Problem with burned baffle Baxi Solo

[Mike T]

Hi Folks, Thanks for allowing me to join the forum. I have some engineering knowledge but would not touch a gas boiler!
I have a maintenance contract and the engineer came to check my Baxi Solo 2 PF for its annual service / inspection. On opening up there were lots of tutting noises. As I was chatting to him as he worked he explained that there were lots of bits at the bottom of the heat eaxchanger / burner unit. A bracket had been fitted the wrong way round, allowing the ceramic side piece and baffle to fall onto the burner. The baffle was a mass of broken and rusty pieces. The baffle is now an obsolete part. The rest of the boiler is as new but they are saying that it could be a new boiler required!!! Any comments appreciated. Part number BAX231337.

 

[Riley]

I have deleted your identical thread.

 

[Riley]

You had me until you said you were an engineer as that always fills me with dread. Simple answer with this is how long have they been doing your maintenance contract?? If they have done it the past few years unless anyone else has been tampering(????) it must be them that’s done the bracket around the wrong way??

 

[Mike T]

They have been doing it for two years and this would be the third service. I agree, it seems it should be down to the last service engineer. (I'm a mechanical engineer by the way! 🙂) Baxi tell me there are no spares as obsolete.

 

[Riley]

Then I’d be putting a strongly worded correspondence together for your maintenance company. If they’ve looked the past few years then this damage must only have been caused in the last 12 months. No one else to blame if no one else has been in there. Make sure you have it in writing that the engineer said someone has installed the bracket wrong

 

[Riley]

And I wasn’t having a dig about engineering. We get a large number who engineer and think that they can turn their hand to anything, illegal or not

 

[Mike T]

Then I’d be putting a strongly worded correspondence together for your maintenance company. If they’ve looked the past few years then this damage must only have been caused in the last 12 months. No one else to blame if no one else has been in there. Make sure you have it in writing that the engineer said someone has installed the bracket wrong

Nothing in writing unfortunately but I was standing beside him as he stripped the boiler apart. Such a shame if my boiler is going to have to be replaced for a few quid baffle. There are probably hundreds of them sitting on old boilers or in stores! Over the past few years it has had a new fan, a new heat exchanger and a new circuit board. He did say that it's like new in there. You could see the mark on the insulation where the hot baffle had fallen down!

 

[Riley]

I am assuming it’s currently labelled AR/ID??

 

[Mike T]

I am assuming it’s currently labelled AR/ID??

"Danger Safety Warning Do Not Use"! Not a problem in the hot weather as we do have an immersion heater in the airing cupboard cylinder.

 

[Riley]

Did you get any paperwork to support it?

 

[Mike T]

Did you get any paperwork to support it?

A Warning/Advice Note." Is Immediately Dangerous (ID) because Flue Heat exchanger baffle warped and disintegrated."

 

[Riley]

I’d quote that at them and say why was this missed. I suspect they’ll try and wriggle out but ask the question

 

[Mike T]

I’d quote that at them and say why was this missed. I suspect they’ll try and wriggle out but ask the question

Thank you so much for your time and patience. At the end of the day, it looks like it's going to mean a new boiler and a lot of arguing!!! I don't want to get the guy into trouble but I know what I saw and if I'd done something like that, I would hold my hands up to it. I asked about the chap who serviced the boiler previously (he was a bit of a character) and he told me that he was no longer with the company (accompanied by a raise of the eyebrows!).

 

[Riley]

Granted it’s all hearsay and yes it will likely be a new boiler however this firm sound like they’ve caused this problem

 

[rpm]

........................................... Such a shame if my boiler is going to have to be replaced for a few quid baffle. There are probably hundreds of them sitting on old boilers or in stores!

Stupid thing to say!

 

[Mike T]

Stupid thing to say!

Why? It's probably a fact! Thank you for your observation!

 

[rpm]

If it was so then you shouldn`t have a problem finding one! Good luck in your search!