When the problem arose I had a look online for information, I did a search for boilermate spares and found a couple of places who could supply the tank http://www.segel.co.uk/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=19_62_71&sort=20a&page=2 being one of them so I know that SG are talking rubbish.

I am now extremely annoyed with Scottish Gas, they are lying to me that spares are not available, they are trying to wriggle out of their legal obligation to repair my central heating system as per the terms of the contract and they are trying to force me into paying their inflated prices to replace the boilermate £1266.15 to be exact. Indeed they are even suggesting I should kill two birds with one stone and replace the whole system with a combi-boiler system at an even more ridiculously inflated price.

I have read the terms and conditions of my Homecare 200 contract and it covers the whole heating/hot water system the only exemption from this is the actual boiler which is chargeable if it needs replaced. I had an argument with the guy who came to fix the boilermate, when he first arrived he called a few people about spares then after some time he decided it would be better to order a complete new boilermate but because of the cost his boss had to approve the order first but he assured me these had been replaced under contract in the past.As his boss was not contactable he said he would call us back to arrange a date for the work to be done. Instead of calling me back he actually returned to our house to tell us his it was not covered by the contract according to his boss after we argued the case for some time he left he refused to give me the number of his boss so he left. I called SG customer services to enquire what was covered by my contract and after I confirmed the boiler was the only exemption I asked why I had been refused a repair under my contract the assistant couldn't say so she got someone to call me back, guess who? the engineers boss. We had a long debate over what is covered and he was waffling on about corrosion not being covered, he obviously didn't know the terms of the contract so he is now coming to visit me on Monday evening.

I can't decide if I should hold out for a new boilermate or suggest to him he orders the new tank or even suggest he looks to see if the fibre washer is OK.


Sorry for the rant but I am extremely annoyed by the this.

Hi Hayzer

I have come accross this type of situation hundreds of times in my career. If you don't get any joy from SG, advise them in writing that as they are refusing to honour your contract, you intend to get an independant expert to rectify the situation and that you will then be seeking to recover the costs from them. Set a specific date for them to reply to you by, after which you will instigate the repairs elsewhere. Send the letter by registered post/recorded delivery. You should find that this will get them to re-assess the situation.

Regards
Dave Hickey
Midland Boilercare Ltd
service@midlandboilercare.co.uk
07973 624179

Well I had a visit from my Scottish Gas local maintenance services manager and he must have read the terms and conditions as he has agreed my boilermate is covered by my repair contract. Only down side is it is a 2 week delivery item, just as well it isn't the middle of winter.

Thanks again for your help and advice

Hayzer