Next step

[adam55]

hey everyone.
im new on here and just wanted peoples thoughts on boiler fault finding courses. iv recently returned to working with gas after doing my apprenticeship in service and maintenance on domestic boilers. im currently doing my gas safe course and am going to be working with a gas engineer unpaid in order to get my qualification, but after this il be kind of stuck for experience. do you think these fault finding courses are a good idea and if so which ones? im in birmingham but am willing to travel a couple of hours. what do you think my next steps should be? i wouldnt mind employment again as currently im a self employed plumber working on bathrooms, kitchens, general maintenance, and really would love to go back to service and breakdowns. any thoughts much appreciated!

thanks, adam

 

[ADM360]

welcome along Adam

 

[Killy Bing]

Welcome, you can ring up reps, pally upto them about wanting to fit and work on their boilers but are unsure and ask if they have training available.

might be able to get it for free!

 

[adam55]

great idea. so call manufacturers direct and see if i can get information/ free stuff!!

 

[chris watkins]

Baxi are very good but would suggest that you start be understanding controls wiring (S & Y plans) first, if you don't already, if you can't wire em how are you going to know if it is the external controls or the boiler which is not working. Honeywell also do wiring courses as well as Baxi & others but be warned you will need a certain amount of electrical understanding to make the most of them.
Training

Welcome & good luck.

 

[TBServices]

Honeywell course is cheap and gets great reviews on here.

Baxi course also looks good but it's 3 days off work and a fair old chunk of travelling

 

[adam55]

great thanks, iv not had a great deal of experience with combi boilers and judging from the amount of wires on them and switches its pretty intimidating not having electrical knowledege, its obviously an extremely important aspect.

 

[TBServices]

great thanks, iv not had a great deal of experience with combi boilers and judging from the amount of wires on them and switches its pretty intimidating not having electrical knowledege, its obviously an extremely important aspect.

Get the mr combi DVD, rip it to your phone/ipad and use it as reference when you get stuck with your multi meter. It's not the best, and I wouldn't advise going on his course, but it can be handy to refresh your memory of the basics.

Also get gas installers workmate, it's £30, but well worth the money and you'll never be without a manual on site, fault finding flow charts, wiring diagrams and exploded parts views are very helpful.

 

[adam55]

Get the mr combi DVD, rip it to your phone/ipad and use it as reference when you get stuck with your multi meter. It's not the best, and I wouldn't advise going on his course, but it can be handy to refresh your memory of the basics.

Also get gas installers workmate, it's £30, but well worth the money and you'll never be without a manual on site, fault finding flow charts, wiring diagrams and exploded parts views are very helpful.

yes im using the gas installers handbook at the moment whilst im completing my gas course, should be qualified by april. its just the extra bit of knowledge can always help with most things and experience seems to be key i find, even if its a good knowledgeable pal you can call up and get their opinion. so just wanted to know if anyone had been on one of these courses and if it was any good?

 

[A1P]

hey everyone.
im new on here and just wanted peoples thoughts on boiler fault finding courses. iv recently returned to working with gas after doing my apprenticeship in service and maintenance on domestic boilers. im currently doing my gas safe course and am going to be working with a gas engineer unpaid in order to get my qualification, but after this il be kind of stuck for experience. do you think these fault finding courses are a good idea and if so which ones? im in birmingham but am willing to travel a couple of hours. what do you think my next steps should be? i wouldnt mind employment again as currently im a self employed plumber working on bathrooms, kitchens, general maintenance, and really would love to go back to service and breakdowns. any thoughts much appreciated!

thanks, adam

I am sure some of these courses are excellent and worth giving some time to if they increase your knowledge and confidence.I am just completing my first full year as Gas Safe and am absolutely loving doing boiler repairs.Every one is a challenge.I have an app. with most manuals on,an experienced guy to call if stuck.I have also found some of the technical depts. very helpful.I was working on a 20 year old Myson Apollo which according to the customer was making a pattern of 'strange' noises.I had never seen this make before but the technical guy had fitted masses of them and was able to tell me it was normal for these.I am pretty sure that in the end experience will be the best teacher.You have an apprenticeship,experienced guy to ask,apps to use so courses would mean you have done all the right things.There is good demand out there as many cannot be bothered with this work or have the temperament for it.

 

[adam55]

I am sure some of these courses are excellent and worth giving some time to if they increase your knowledge and confidence.I am just completing my first full year as Gas Safe and am absolutely loving doing boiler repairs.Every one is a challenge.I have an app. with most manuals on,an experienced guy to call if stuck.I have also found some of the technical depts. very helpful.I was working on a 20 year old Myson Apollo which according to the customer was making a pattern of 'strange' noises.I had never seen this make before but the technical guy had fitted masses of them and was able to tell me it was normal for these.I am pretty sure that in the end experience will be the best teacher.You have an apprenticeship,experienced guy to ask,apps to use so courses would mean you have done all the right things.There is good demand out there as many cannot be bothered with this work or have the temperament for it.

again thanks, I don't suppose u could tell me what the app is called could u?

 

[A1P]

again thanks, I don't suppose u could tell me what the app is called could u?

I think one or two suggestions are in the thread.I download a lot of manuals from Heating Spares 24/7 website.Being local to me I find them very helpful.Decent prices on spares via internet.
Going off the subject slightly.Boiler repairs usually require a diagnostic visit and then getting parts if required ,another trip.I price a'loaded 'amount for first hour and then charge per 15 mins at a lower hourly rate.You can't ignore the travelling but customers expect to be charged for time in the house,this pricing covers you and they don't think you are creeping into the second hour to rip them off.
Courses,experience,apps.etc all help but there are nightmare jobs where a certain solution is not easy.This is where customer skills come in.If parts are expensive on a 10 year boiler ,customer needs to understand this might only be a short term answer.There is also the awkward situation where you can't be sure an expensive part will solve it and that once out of the box it is second hand and not returnable.Some people are unscrupulous and see every old boiler as a potential boiler swap or simply randomly fit and charge for parts.There are a couple of horror stories of £800/£1000 charges on here. Enjoy the challenge.It is fun when it is new ,how I will feel in a few years time,who knows.