Header tank Problem.......

[Stewart__SPM]

A customer of ours has had his central heating header tank overflow, flooding a lounge for the second time in two years. The tank was replaced the last time it flooded, but continued to drip out of the overflow. We were asked to look at this, but recommended getting the installers back, as they had been out a couple of weeks before to fix it.

We had just finished a refit of a large family bathroom. The house in question had ridiculously high mains pressure. The only thing connected to the heating that we touched, was to disconnect and refit a radiator on the bathroom. This was all carried out by our plumber and all was working fine.

Now the customer is hinting that the work we carried out caused the flood with the tank. The tank is in a separate section of the house and attic to the area we were working in and never came into contact with it. The flood happened a week after our works were completed. We were not informed of the problem until a month after flood (which I find strange)

I'm just looking for some additional info as I'm meeting the client tomorrow with our plumber (who said it's not caused by anything we have done) and don't want to get thrown any curve balls that could leave me looking stupid.

Thanks for looking..,

Stewart.

 

[Dotty]

Assuming it was a straight removal and refit of the radiator only, not the rad valves, then there is no way you'd have caused the header problem.

If the mains pressure is as high as you say then the washer in the ballvalve in the header tank could've given up the ghost.

Recommend a pressure reducing set on the incoming mains and take it down to 3 bar.

 

[Stewart__SPM]

Thanks Croppie...... Rad was a straight remove and re-fit after tiling, no valves where changed.

 

[paulnwales]

with what you have said id guess there trying to get a old exsisting problem fixed for nothing. as said already a pressure reducing valve would sort this .. do you know what the pressure is?

 

[Stewart__SPM]

That's kinda what I think too Paul, which is why I came here to ask the question, so I can go in with as much info as possible. Quite happy to fix any problems we may have caused as reputation is king, but not going to allow someone to try and pull a fast one.

My plumber thinks the water pressure may have been the issue and we did recommend a kit to reduce the pressure, but the customer declined.

 

[Gray0689]

What was wrong that the overflow did not take the excess water outside????

 

[Stewart__SPM]

What was wrong that the overflow did not take the excess water outside????

That's one of the questions we have to ask tomorrow. We haven't actually seen the tank yet and all the information from the customer has come from an email and phone call. His insurance company came out when flooding was discovered and they turned off the supply to the tank.

Have asked the customer for the report from insurance companies plumber as to what was was carried out when they turned up, but has said it's not available for us.

 

[pobsdad]

I once went to fix a toilet overflow,and 2 days later,the customer was on the phone complaining that ever since I replaced the ballvalve,the hot water wasn't working!She ended up with a free thermocouple,just to shut her up!1+1 obviously =10 to some people.
Just because there is no possible connection between your work and the reported fault,doesn't mean they will accept it.Sometimes,plumbing is like politics,or religion.No matter how good your argument,you will never convert some people.And not allowing you to see their plumbers report is cheating!You show me yours,and I'll show you mine!

 

[Gray0689]

That's one of the questions we have to ask tomorrow. We haven't actually seen the tank yet and all the information from the customer has come from an email and phone call. His insurance company came out when flooding was discovered and they turned off the supply to the tank.

Have asked the customer for the report from insurance companies plumber as to what was was carried out when they turned up, but has said it's not available for us.

Then you should tell them your not available till itis!!!!!!

 

[AlexGas]

I’d say take a photo camera with you and take lots of pictures of everything relevant, especially in the loft. Looks like you’ve got an issue to sort out. Just keep cool and professional. Hopefully you’ll get out of it.

 

[SimonG]

Your customer is having a laugh. The tank was fixed by somebody else who left it dripping and then waited a month before contacting you after the flood. He's taking the proverbial.
I'd phone him tomorrow, not coming out until you've seen report and based on the report will decide wether a visit will be needed and how much you will charge for yourself and plumber to assess what it will cost him to repair any issues he has that have been caused through his own or previous contractors incompetence.

 

[unguided1]

I detest customers who try to pull a fast one, I had a customer who swore blind that after I did some work on a boiler that 1 of her radiators did not work, and before I got there it was the best working radiator in the house, I couldnt think of anything undue as I hadnt done a drain down, so looked at the rad, then tried to vent it no air coming out at all, then cracked the rad valves no air or water coming out of those, out of desperation I lifted the floor boards to find tails goin into the floor and that was it the rad was not connected at all, I reckon the system must have been about 25 to 30 years old and that rad had never ever been connected, so I showed the lady customer and she said well it always felt warm to me!!
So it may be that the customer is always right, but yer sure as hell never believe em