Worcester Bosch Greenstar Jr 28i combi - problems?

[Mike Tomlinson]

Yesterday, my WB Greenstar Junior 28i combi developed an interesting fault. Just as I was getting all lathered up with soap in my eyes, the water turned icy cold. Lovely.

Towelling up and cursing, I found the boiler in lockout (red reset light and blue mains light flashing alternately). Pressed the reset button to be given a Christmas tree-like display of colours and was rewarded a couple mins later with hot water. Until it went into lockout again a few minutes later. Engineer that fitted it came out, sucked his teeth. "it's faulty mate." What's wrong? "Er, dunno." Now what? "I call WB for you and they come out" When? "they'll be here before 6pm today"

The fault is repeatable - it can be made to happen at will, by turning the hot tap on. In between I can get some hot water. In between a couple of resets yesterday the boiler made a peculiar rattling sound.

Before I consider my options, I haven't bought another Suprima, have I? The idea of having the old cast-iron pilot-lit Glow worm and grotty rads replaced a couple years ago was to buy reliability.

Just wondering whether it might be worth paying up for the extended warranty. Might turn out to be VFM when the original warranty expires in November this year. Asked engineer and he just shrugged (so helpful, these guys!) Asked whether he'd had many callbacks and he seemed noncommittal.

It's installed in the ground floor flat in a Victorian semi conversion with 7 large double-panelled radiators. Worcester wireless hall stat. Has been problem free since installation.

Be grateful for any comments, thoughts, terms of abuse, etc.

M.

[Stuart Noble]

IME WB engineers are generally pretty good and at least you know they won't have to run around looking for spares. They do a £200+ call out for which they replace up to 3 components. Given the cost of spares (pump over £100 etc), this isn't too bad a deal. I've elected to cover mine with a Domestic & General policy, mainly because it includes the heat exchanger and corrosion damage which, from memory, the others weren't too specific about. You pays your money etc.

[Mike Tomlinson]

In article , Stuart Noble writes

Chappy turned up from WB. Rapped a shiny metal cylinder, about half the size of a fire extinguisher, and pronounced it dead.

He'd just used his spare on the previous job and had none left. Coming back in the morning. H'm.

Yes, I had that in mind, thinking ahead. Thank you.

[Colin Wilson]

I had a WB 28SiII in my other house, and it was faulty from new (fixed by WB), then went faulty again after about 18 months - "£££ callout fee, Sir" - within a week or so it was knackered again so I asked for stats on the reliability of the components and what they thought was acceptable.

I was quickly offered a reduced rate annual service contract (cheaper than a call-out), and i've had to get it fixed a couple more times since.

Apart from the heat exchanger, I think most parts have been replaced at least once now, and it was only installed about 6 years ago I think (at a push, you'll find the date on google because I posted about it at the time IIRC).

Not impressed with WB TBH, not sure if i'd bother going with them again if an alternative manufacturer could be recommended...

Considering this was a NON-condensing boiler, and they're generally held to be more reliable, it says a lot about the current state of the quality being churned out :-/

[Mike Tomlinson]

In article , Colin Wilson writes

Hmm. A warning worth heeding. Thank you.

WB guy left about half an hour ago. He replaced the heat exchanger and showed me the amount of silt it had had in it. Think I'll get the original fitter back to fit a filter.

[Stuart Noble]

Unusual to have that replaced so soon I would have thought. Maybe you're in a very hard water area

[geoff]

In message , Colin Wilson writes

When you find yourself even less impressed with other mfrs report back

they all seem to be knocking out rubbish ATM

cost of spares and after sales service is something you have to look at

WB are not bad

[YAPH]

I take it that was the plate heat exchanger (sort of brick-like metal block with 4 holes or pipes on it)?

Silt = black gritty/flakey crud?

Not a specifically W-B pr specifically condensing problem: I routinely have non-condensing Poxi/Battertons doing that.

[Mike Tomlinson]

In article , YAPH writes

No, it was a metal cylinder (like a drinks can on steroids)

Yes, larger grains than sand, black, quite loose, not adhering to anything at all.

[YAPH]

Blimey, bad news if that had blocked up.

[Mike Tomlinson]

In article , YAPH writes

I didn't actually get a good look at it as the WB engineer was in and out in a flash of lightning. But I got the impression that one side of the cylinder was rippled (not quite buckled).

He wasn't the friendliest guy in the world but did the job ok, I suppose.