Got any experts in the family...

[gbb]

that've saved you a bucket of money ???
Just got back from holiday and the heatings up the swanny. Its a 30 year old system although the boilers only ( ! ) 10 years old.
Motorised valve actuator had gone, the valve itself was weeping fluid so while we were at it, replace the old control box which is obsolete and irrepairable, fitted the following..
New valve actuator.
Temporary new internals in the old 3 way valve...correct internals to be fitted later.
New immersion heater thermostat, plus new cabling to new connection box.
Disable old thermostat downstairs, fit new wireless thermostat, plus new wiring to reciever.
New digital controller wired in.

All tested and working, just a couple of bits to do in the next week to finish it off......all for FREEEEEEE

Probably woulda cost IRO £300-400 to get someone to do it. I love it....i owe my son a big favour now, but gladly.

 

[asterix]

I am the only expert in our family.

 

[Vapin' Joe]

Twenty years as an ADI meant spending countless hours teaching nieces and nephews to drive for nothing or next to nothing. No-one in the family has a practical skill I could ever use in return.

 

[fossyant]

I am the only expert in our family.

Same here.

My dad is a car expert (retired) ...but doesn't do any car stuff now.. getting a bit older, and can't be ar$ed !

I service my own car and can diagnose and solve electronic gremlins in our two cars - all done -

LOCAL bike expert....

No other real gains - I do as much as I can myself.

 

[Mr Phoebus]

Same here.

Do everything myself.

 

[MattL]

Try being the family IT/computer guy.

THIS sums it up pretty well.

 

[NormanD]

I'm the family freebie .. from fitted kitchens / bathrooms / computers / laminated flooring/ decorating ... you name it I've fitted it or done it for FREE for family members .. plus they also tell their friends and friends of friends that I'll fix it and they name the price I'll do it for ... I've since retired from doing family and friends freebies

 

[david k]

that've saved you a bucket of money ???
Just got back from holiday and the heatings up the swanny. Its a 30 year old system although the boilers only ( ! ) 10 years old.
Motorised valve actuator had gone, the valve itself was weeping fluid so while we were at it, replace the old control box which is obsolete and irrepairable, fitted the following..
New valve actuator.
Temporary new internals in the old 3 way valve...correct internals to be fitted later.
New immersion heater thermostat, plus new cabling to new connection box.
Disable old thermostat downstairs, fit new wireless thermostat, plus new wiring to reciever.
New digital controller wired in.

All tested and working, just a couple of bits to do in the next week to finish it off......all for FREEEEEEE

Probably woulda cost IRO £300-400 to get someone to do it. I love it....i owe my son a big favour now, but gladly.

has the immersion been run from the junction box?

if the valave was weeping why didnt you just swap the valve?
was a new thermostat required?

 

[Vapin' Joe]

has the immersion been run from the junction box?

if the valave was weeping why didnt you just swap the valve?
was a new thermostat required?

You seem to know a bit.

You couldn't come round and look at mine could you? As a mate, you understand

 

[Saluki]

I have a cousin who was a QC. He was very handy once
I am a dog groomer and have since moved away from where the family lives so now I don't have to spend 3 hours mauling uncooperative Giant Schnauzers about for 3 hours for nowt. I would tell them a price (discounted) and they wouldn't pay me, failing to understand that I run a business not a charity and in the time its taken me to do their dog, I could have possibly groomed 3 paying customers. They appeared not to care a jot for rent, rates, wages etc so I refused to do their dogs any longer. Sounds harsh but I don't see why I should get bitten for the fun of it.

I used to work in IT and was described as "useful when your computer packs in". At a party once, a cousin brought his laptop along for me to have a look at.
As I said, I have moved. 600 miles away at that.

 

[Night Train]

I have three experts in the house.

I do most things and will try everything else.
Dad does most of the building work and electrical work when I don't have time to.
Mum can spot a shopping bargain and make a minicule amount of money go a long way.

 

[gbb]

has the immersion been run from the junction box?

if the valave was weeping why didnt you just swap the valve?
was a new thermostat required?

The immersion thermostat was connected to the original control box, its now connected to a terminal box that's replaced it. (the original control box is/was a very simple PCB with a relay)
Co-indidentally, some years ago when i was still a council tennant, they said..if that box goes, you have to have a complete new controller etc. That's bollox, the only thing that could go (IMHO ) is the relay...and i'd be astounded if the relay was that special..relays cost what ? £5 - £10...no, its a way of making a small job big...and more expensive.

Weeping valve ?, the internal 'rotor' had sheared. My son had a slightly different rotor/repair kit, but in essence the same thing. That'll be corrected when he gets the right one. Its working ok now, but just passing a little.

Ive actually got a brand new spare 3 way valve and actuator, but its his time we were using. It was quicker to repair the valve in situ rather than drain the system and fit the new valve. Repairing the valve took minutes, actuator off, bungs in the header tank, undo 4 screws to access the rotor, fit new rotor...jobs (nearly) a goodun.

New thermostat wasn't required but while trying to diagnose exactly why the boiler wouldnt re-fire we fitted a new one. The original was 30 years old, so its only for the good. In the end, he realised i'd turned the switch off downstairs without him realising ..thats why it wouldnt re-fire.

Ive always been paranoid about the heating since i brought the house(unnecessarily of course) long before he became a boiler engineer. Over the years i've accumulated a spare pump, stop valves, 3 way valve, controller etc etc, exactly for this day.

 

[Archie_tect]

My dad does a mean oil painting, but he needs to practice pastels... my mum can deliver a baby at home if you need a midwife but her technique may be a bit old-fashioned, but unless you have a decent microscope Mrs A_T couldn't analyse your chromosomes as a favour.

 

[pepecat]

Try being the family IT/computer guy.

THIS sums it up pretty well.

Oh that is SO true - my mum phones me about everything!! How to save something as a pdf, why is excel doing xyz, why is my internet not doing xyz..... she uses a pc, i use a mac..... it's like the blind leading the blind....

 

[cd365]

Try being the family IT/computer guy.

THIS sums it up pretty well.

I've worked in I.T. for more years than I care to remember so have been the I.T. guy for a long time. One of my sister's was very adept at getting me to fix her friends computers until I got fed up with all the freebies and started to charge. Well I did it once, about a third of the going rate, she hasn't asked me since