Tuesday, October 25, 2005

Boiler Repair Man continues his 19 year struggle against central heating doom.

Boiler packed up 3 weeks ago. Tame corgi registered mate turned up next day and declared FAN to be dead and should I get a new boiler. I agreed I should but then things turned nasty and was stunned to hear about new regulations that mean a different type of boiler is now mandatory. And guess what it's expensive. £1600 mimimum. The 'Shit!' expletive escaped. I promptly U turned. " How much to fix this one ?". "Probably under 200 notes" was reply but he had to go look things up and would get back to me.

Next day he got back to me.."350 quid for the bit +vat +labour " . The "Shit!" expletive needed rounding up once more. So we argued the toss on cheap boilers (I had found one for £530+vat) but my mate refused to touch a Poterton. "They are crap" he explained in his usual non technical way.

Wife and kid suffering for lack of heating was begining to pray on my mind. Well me suffering because child's hands are felt to be a bit chilly by wife is what really motivates me. Ice cold feet placed directly on my legs when going to bed speed up thought process. I don't want a new boiler because flat convesion is planned and new boiler may be required next year of different output or in diferent physical location. I'll fix it myself I decide. So I dismantel the boiler fan and identify the faulty motor. The internet is googled to death after 3 evenings searching and Ebay boiler man comes to the rescue. Local bloke from Worthing Non-Stressed Heating. One visit on a Friday with the incorrect part is followed by next Tuesday delivery of a shine new reconditioned fan. £140 quid .Bargain. Fit it myself and proudly show wife hot radiators. Top whole evening off by repairing her IBM Laptop with the aid of a large kitchen knife. ..don't ask.

Can't you see I am busy?