Anyone keep van stock boiler spare's

cwrplumbing · Dec 28, 2009

Hi guys the title says it all really =)

What if any, boiler breakdown spares do you keep on your van, I know it depends on what boilers are in your area. I just want to know as I might try and put a van stock together.

Pumps,thermisters,fans,air pressure switches etc etc ?????

Is there multifit parts that will fit different manufacture's too ??????

Cheers.

dontknowitall · Dec 28, 2009

When I started (oil in my case) boilers I toddled off to my local merchants and asked for advice with this. They sold me a few nozzles and flexible oil lines as these are fitted at each service and a fire valve.

It's taken a year to sell the fire valve and I've still got a few of the original nozzles. As for pumps, solenoids, etc I wait until they need ordering and tend to keep a few nozzles and oil lines.

If you were a mobile car mechanic I think it would be similar as there are as many car makes as there are boilers. You'd carry a few generic spark plugs and one or two oil filters but for most other parts you'd wait until they needed ordering.

WHPES · Dec 28, 2009

Keep mainly one type of oil line (I get 1/4" bent male swivel to 1/4" female swivel) and the following fittings

10mm to 1/4" male
10mm to 1/4" female
1/4"m to 1/4" hose union
1/4"m to 3/8" hose union
3/8"m to 1/4" hose union
10mm straight connectors
10mm elbow connectors
shut off valve with 3/8" female connections
Tin of Stag paste
PTFE

I usuall get my gear from Heating World of Spares and if you look at their oil line fittings I would keep a selection of each.

The most common nozzles I use are are

0.50 80EH
0.55 80EH
0.65 80EH
0.75 80EH
0.85 60EH
0.85 80EH
1.00 80EH

Nozzles over 1.00 are mainly for bigger boilers and I would wait until you get asked for a service. I made the mistake of buying a selection of nozzles up to 5.00 and 6.00 USGall/h but I only have 5 boilers of this size on my rounds.

Plus an assortment of other bent and straight connectors. Most oil pumps will take a 1/4" male swivel.

The other parts I would carry are a set of bearings for Riello and Bentone motors (6202 2RS)- cheap parts and can be a pain to get quickly.

Keep one remote fire valve - get the 65 degrees 3m capillary. The 1.5m is often too short and you can always coil up any spare length in the boiler casing.

Another tip is to make all your customers flexi oil lines the same and make a note of it so it's easier when you come back.

Hang onto spares and second hand kit from scrapped boilers. Such items are invaluable to get a customer's boiler going again whereas you would be waiting for ordered parts to arrive.

cwrplumbing · Dec 28, 2009

Thanks for replies I was after nat gas.

Kip · Dec 28, 2009

You'll find most plumbers keep every part in for their specific top selling boilers, there-fore not needed to keep parts on the van, the typical stuff i keep on is universal thermocouples. Everything is else is order only.