Do your research before hiring a ‘heating engineer’.
I wanted a new boiler and central heating install.Aiden turned up as arranged and seemed polite,knowledgeable and friendly.A quote was forthcoming very quickly and higher than I expected,but having had no other plumber even respond to calls and being keen to push the job forward I accepted.My other reservation was I was informed I must have a smart thermostat as “it’s the regulations” which turned out to be untrue and we resolved.He turned up first day and on time.I had cleared all work areas,pulled floor boards up and prepared as arranged to simplify the job.I re used all radiators and had one new one installed in downstairs toilet.I offered if any further access was required or I could help in any way to let me know.In honesty the house is a work in progress so not pristine,but some parts such as downstairs toilet,hallway etc were pretty much complete.No attempt to protect anything was taken.Holes drilled into the toilet wall with nothing to protect the engineered wood floor.Bedroom doors left open and no provision for ventilating dust whilst grinding out two wall chases.The boiler itself seems okay bar trivia such as earth strap to supply pipe not fixed correctly (bolt missing) and pipe holes through walls unsealed resulting in draughts.The pipe work is horrific for the most part.Many occasions of short lengths joined for zero reason other than to save on copper I assume.Pipes were left trowelled in flux which I now gather is acid and corrodes over time.Existing notches in joists were extended to accommodate extra pipes leaving gaps wider than the floorboards.In places I had to replace the boards with plywood as there was nothing to sit the boards on.On pointing out one wall chase left the pipework proud of the wall Aiden fixed a metal strap to try and pull the pipework back then a pipe clip which accentuated the issue.He then lost interest as he “had another boiler to fit” and told me “you’re good aren’t you” which I took to mean it was my problem now.A hallway radiator that was floor fed became wall fed as agreed.I was told the only option was the radiator had to be raised to accommodate the pipework when in hindsight I could have gone and swapped out one of the straight radiator valves I had purchased for angled ones.Black boot prints were all over two of the bedroom carpets.The condensate pipe is long and unsightly outside and not terminated as per the regulations which seem to matter so much on occasion.The electric wire feeding the old immersion tank was cut at the tank and left hanging down the wall(still live if switch turned on).Old water tanks were left in the attic despite verbal confirmation they would be removed.Upon commissioning of the system two water leaks from pipe joins.Then I was informed he was going and I should leave the boiler on an hour.I inquired was he coming back and he said no,but my old radiators would take some time to heat.They didn’t with my 30 year old boiler so I insisted he stayed until all had warmed.He begrudgingly bled the radiators and once warm rushed off.My ‘wrongdoing’ in the saga was Aiden had assumed he was taking the scrap copper.I felt another £500 on the already high price in my opinion was unaceptable and we agreed to sort out that aspect at the jobs completion.Left with what I mentioned above and plenty more I haven’t I was reticent to give a ‘tip’ and he said I could keep the scrap as he had no room on the van anyway.I have zero faith in the longevity of the pipework which was why I got copper and solder in the first place.There is so much flux/solder/signs of overheating and green corrosion to the two week old pipework plus multiple unnecessary joints and poor routing that I am seriously considering complete removal and renewal to avoid future issues.Again in honesty I haven’t raised my concerns with this firm as firstly they weren’t keen to address my issues when here so doubtful they would now gone and secondly I wouldn’t trust them to fix the issues anyway.Their primary focus is making maximum money in minimum time with minimum effort despite what their website and social media claim.You may get a reasonable straightforward boiler swap or install from these guys if willing to risk,but from my experience which is all videoed,photographed,documented and witnessed you would probably be better iwatching some online videos and doing the pipework side of things yourself.