Keeping your home warm / heating / energy crisis / insulation etc

Are you absolutely certain the thermostat is able to control the boiler? Does turning the thermostat really high or really low cause the boiler to switch on / off?

It switches on, but not off, though the lights on the receiver do change when target temperature is reached.

Ok. So boiler is dead again, no power. It stopped working again this afternoon after being fine for a week, I stuck a new fuse in the plug, it fired up again, then less than 5 minutes later there was a sharp pop and it died again. What’s blowing the plug fuse? It’s not even tripping the fuse box.

What’s blowing the plug fuse?

At a guess, pump issue?

I've got a plug in energy monitor I'm not using. Anyone want it?

It basically plugs inline so and measures the power use of a single gadget.

Yep, most likely pump.

Was the boiler ‘kettling’ (can you hear a boiling water sound cycling on and off) when on and working?

Plug fuse is supposed to trip before the fusebox, that's why we have local fuses

There are various mains powered gubbinses in your boiler - the central heating pump, the flame igniter, the diverter valve, plus the circuit board itself. One of them is causing an overload when it's switched on. The challenge is to figure out which by eliminating components that aren't failing. I concur with suggestions the water pump is the most likely option.

(It's also possible the faulty component is drawing just slightly too many amps which would pop the fuse slowly. A plug in power meter would be useful for diagnosing if this is happening)

Thanks folks, sounds like I'll need to be calling a chap in

Our boiler was tripping out the kitchen circuit when switching off after a heating cycle, was a bit intermittent. Had the supply checked by a spark and everything was fine, turned out to be a diverter valve which was replaced under the service plan.
If you have an out of warranty valiant they offer a plan where they will keep your boiler working or give you a discount on a new one if they can’t repair it.
It’s worked out for us as we need it to last 2 more years before the whole kitchen gets done and boiler moved, the parts alone would have cost more than the plan.

Out of interest, do many people pay for a boiler plan?

I was about to book a boiler service and am thinking maybe I should pay for a plan that includes a 12 month service.

No plan here, get the boiler serviced every year (ish), if it goes wrong same bloke comes out and mends it.

Bit different as it's oil and there's not much to it!

Tldr; version - only you can decide if the plan is worth it for you. Just pause to consider actual cost and opportunity cost, rather than get it because you're scared of the perceived risk of a big bill.

Plans only work for the company offering it if they earn more from fees paid than they pay out in making repairs or replacements. Just the same as insurance. Statistically you're better off putting that money into a bank account each month and just using it towards repairs or replacement when needed.

Of course many people don't have the discipline needed to do that. It's also very possible that you'll be one of the lucky ones that has something go wrong very shortly after you start on the plan (I feel very lucky to have had something similar with insuring my bikes a few years back 2 months before they all got nicked in the same robbery). Of course as humans we focus on the risk of an expensive repair or replacement and feel that much more acutely than the actual cost of payment each month. Companies know this psychology and capitalize on it.

I do get my gas boiler serviced annually, though. It's currently a 15 year old glow worm that we fairly recently inherited from previous homeowner with no service history. I was pretty convinced it would blow in a month. It is still running fine somehow, and I've just budgeted for needing to buy a new boiler any day. If it somehow does continue to run for another couple of years I'll be thrilled. Even now I'm not tempted by a plan, as it'll just eat away at my replacement boiler fund every month it doesn't go wrong.

You service your own boiler?

Sorry, that should have read "get it serviced". Edited now. No way I'm messing around with gas stuff to try and save money.

I might be looking for a new front door soon and am very keen to get something as thermally efficient as possible, because Scotland. Any suppliers/brands that could be recommended?

Had some quotes from Nordan and am going to take a trip to their showroom, other than that I have no idea where to look!

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/feb/14/wood-burning-stoves-cancel-out-fall-particulate-pollution-uk-roads

Wood-burning stoves cancel out fall in particulate pollution from roads in UK

Well fucking done

B... b...but Hygge...something something properly dried logs.

as always

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I got a Moralt blank from Latham

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• Flyer_FERRO_KlassikPlus_EN_Web.pdf

Ah nice thanks! I'm not entertaining fitting this myself, so how blank is a blank? i.e what does it and does not come with? I'd really like something that is easy for a joiner to fit with minimal fuss BUT offers the thermal and acoustic performance we care about.

Bingo. Any joiner should be able to fit that. Needs painted though.

Nice, and last question. Did you paint yours? I feel like I have seen/read about your door in another thread. If so, any recommendations/paint/approach etc. Thanks!

Thanks!

Can these be fitted with glazing? Looking to make an insulated replacement for our Victorian double-window door in the future...

I did, used Tikkurila Miranol. First time using their paint but I liked it. If you can, get it painted off-site and as long as possible in advance (weeks ideally) so the paint is 100% cured before hanging.

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