I live in rented accommodation in the UK. The hot water is scaldingly hot. The radiators burn to touch. The shower temperature is hugely unreliable -- scalding or freezing. The landlord is worried that a plumber will rip him off, based on bad experiences in the past, and unwilling to pay to investigate.
Can you help me understand what's going on? I'd like to put my landlord's mind at rest regarding plumbers, and set his expectations regarding likely diagnoses and solutions -- and hence cost.
I also suspect this situation is wasting energy and hence driving up the cost of heating bills. I'd like to persuade the landlord that fixing it might be a good idea.
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posted by ajp
on Apr 12, 2013 -
23 answers
I know this question is a little bit arbitrary, but any response will be helpful.
I live in a 2 family spilt house/condo. I noticed that my electrical box is powering the OTHER unit's gas boiler. I assume that the electrical just feeds the thermostat and maybe triggering the pilot to boil the water?? (My knowledge here is limited.)
Without knowing too much about their heating use, I am trying to determine the urgency of getting an electrician to switch it from my electricity to the other unit's electrical box.
posted by lccslug
on Jan 13, 2013 -
8 answers
I need some thermostat programming tips. I moved over the summer and now I have a thermostat after many, many years of living with landlord-controlled heating systems and other curious and quirky forms of heating. Problem: the boiler takes FOREVER to heat up the radiators and then overshoots the target temperature dramatically. Details within.
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posted by mskyle
on Oct 12, 2012 -
9 answers
I haven't even turned the heat on yet and my gas bill is already as high as it was last winter. WTF?
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posted by mskyle
on Aug 22, 2012 -
13 answers
UK tenant adivce-filter: Stuck with a "dangerous" boiler that perhaps isn't, between estate agents, mistrusting landlord and two different gas/heating companies. How do we keep ourselves safe (and warm)?
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posted by menialjoy
on Feb 26, 2012 -
9 answers
How bad is it to stick out the winter with my house's ridiculously old heating system?
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posted by zvs
on Sep 18, 2011 -
14 answers
In a pinch, is it possible to use diesel fuel to fire a boiler that normally runs on no. 2 heating oil?
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posted by Gordion Knott
on Jun 24, 2011 -
14 answers
It's getting cold, and the heat in our newly-purchased but old house won't turn on. Can you help troubleshoot, or should we just call in a professional?
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posted by misskaz
on Oct 2, 2010 -
22 answers
My gas hob/stove/cooktop doesn't have gas anymore, in any of the 4 rings. Our gas boiler appears to be working fine as we're still getting heating and hot water. The electric oven on the same appliance also works fine. The ignition works, it's just there's no gas coming through, but there was yesterday. What is wrong, and what do I do?
posted by Kirn
on Apr 26, 2010 -
3 answers
Without warning my hot water (and hot water only) has suddenly started running brown, and when I drain a tub of it silt like material is left in the bottom. I suspect it's rust. After running the water for a long time it does not seem to be going away. Am I right in thinking that this is probably my boiler and it should be replaced? The suddenness seems weird. Also: my family has been showing and bathing in this, could it be harmful in any way?
posted by Artw
on Mar 19, 2010 -
19 answers
To repair or replace? Should I repair a boiler with renowned reoccuring faults or replace it with a new reliable boiler with a 5 year warranty?
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posted by hjd
on Nov 30, 2009 -
3 answers
Philly filter: Is my gas bill too high and/or is my landlord shady? We get charged a ton for "indirect" charges by a non-PGW company and must write our checks payable to the landlord, not the utility. I also pay the same amount every month, and am
not enrolled in some budget plan that makes the amount due the same each month. Several residents (me included) think this is some sort of way for the landlord to rip us off.
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posted by midatlanticwanderer
on May 23, 2009 -
7 answers
Furnace repair filter: Can any Mefites recommend someone for furnace repair in Vancouver?
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posted by Cosine
on Jan 13, 2009 -
3 answers
Does my home really need a new boiler? How do I choose one? Where should I buy it? How much should I pay?
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posted by wordwhiz
on Jul 30, 2007 -
3 answers
I'm looking for suggestions as to what I can do to keep the boiler & furnace in my house inaccessible to our cats, without closing up the actual room they are in. The boiler has some fluffy insulation around it that I can completely imagine my cats having a ball with. They are not bright.
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posted by tastybrains
on Jun 1, 2007 -
10 answers
My landlords turned on the heat in my building, and now my room smells funny. They say that it's nothing, but I'm kinda worried.
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posted by Afroblanco
on Nov 5, 2006 -
19 answers
What do status codes S.31 and S.36 indicate on a Vaillant ECOmax VUW 236 EH boiler?
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posted by atrazine
on May 29, 2006 -
3 answers
