Omega Owners Forum
Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Jimbob on 22 September 2008, 12:23:10
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Do we have anyone on here who has / can replace Warm air central heating systems?
Currently have a broken Balforth mclary BD30, and need to replace it with a Johnson & Starley Hispec 32.
I can't get anywhere not being corgi :(
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Do we have anyone on here who has / can replace Warm air central heating systems?
Currently have a broken Balforth mclary BD30, and need to replace it with a Johnson & Starley Hispec 32.
I can't get anywhere not being corgi :(
Bin it and get a proper heating system.........then you can have a warm bathroom to! :y
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We want to stick with Warm Air, it has its advantages
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price dependant of course :-/
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We want to stick with Warm Air, it has its advantages
Lol, none that I have ever found....unless you sit opposite the vent.
Think of the extra space in the kitchen :y
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Warm air from our point of view
Advantages
Always found it to warm the house well & quickly
great for drying washing in front of vents, also humidifies the room nicely.
easy to place 'boiler'
Disadvatages
Cool draughts in places - we are fairly open plan.
doesnt do every room (sml bedroom / bathroom)
bit 'drying' if you aint used to it.
currently doesnt provide hot water (not an issue to us, but new one will, allowing for a power shower at a later date)
changing pros / cons
hard to site combi boiler
awkward & disruptive to plumb in wet system
we go from instant warmth to having to plan a little more, although with current lifestyle, not really an issue.
free's up lots of space in kitchen & airing cupboard
all rooms warmed.
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You are obviously free from allergies, Jimbob. Life would be one long sneezing fit if I had warm air heating, I reckon. ;D
An additional factor is that it makes the house more attractive to a potential purchaser. Rightly or wrongly, many people would regard a warm air system as something that has to go, hence making the house a "project" straight away, should you decide to sell it within the lifetime of the new boiler.
Given that you've got to spend money on it anyway, why not direct it towards making the house more attractive?
Boilers can be sited practically anywhere these days and plumbing doesn't have to be a nightmare with small bore &/or PVC pipe. You could do most of the work on a DIY basis and get the boiler bit signed off.
Kevin
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I have issues with warm air heating, skin goes all dry and horrid, then I have to use E45 in the bath, then I go A over T in bath, and make a mess....
I would strongly recommend against combis, bloody awful things.
I'm with Mr DTM on this, can't see any advantage of warm air systems :-/
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I'm not corgi registered but I think the queen is ;D ;D ;D ;D
sorry get me coat
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Certainly when Mrs TheBoy's dad and I replaced his boiler, we did it all DIY, made sure it all worked, then got a Corgi bloke in to sign the cert...
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that is the advantage of wet... You can buy it all locally.
I cannot buy a WA system :(
this may make the price a very deciding factor
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that is the advantage of wet... You can buy it all locally.
I cannot buy a WA system :(
this may make the price a very deciding factor
Probably as Warm Air is a bit like betamax - nobody wanted it (whatever its perceived/actual advantages).
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that is the advantage of wet... You can buy it all locally.
I cannot buy a WA system :(
this may make the price a very deciding factor
A nice condensing boiler in the garage......bit of pipe work.....jobs a goodun.
Do the hot air ones require condensate outlets?
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If I understand it correctly, if you do the job yourself, you can.
You only have to be corgi registered to work on gas if you are doing it for someone else for payment.
The irony is there is less rules for the DIYer over gas, than there is on electrics.
They may try to frighten you into a corgi registered person, or you maybe more concerned over gas than electric. But upshot is both can kill you, if you are competent DIY if not get someone in.
HTH
Mike
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that is the advantage of wet... You can buy it all locally.
I cannot buy a WA system :(
this may make the price a very deciding factor
A nice condensing boiler in the garage......bit of pipe work.....jobs a goodun.
Do the hot air ones require condensate outlets?
Been told as good as a straight swap.
We do have power and gas in the garage
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If I understand it correctly, if you do the job yourself, you can.
You only have to be corgi registered to work on gas if you are doing it for someone else for payment.
The irony is there is less rules for the DIYer over gas, than there is on electrics.
They may try to frighten you into a corgi registered person, or you maybe more concerned over gas than electric. But upshot is both can kill you, if you are competent DIY if not get someone in.
HTH
Mike
Yeah, we couldn't work out about DIY and CORGI. In the end, we bunged the CORGI man a bit of beer money, got him to pressure test the gas, and sign the cert....
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that is the advantage of wet... You can buy it all locally.
I cannot buy a WA system :(
this may make the price a very deciding factor
A nice condensing boiler in the garage......bit of pipe work.....jobs a goodun.
Do the hot air ones require condensate outlets?
Been told as good as a straight swap.
We do have power and gas in the garage
The garage sounds like ideal place for a proper boiler then ;)
IIRC, if in garage, it needs a frost stat, but thats easy enough.
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that is the advantage of wet... You can buy it all locally.
I cannot buy a WA system :(
this may make the price a very deciding factor
A nice condensing boiler in the garage......bit of pipe work.....jobs a goodun.
Do the hot air ones require condensate outlets?
Been told as good as a straight swap.
We do have power and gas in the garage
The garage sounds like ideal place for a proper boiler then ;)
IIRC, if in garage, it needs a frost stat, but thats easy enough.
Correct!
What people forget is that Corgi is an independent body who underwrite (effectively) the gas fitters/installrs (note, not engineers ;D).
The are also bloody ineffective, some of the gas work I have seen by Corgi registered installers is woeful, but the checks are almost non-existant so it still happens!. Corgi should be a mark of quality, in reality its little more than an insurance scheme for the fitters which as a consumer is a shame.
Remember, they do not set the regs!
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which is why the father in law is no longer corgi registered - binned it years ago as a protest at the inefficiency & stupid cost of membership
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I'm registered and would not recommend any DIY on gas, the regs cover the installation, the flue and the entire gas installation.
I oversaw a contract of replacing 1000 units in Solihull and I've seen enough for a lifetime, they had asbestos flues and had to be properly removed, get professional advise.
Regulations change regarding ventilation etc so a straight swap may require additional work to comply, Also all new gas appliances have to be registered to the local Council by law and certificate required, if you do not get this it will not be included in your House Buyers Pack and you may not be able to sell your house.
CORGI is the governing body and they have just lost the job, new company to oversee the work in next few years so all the CORGI badges on vans and letterheads useless soon.
Gas fitters have to registered separately for each item of work; eg
Cookers, servicing, boilers, wall heaters, lpg.
Each of these requires a separate exam, and pass, usually 3-5 days off work and £350 - £900 each plus loss of earnings every five years to keep your qualifications up so just because a fitter is CORGI registered do not think he is automatically able to legally fit your warm air unit.
Yes thats right, get qualified become a doctor, prescribe medicines until you retire, no problem.
Want to fit a cooker? back to college for new exam every five years until you pack it up, that's why many old guys no longer work with gas.
Do you know any other trade that has to re qualify every 5 years,
It can get complicated, get a professional, or save a few bob and kill your family, it's gas for Gods sake.
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I'm registered and would not recommend any DIY on gas, the regs cover the installation, the flue and the entire gas installation.
I oversaw a contract of replacing 1000 units in Solihull and I've seen enough for a lifetime, they had asbestos flues and had to be properly removed, get professional advise.
Regulations change regarding ventilation etc so a straight swap may require additional work to comply, Also all new gas appliances have to be registered to the local Council by law and certificate required, if you do not get this it will not be included in your House Buyers Pack and you may not be able to sell your house.
CORGI is the governing body and they have just lost the job, new company to oversee the work in next few years so all the CORGI badges on vans and letterheads useless soon.
Gas fitters have to registered separately for each item of work; eg
Cookers, servicing, boilers, wall heaters, lpg.
Each of these requires a separate exam, and pass, usually 3-5 days off work and £350 - £900 each plus loss of earnings every five years to keep your qualifications up so just because a fitter is CORGI registered do not think he is automatically able to legally fit your warm air unit.
Yes thats right, get qualified become a doctor, prescribe medicines until you retire, no problem.
Want to fit a cooker? back to college for new exam every five years until you pack it up, that's why many old guys no longer work with gas.
Do you know any other trade that has to re qualify every 5 years,
It can get complicated, get a professional, or save a few bob and kill your family, it's gas for Gods sake.
My brother has been in the plumbing trade since he was 16 (now 49). fully indentured apprentice, carried on his training, started his own business for 10+ years, became a college lecturer in plumbing, went on to run the corgi courses.
He is now an inspector of installations for young trainees or some such title.
He had to leave lecturing as he did not pass enough of his students because they where useless >:(
Even now some of the installations he sees are dangerous, but within corgi regs.
He is more than happy for me to do my own gas work.
Done properly, a DIY install is probably safer as the DIYer will take time over the installation and read the instructions.
How many plumbers are to busy answering there mobile phone, setting up the next job, and do not give the job they are on there full concentration.
Related to our cars, those of us that maintain our own cars will often do a better job than the average mechanic who cannot be bothered.
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I'm registered and would not recommend any DIY on gas, the regs cover the installation, the flue and the entire gas installation.
I oversaw a contract of replacing 1000 units in Solihull and I've seen enough for a lifetime, they had asbestos flues and had to be properly removed, get professional advise.
Regulations change regarding ventilation etc so a straight swap may require additional work to comply, Also all new gas appliances have to be registered to the local Council by law and certificate required, if you do not get this it will not be included in your House Buyers Pack and you may not be able to sell your house.
CORGI is the governing body and they have just lost the job, new company to oversee the work in next few years so all the CORGI badges on vans and letterheads useless soon.
Gas fitters have to registered separately for each item of work; eg
Cookers, servicing, boilers, wall heaters, lpg.
Each of these requires a separate exam, and pass, usually 3-5 days off work and £350 - £900 each plus loss of earnings every five years to keep your qualifications up so just because a fitter is CORGI registered do not think he is automatically able to legally fit your warm air unit.
Yes thats right, get qualified become a doctor, prescribe medicines until you retire, no problem.
Want to fit a cooker? back to college for new exam every five years until you pack it up, that's why many old guys no longer work with gas.
Do you know any other trade that has to re qualify every 5 years,
It can get complicated, get a professional, or save a few bob and kill your family, it's gas for Gods sake.
Jack all to do with home information packs........and unlikely ever to be as I suspect they may well get dumped shortly (as they should be)
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The regulations these days seem to be never ending, can't unplug a gas cooker, install a couple of sockets or even install some windows without falling foul of some building control which does more to line the pockets of the council than ensure the safety of the individual.
Seems like the "Nanny State" is in overdrive nowadays.
What next, needing to be certified to change the brakes on your car?
If fitting a window can cause such a risk it needs to be "controlled" then surely fitting safety critical components to a motor vehicle can't be left to the unqualified.
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The regulations these days seem to be never ending, can't unplug a gas cooker, install a couple of sockets or even install some windows without falling foul of some building control which does more to line the pockets of the council than ensure the safety of the individual.
Seems like the "Nanny State" is in overdrive nowadays.
What next, needing to be certified to change the brakes on your car?
If fitting a window can cause such a risk it needs to be "controlled" then surely fitting safety critical components to a motor vehicle can't be left to the unqualified.
Oh gawd captain, don't give them ideas ;D
Mike
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The regulations these days seem to be never ending, can't unplug a gas cooker, install a couple of sockets or even install some windows without falling foul of some building control which does more to line the pockets of the council than ensure the safety of the individual.
Seems like the "Nanny State" is in overdrive nowadays.
What next, needing to be certified to change the brakes on your car?
If fitting a window can cause such a risk it needs to be "controlled" then surely fitting safety critical components to a motor vehicle can't be left to the unqualified.
The winows are another classic.
The regs were brought in because so many windows were being replaced where there were no lintels and the Fensa registerd guys were supposed to know all about this.
Its not uncommon to see the brick work above the windows collapsing as the plastic units buckle.
Trouble is that the Fensa guys are no better, they claim to be able to fit re-enforced windows but, that only works if the units are proprly fitted and on a mortar bed, not 4 tubes of silicon and half a dozen packers!
Easy one to get round though as you cna pay building control to come out, inspect and sign off......in fact, if you read the charters you can get them to do that for pretty much any work and they have to oblige!
My issue is, there is no contrator out there that I can trust to do the job as well as me(I will tkae much longer doing it mind)......and hence I wont pay for an inferior job...........except plastering which is filthy pass time!
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And there is me researching plumbing rather than coughing up for a plumber.
Oh and I can get an Omega running well on LPG when a professional failed
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Just jobs for the boys outfits, all these organisations.
Last Corgi guy I had in was stumped during the process of moving a boiler FFS. When burner wouldn't come up to a sensible flame height, and pressure was low, he started showing the tell tale signs of wanting to change every rather part in the boiler, starting at the most expensive, despite the fact that it was previously working perfectly.
Fortunately he was receptive enough to listen when I suggested a more logical approach to diagnosing the problem and behold it was simple failure to Please read the manual and lack of understanding how the device he's installing and signing off actually works. >:(
One guy I'd previously phoned from the yellow pages told me "break off, I'm not interested" when I told him the make of boiler. FFS you're supposed to be the competent one. Why does it matter what make of boiler it is? If you get a garage saying "I don't do Omegas" it's a sure sign you're dealing with a muppet and should leave well alone.
I object to paying the kind of cash these guys charge when I end up doing their job for them. Might just as well do it yourself. Avail yourself of the facts and be dilligent and you can be just as sure that you are left with a safe installation too.
Kevin
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Did the kitchen up recently and last thing to be fitted was the gas hob (a new one) the corgi fitter told me that if I had done it myself & in the future a problem occured causing an explosion /fire /damage to your home the Home insurance company would if they found out that you had not had it fitted by a Corgi reg gas fitter, would not pay up plus you could spend up to 2yrs in jail :o
So paid the man & got the certificate....What does seem wrong is if we had left the old hob in fitted about 15yrs ago approx before we moved in didnt need a reg fitter :-[ as nowadays you need a gas tap under the hob to shut the gas off to be legal ....
This is what the Corgi man told me :o
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Always regulations, electrical regs changed in July this year and there is another change afoot this week next week and I can't rather remember what it is that's changing ::).......windows ::).......drainage ::)........plumbing/heating ::)