I'm quite pleased with myself

Matblack · 29-01-2008, 17:20

Apart from computers I am an utter dolt when it comes to DIY stuff and usually go running to Aitch's Dad to help me sort things out but not this time

A few weeks ago our boiler stopped firing, I couldn't for the life of me work out what was wrong with it, more precisely I didn't try, I just called British Gas and for £150 they made it work again. Apparently it was the fan, it had got jammed and as this pulls air in and expels CO2 etc that stops is working. He's 'mended' it. Subsequently I realise that mending means charging me £150 for a squirt of WD40

Lovely, the heating come back on and everything is sorted, until last week when I wake up in the morning theres no hot water and I'm freezing. I go downstairs take the front off the boiler and see the fan assembly which seems to be humming, so I prod it with a wooden spoon (to prevent electrocution) and it whirs in to life. Gonna have to replace it thinks I and its going to cost a lot but in the mean time I'll keep the spoon out.

I've had to jump start it a few times over the last few days but this morning it just won't work, she spins up and then back down but the boiler just won't fire

So I decide to take my life in my hands and try to replace it, a quick google gives me a part number and a short explanation of what to do and a local dealer has the part (I'm amazed this is a 10yo boiler of a type which is now illegal to fit!)

Off to pick up the part, not cheap at £120 but cheaper than calling BG again or a local heating engineer, I also bought myself some screwdrivers from Homebase.

Long and the short of it is, I'm not dead and the house is nice and warm

10 minutes on a stool with a screwdriver a few bits of wire reconnected and we're in business. I have to say despite the ease I am pretty pleased with myself as I normally would have wimped out. The only sticky bit was when I thought the woman at the parts place was going to ask me for proof of Corgi registration, apparently you need it to buy any gas carrying parts I can only assume that a fan isn't classed as gas carrying :/

And in 3 hours I have to go and stand in the cold and be watched but a OFSTED inspector to make sure I'm a good youth worker, fingers crossed there will be a nice warm house to come back to and not a smoking pile of rubble

MB

Mark · 29-01-2008, 17:27

Good move. As long as it doesn't (a) leak or (b) go bang, then you're sorted.

I'm equally bad at DIY but I've replaced light switches and whatnot before and I'm still here to tell you about it. Don't think I'd do anything more advanced than jobs requiring a screwdriver and possibly a hammer though (anything involving making holes is a definite no).

Von Smallhausen · 29-01-2008, 17:28

Expect the place to be surrounded and the windows come crashing in as the tactical entrt teams of the Health & Safety brigade come in with a dynamic entry .....

Admiral Huddy · 29-01-2008, 18:06

Well done matey..

I'm the same, although I did manage to put some shelfs up this weekend. All level and more importantly, they are still there. I've asked the Mrs not to put too much on them - you never know

Me and gravity don't comply!

Desmo · 29-01-2008, 18:36

Will you be dead by Friday when we pick you up? If so, give us a call to save us wasting our time

Justsomebloke · 29-01-2008, 18:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Von Smallhausen

Expect the place to be surrounded and the windows come crashing in as the tactical entrt teams of the Health & Safety brigade come in with a dynamic entry .....

The only thing you fix & it's ILLEGAL to touch it yourself

Yes i am laughing at You

Daz · 29-01-2008, 22:48

I'm pants at DIY too, but been persisting since we've moved and have had a couple of successes. You pick up bits as you go along and hopefully you dont kill yourself

I'm slowly gathering a decent collection of tools now too - the latest being a jigsaw

Rich_L · 30-01-2008, 10:55

Aye good feeling isn't it

This weekend just gone I fixed our sofa, the frame had snapped in 2 places so had to buy replacement bits of wood, fix them in with brackets then re-attach the webbing - took about an hour and ~£50 including power tools (nail/staple gun is so awesome

) but is as good as new now, so was pretty pleased with that

killerkebab · 30-01-2008, 13:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Desmo

Will you be dead by Friday when we pick you up? If so, give us a call to save us wasting our time

But he'll be dead

Haly · 30-01-2008, 13:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by killerkebab

But he'll be dead

Whoooooooooosh

Hope you're not dead yet Matt

29-01-2008, 17:20	#1
Matblack Baby Bore Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Svalbard Posts: 9,770	I'm quite pleased with myself Apart from computers I am an utter dolt when it comes to DIY stuff and usually go running to Aitch's Dad to help me sort things out but not this time A few weeks ago our boiler stopped firing, I couldn't for the life of me work out what was wrong with it, more precisely I didn't try, I just called British Gas and for £150 they made it work again. Apparently it was the fan, it had got jammed and as this pulls air in and expels CO2 etc that stops is working. He's 'mended' it. Subsequently I realise that mending means charging me £150 for a squirt of WD40 Lovely, the heating come back on and everything is sorted, until last week when I wake up in the morning theres no hot water and I'm freezing. I go downstairs take the front off the boiler and see the fan assembly which seems to be humming, so I prod it with a wooden spoon (to prevent electrocution) and it whirs in to life. Gonna have to replace it thinks I and its going to cost a lot but in the mean time I'll keep the spoon out. I've had to jump start it a few times over the last few days but this morning it just won't work, she spins up and then back down but the boiler just won't fire So I decide to take my life in my hands and try to replace it, a quick google gives me a part number and a short explanation of what to do and a local dealer has the part (I'm amazed this is a 10yo boiler of a type which is now illegal to fit!) Off to pick up the part, not cheap at £120 but cheaper than calling BG again or a local heating engineer, I also bought myself some screwdrivers from Homebase. Long and the short of it is, I'm not dead and the house is nice and warm 10 minutes on a stool with a screwdriver a few bits of wire reconnected and we're in business. I have to say despite the ease I am pretty pleased with myself as I normally would have wimped out. The only sticky bit was when I thought the woman at the parts place was going to ask me for proof of Corgi registration, apparently you need it to buy any gas carrying parts I can only assume that a fan isn't classed as gas carrying :/ And in 3 hours I have to go and stand in the cold and be watched but a OFSTED inspector to make sure I'm a good youth worker, fingers crossed there will be a nice warm house to come back to and not a smoking pile of rubble MB __________________ "we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two"

29-01-2008, 17:28	#3
Von Smallhausen I'm Free Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Tyneside Posts: 3,061	Expect the place to be surrounded and the windows come crashing in as the tactical entrt teams of the Health & Safety brigade come in with a dynamic entry ..... __________________ " Well, old bean, life is really so bloody awful that I feel it’s my absolute duty to be chirpy and try and make everybody else happy too." David Niven, 1910-1983.

29-01-2008, 18:06	#4
Admiral Huddy HOMO-Sapien Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Chelmsford Posts: 6,692	Well done matey.. I'm the same, although I did manage to put some shelfs up this weekend. All level and more importantly, they are still there. I've asked the Mrs not to put too much on them - you never know Me and gravity don't comply! __________________ I just got lost in thought.. It was very unfamiliar territory. Techie Talk \| My gaming Blog \| PC spec \| The Admirals log

29-01-2008, 18:36	#5
Desmo The Last Airbender Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Pigmopad Posts: 11,915	Will you be dead by Friday when we pick you up? If so, give us a call to save us wasting our time __________________

29-01-2008, 22:48	#7
Daz The Stig Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Swad! Posts: 10,713	I'm pants at DIY too, but been persisting since we've moved and have had a couple of successes. You pick up bits as you go along and hopefully you dont kill yourself I'm slowly gathering a decent collection of tools now too - the latest being a jigsaw __________________ apt-get moo

29-01-2008, 17:27	#2
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	Good move. As long as it doesn't (a) leak or (b) go bang, then you're sorted. I'm equally bad at DIY but I've replaced light switches and whatnot before and I'm still here to tell you about it. Don't think I'd do anything more advanced than jobs requiring a screwdriver and possibly a hammer though (anything involving making holes is a definite no).

30-01-2008, 10:55	#8
Rich_L Dr Cocktapuss Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Seven Sizzles Posts: 1,044	Aye good feeling isn't it This weekend just gone I fixed our sofa, the frame had snapped in 2 places so had to buy replacement bits of wood, fix them in with brackets then re-attach the webbing - took about an hour and ~£50 including power tools (nail/staple gun is so awesome ) but is as good as new now, so was pretty pleased with that __________________