Unsafe boiler made safe in Burnley

The job

We were called out to a faulty boiler in Burnley. The customer's boiler was not working correctly, and they also wanted it serviced at the same time as the fault was repaired. On first inspection we spotted rust marks under the boiler, which raised alarm bells that something could be leaking inside it.

What we did

With the case removed, we found signs that the sump had cracked, along with rust in the bottom of the boiler that was starting to eat away at the case. The bolts that hold the burner onto the heat exchanger were also completely loose. The boiler was classified as ID (immediately dangerous), so we capped off the appliance with a 15mm cap and made it safe. Once the gas supply was re-established we carried out a gas tightness test and inspected the other gas appliance in the property.

Challenges

Access was the main challenge on this boiler breakdown. The boiler was in a cupboard, and the access did not conform to the manufacturer's clearances, which made working on it more awkward.

The result

Getting this boiler safe and working again would have needed a costly repair. After talking it through with the customer, including the poor hot water and other issues they had been having, we recommended a new boiler, as it was not economical to spend that money on a 12 year old appliance. The boiler was left capped off and safe, and we have provided a quote for a replacement, which is awaiting the customer's go-ahead. The visit took around an hour. For us, customer safety always comes first, and this call-out in Burnley shows why a proper inspection during a boiler service matters.