Boiler emergency!

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 04 Jan 2006, 14:34

foxy wrote:
teddygirl wrote: Has anyone ever tried to do the toilet with a bucket on your head ?
Plastic or metal?

How c rap TG

I can get into the handstand position but I keep missing the bucket!

teddygirl · Post by **teddygirl** » 04 Jan 2006, 16:18

It was plastic actually

Crisis is now over as it was an overflowing sink and not a burst pipe that was causing the problem. However the false ceiling which only went back up a few weeks ago after the last leak is now in bits again and the wallpaper which only went on last week is a bit soggy. Could have been a lot worse though so we are counting our blessings.

Pal of Porty · Post by **Pal of Porty** » 04 Jan 2006, 18:40

This is me going to the toilet the last time my roof leaked:

teddygirl · Post by **teddygirl** » 04 Jan 2006, 18:47

Yes, very funny

but that is the easy way. We were balancing the bucket the right way up to catch the drips and it's no mean feat you know

Epykat · Post by **Epykat** » 04 Jan 2006, 19:10

teddygirl wrote: Has anyone ever tried to do the toilet with a bucket on your head ?

No, but I've tried doing the toilet in a bucket with the roof of a van on my head

ecm · Post by **ecm** » 04 Jan 2006, 19:17

Epykat wrote:
teddygirl wrote: Has anyone ever tried to do the toilet with a bucket on your head ?
No, but I've tried doing the toilet in a bucket with the roof of a van on my head

Why would you do such a thing? And where was the rest of the van?

I'm confused.

Epykat · Post by **Epykat** » 04 Jan 2006, 19:24

ecm wrote:Why would you do such a thing? And where was the rest of the van?

I'm confused.

You will be

We were in a camper van and the only flat place to park in the middle of nowhere was right next to about 10 fishermen. It being Summer it was broad daylight at 10.30pm and Prombabe and I could hang on no longer. There were no trees or bushes so we pulled the curtains in the van, put the bucket (which we'd just done the dishes in

) on the front seat and perched precariously. The height of the bucket combined with the seat meant our heads were at right angles pushed up against the roof of the van. Combine that with laughing and you can imagine our predicament

As far as I remember though, neither of us spilled a drop

teddygirl · Post by **teddygirl** » 04 Jan 2006, 19:32

I'm hoping you are not going to tell us that you used same bucket to do the dishes in next day.

ecm · Post by **ecm** » 04 Jan 2006, 19:38

Epykat wrote:
ecm wrote:Why would you do such a thing? And where was the rest of the van?

I'm confused.
You will be
We were in a camper van and the only flat place to park in the middle of nowhere was right next to about 10 fishermen. It being Summer it was broad daylight at 10.30pm and Prombabe and I could hang on no longer. There were no trees or bushes so we pulled the curtains in the van, put the bucket (which we'd just done the dishes in ) on the front seat and perched precariously. The height of the bucket combined with the seat meant our heads were at right angles pushed up against the roof of the van. Combine that with laughing and you can imagine our predicament As far as I remember though, neither of us spilled a drop

I had to ask!

foxy · Post by **foxy** » 04 Jan 2006, 20:28

teddygirl wrote:Yes, very funny but that is the easy way. We were balancing the bucket the right way up to catch the drips and it's no mean feat you know

Now that I would have liked to have seen

in fact I might just go and try it

Pal of Porty · Post by **Pal of Porty** » 04 Jan 2006, 21:17

teddygirl wrote:I'm hoping you are not going to tell us that you used same bucket to do the dishes in next day.

I also hope it is not the same bucket you put on your head when your roof leaks!

rapunzell · Post by **rapunzell** » 04 Jan 2006, 22:10

teddygirl wrote:Oh well it's our turn now! Has anyone ever tried to do the toilet with a bucket on your head ? That's what we are having to do here, a leak is coming through from upstairs into our toilet and so far no-one is awake up there and we can't get the water turned off. Isn't life wonderful

This is terrible! Many consolations for the plumbing disaster, but I think you may have also stumbled on a hit performance idea for the next festival fringe : )

Epykat · Post by **Epykat** » 04 Jan 2006, 22:16

teddygirl wrote:I'm hoping you are not going to tell us that you used same bucket to do the dishes in next day.

I'm saying nothing.......

teddygirl · Post by **teddygirl** » 05 Jan 2006, 11:30

I'm so glad the level of toilet humour on this forum is keeping it's high standards for 2006

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 05 Jan 2006, 11:45

teddygirl wrote:I'm so glad the level of toilet humour on this forum is keeping it's high standards for 2006

We wouldn't want toilet it slip.

foxy · Post by **foxy** » 05 Jan 2006, 12:37

Dadaist wrote:
teddygirl wrote:I'm so glad the level of toilet humour on this forum is keeping it's high standards for 2006
We wouldn't want toilet it slip.

We just can't let it go down the pan

rathbone · Post by **rathbone** » 05 Jan 2006, 16:27

It's a wipe out.

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 05 Jan 2006, 17:14

I'm washing my hands of this thread.

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 05 Jan 2006, 18:20

Well, I called out Contract Heating, Rapunzell ( not only had you recommended them, they had dealt with the boiler once before for a minor problem while it was still under warranty, so I reckoned they were a safe bet), but I'm still boilerless tonight

The engineer turned up at 2.OO pm (it was meant to be a morning visit, but better late than never) and identified the problem which was a leaking pressure release valve and a faulty heat exchanger chamber. He replaced the parts and hey presto, heating and hot water once more.

However, an hour later the pressure had built up to close on 3 bar again and the danger zone. The boiler is now once again out of action, their office is closed for the night and I'm digging out my thermals

ecm · Post by **ecm** » 05 Jan 2006, 19:43

Poor Marya and family. It's to be another cold one tonight again.
Hope you get things sorted quickly.

If you want my professional opinion, it sounds to me like your expansion vessel needs re-charging with air.

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 05 Jan 2006, 19:48

You just made that up, didn't you?

ecm · Post by **ecm** » 05 Jan 2006, 19:55

Bob Jefferson wrote:You just made that up, didn't you?

no I didn't, how dare you!

See number 19.

ecm · Post by **ecm** » 05 Jan 2006, 19:55

That'll be Â£125 plus VAT, please.

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 05 Jan 2006, 20:17

According to ecm's rule number 19 I've to

With the system off & empty of water locate the Shredder

Now where's that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles video when you want it?

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 05 Jan 2006, 21:03

ecm wrote:
Bob Jefferson wrote:You just made that up, didn't you?
no I didn't, how dare you!

See number 19.

Chapeau! You are indeed the Google Queen!

rapunzell · Post by **rapunzell** » 05 Jan 2006, 21:04

Marya wrote:Well, I called out Contract Heating, Rapunzell ( not only had you recommended them, they had dealt with the boiler once before for a minor problem while it was still under warranty, so I reckoned they were a safe bet), but I'm still boilerless tonight

The engineer turned up at 2.OO pm (it was meant to be a morning visit, but better late than never) and identified the problem which was a leaking pressure release valve and a faulty heat exchanger chamber. He replaced the parts and hey presto, heating and hot water once more.

However, an hour later the pressure had built up to close on 3 bar again and the danger zone. The boiler is now once again out of action, their office is closed for the night and I'm digging out my thermals

Nooo!!! Thats really crap.

My combi had a leaking pressure release valve too; confused as it was by a broken pressure gauge. Sounds as though your thermostat was feeling neglected and has thrown a tantrum : )

You could maybe bake lots of chocolate cake in order to warm up your kitchen?

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 06 Jan 2006, 07:48

I had been contemplating replacing my 30 year old conventional boiler next year with a combi. Now I'm not so sure. Every year or so we have to replace the thermal coupling - a bit of wire that wholesales at around Â£3:95. It should have been condemned years ago of course, but if you know a friendly plumber they can keep these things running almost indefinitely.

Does anyone have a condenser boiler? They are supposed to be very efficent and environmentally friendly, expensive but there are grants available. However, I can't find a plumber who has a good word to say about them.

Pal of Porty · Post by **Pal of Porty** » 06 Jan 2006, 10:34

I have now had my combi boiler for 9 years and on the whole we have been very pleased with it. I must add however that I would not dream of having one without taking out British Gas 3 star cover.

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 06 Jan 2006, 10:41

Pal of Porty wrote: British Gas 3 star cover.

We have that, it's worth having.

Sandra · Post by **Sandra** » 06 Jan 2006, 10:55

rapunzell wrote: You could maybe bake lots of chocolate cake in order to warm up your kitchen?

very good idea

Sandra · Post by **Sandra** » 06 Jan 2006, 11:01

We also have a combi boiler we inherited and have 3 star cover - which gives you peace of mind as well as a yearly service. It is so well worth the money.

Though once when I stayed in Gorgie my parents were staying and my mum was washing dishes and just decided to switch switches off, not realising she had done this I put the central heating on - and it didn't come on, I started panicking as I had no hot water/heat I called out Scottish Gas and they threatened to charge me for wasting their time

Now she is well warned not to touch anything!

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 06 Jan 2006, 11:09

Please forgive me. I just need a rant.

My boiler is now working..sort of...after letting it (and the house!) cool down last night I drained off some of the water and restarted it. After some disturbing noises and several attempts by the boiler to ignite properly it started to work again. Now I have to check the pressure every 15 mins or so to make sure it doesn't try to self destruct (I ought to mention that the pressure release value doesn't empty out through an overflow but just dumps the water on the floor beneath the boiler thanks to the installer neglecting to install it properly!). This entails me going up and down the stairs to the basement level, which might help get me fit but does nothing for my sanity!

The engineer could come today (after I whimpered down the phone) but only whenever he can 'fit me in' as they're fully booked so I'd most likely be stuck in the house all day again, which is where the second problem lies. I've got some of Homer's family arriving for the weekend and haven't managed to stock up on food, Christmas presents (!) etc. His Dad is 89 and his Mum 85 and I'm worried that that I'll end up over the weekend without heating and hot water. Homer is more concerned that they'll starve and has told me to cancel the engineer until Monday. He's quite confident that turning off the boiler when we leave the house and me running up and down the stairs and through what will be someone's bedroom this weekend, to check the boiler, will keep everything hunky dory. I don't know whether to be more frustrated with the heating company or my husband at the moment

PS
We had the Gas 3 star cover on the old boiler, but when we replaced it we had the 2 year manufacturer's warranty to cover us for the new one....until it expired a month ago

Sandra · Post by **Sandra** » 06 Jan 2006, 11:22

Marya, poor you, sounds like you are having a bad time of it and having visitors on top of it all - HELL.

Fingers crossed engineer fixes it today (early) which leaves you time to do food shopping etc. Though what's Homer doing to help?

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 06 Jan 2006, 11:28

Marya - Tesco.com delivery?

Sandra · Post by **Sandra** » 06 Jan 2006, 11:38

Dadaist wrote:Marya - Tesco.com delivery?

Good idea especially if stuck in the house all day