BREAKDOWNS EVERYWHERE! Let’s Fix Some Boilers..Day In The Life Of A Jobbing Plumber

Boiler Breakdowns are very common for plumbers this time of year and I wanted to capture a real day in the life of a jobbing plumber, running around fixing boilers, attending emergencies and getting boiler and heating system back up and running.
This is a real day in the life from start to finish, exactly what happened as it happened. We will be looking at a faulty mid position valve, an Ideal logic with ignition fault, Baxi/potterton with a leak and no hot water, a mistake of my own making and a Worcester that really left us confused as to what had gone on.
Along the way il be showing you some hints and tips, explaining what I'm doing in real time as we go along the day.
Thank you all again for your support, we are so close to our 5K giveaway we have the Munka work boots from Big Boots, the large pack of Bullfix fixings and goodie box and the laser level from Lasgoo tools. That's over £400 worth of gear up for grabs in the giveaway!!
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00:00 Introduction
01:12 First Job, Faulty Mid Position Valve
05:41 Ideal Logic Ignition Fault
11:35 Leaking Baxi No hot Water
21:57 Weird Worcester 2000 Fault
24:55 RECALL Hive multi Zone
25:56 Worcester 1st Visit Faulty Filling Loop
28:14 Worcester 2ND visit Why has this happened?
31:10 Let me know what you think on this!
32:33 Thank you for all your support

[@bluebulldog_uk]

Merry Christmas everyone thank you very much for your support this year, it’s been amazing 🙌🎅

[@Dean49-pz9jv]

If you isolate the cold inlet, drain the ch boiler of pressure, make sure nobody uses the any water, give about 10-15 mins, then turn the cold inlet back on, if you hear the dhw circuit represurise, may only be a bit, then you got a plate problem, that's how I checked them working for a manufacturer.

[@ginola602]

Really good content, keep teaching us the breakdowns!

[@bluebulldog_uk]

Thanks mate will do 👊👍

[@jackhoskins722]

Had that on a Worcester before it was the plate heat mains leaking back in to the heating changed the plate resolved issue only ever had it once tho and work on them all the time

[@bluebulldog_uk]

Cheers mate, just threw me off as it started off as low pressure then turned into pressure sky high all the time, weird series of events 😅👍

[@alan_edwards_404]

Yes bro, well done for getting this far, 5k around the corner!!

[@bluebulldog_uk]

Thanks mate…honestly really happy with the growth of channel 👊🙌 thanks For the support, merry Christmas mate

[@Brian77766]

Keep up the great work, cracking videos as always.

[@bluebulldog_uk]

Thanks mate 🙌👍

[@mfielding007]

Thanks for another great video, hope you have a good Christmas and keep the videos coming next year

[@bluebulldog_uk]

Thank you, merry Christmas have a good’un 👍

[@martinhowes3578]

Really enjoyed that. Great content happy Christmas and new year

[@bluebulldog_uk]

Thanks Martin have a great Christmas 🙌👍🎅

[@tommyblackman7119]

Brilliant video Yes more of these vids - real life real situation plumbing and boiler repairs Merry Xmas

[@bluebulldog_uk]

Thanks mate, merry Christmas have a good’un 🙌👍

[@Charles61284]

Definitely the kinda content I like

[@bluebulldog_uk]

🙌👍 thanks mate

[@olympusplumbingheating5027]

Love seeing full days pal

[@bluebulldog_uk]

Thanks mate 👍👍 merry Christmas have a good’un 🙌

[@terryknights5157]

You certainly keep me amused in between my breakdowns. Have a good Christmas mate and a happy New Year 5k here you come 👍

[@bluebulldog_uk]

Thanks mate, merry Christmas have a good’un 🎅👍

[@metal-Mike]

Great let’s have more Have a great new year

[@bluebulldog_uk]

Thanks mate you too 🙌👍

[@callumponter5795]

I would really like to be a apprentice for someone like you. I’m studying plumbing at city of Portsmouth college and really enjoy the course and I really enjoy coming back from college and watching your videos. Really appreciate you taking your time and documenting everything you do. Merry Christmas

[@bluebulldog_uk]

Thanks Callum, honestly really glad the videos help out, love getting feedback like that mate exactly why I love putting stuff on social media and KZbin 👍👍 merry Christmas mate hope you have a good’un and best of luck with the course, I’ve been a plumber for 18 years and loved it mate, sure you will too 👊🙌

[@jameswilson2899]

Great content mate, more like that would be great.

[@bluebulldog_uk]

Thanks mate 🙌👍

[@boris100ish]

Great work and content. All well explained. Subbed. Thanks for taking time to film. Good luck with more subs all the best Pete 👍

[@bluebulldog_uk]

Thanks mate really appreciated, merry Christmas 🎅👍

[@user-pr4wv6cj2q]

Really like the honesty of your videos we all make mistakes

[@bluebulldog_uk]

Thanks mate 👍👍

[@joebrown5967]

Great work again matey, you know ya stuff thats for sure. Keep it up bud, this is my favourite youtube go to. Have yaself a well earned break 👍

[@bluebulldog_uk]

Thanks Joe really appreciate the support mate, merry Christmas 🙌👍

[@stephenharris5519]

Good to see you keeping those burns nice n clean 😂

[@bluebulldog_uk]

😂😂👍

[@TARSoda]

Mental how it's totally reasonable to think a 9 year old boiler may be sound to replace. I've got a 25 year old Suprima in the house we just bought (haven't got round to changing it) and the thing works like a dream! Things ain't built to last anymore, certainly not stuff made by Ideal anyway 😂

[@bluebulldog_uk]

Your right mate it’s crazy that something as expensive as a boiler we will replace after 9 years…I think a lot would last longer with good maintenance but customers will forget to look after them when they are chugging away in the background which I can understand just unfortunate when it does go wrong it’s normally an expansive repair which pushes people to replace especially when you can get 10-12 even 18 year warranty’s with some boilers!…that suprima would be sound for 25 more years I think, built to last they was 😅👍

[@TARSoda]

@@bluebulldog_uk The Suprimas and the Vokera Mynute E's are superb honestly, little workhorses for sure 👍

[@ianthornton1642]

Great videos, merry Christmas

[@bluebulldog_uk]

Thanks mate, merry Christmas 🎅 👍

[@smartboilercompany1983]

Merry Xmas 🎉, loving your videos they really do show the real side of what we do day in day out if you cover all areas of plumbing and heating. I’m sure we will bump into each other at some point in either Bells, screwfix or city plumbing.

[@bluebulldog_uk]

Cheers mate…surprised we ain’t bumped into each other yet working same area 😂sure we will at some point…Merry Christmas mate have a good’un 🙌👍

[@daveast01]

Love these types of vid. Just found your channel...🙂

[@bluebulldog_uk]

🙌👍

[@richardranson9449]

Great video mate. I love how you tell it as it no bull shit. That's how it should be. Good for you.

[@bluebulldog_uk]

Thanks mate 👍

[@MegaShan001]

Nice one Luke, have a fab Xmas pal 👍🏻

[@bluebulldog_uk]

Thanks mate, merry Christmas have a good’un 🎅👍

[@Paul_YHPS_uk]

Thanks for the upload Luke. Good content mate. Heard rumours of some software issues with the screens on the worcesters. We had one that was reading 25bar on the pressure. Did reset and it cleared back to 1.1 bar. Good to see the potterton getting repaired. Keep it up mate and merry Xmas

[@bluebulldog_uk]

25 Bar! Is that even possible 😂 definitely a software fault there….was a weird one but resetting it has worked and booked them in for new year to have it cleaned. Merry Christmas Paul have a good’un 👍

[@jasonsimpson-ks8un]

Love the repair videos so more please

[@bluebulldog_uk]

🙌👍

[@garygormley3842]

Good video be good to see more of them like at. Have a good Xmas and all the best for 2024

[@bluebulldog_uk]

Thanks mate, merry Christmas 👍

[@Purebeltersteve]

Top tip, ideal logic traps, take it out outside tap and stick in it. Cleans it everytime

[@bluebulldog_uk]

Thanks mate, was thinking of getting a bottle brush on van also for cleaning traps 👍

[@user-ty8rr6vg1i]

I had that once with a Calorifier , got called out to school inwhich the Pressurisation unit was at high pressure, similar to you I gassed the ex vessel which was flat and thought right all sorted. Next day they rang again with the same thing. So I disconnected the filling loop thinking maybe it's through that . Still high pressure then I thought I wonder if it's mixing through the calorifier. Isolated it and guess what the Coil had failed. Expensive job in the end.

[@tonybrown4298]

great vid like the channel keep it going. Brilliant

[@bluebulldog_uk]

Thanks mate appreciate the support, merry Christmas 🎅👍

[@johnelliott7026]

Great channel and keep them coming. Think you’re right with it being the plate heat exchanger. I had same boiler with that issue and plate was pinholed.

[@bluebulldog_uk]

Thanks for the support mate, yeah I’m pretty certain it’s the plate just weird I went for low pressure now I’m repairing a high pressure fault. Have a good Christmas mate 👍

[@timothykay10]

Yeh love to see more of that content.. Tim

[@bluebulldog_uk]

Coming this week mate

[@keithjackman847]

Thanks for the fantastic content , and the real world of an plumbing and heating engineer , as an plumbing and heating engineer , makes me feel we're al human and just trying are best , all having good and bad days . Please keep the videos coming there great . MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR. Which part of country to you work , i work in mostly in Lincolnshire...

[@bluebulldog_uk]

Thanks mate, yeah that’s the angle I want to go for, just show what really happens so people can see stuff goes wrong, we all make mistakes but along the way hopefully share some tips and explain some situations that helps people out 👍 I’m in Walsall the midlands mate, normally work about a 10 mile radius as it’s quite a built up area, not far from north Birmingham

[@andrewcross2649]

Loving your videos..plumbing and heating as it is not all competition soldering and pipe bending Lol

[@bluebulldog_uk]

Thanks mate 🙌👍 have a great Christmas 🎅

[@YNWA-oq5uf]

Just watched the end with the Worcester could be the plate I had one like that cleaned plate same thing turned out main heat exchanger was cakeabood just another idea possibly maybe. You sir are a extremely talented person keep the brilliant content going throughly informative

[@bluebulldog_uk]

Got to be plate it’s just they never had any faults until letting air out the bathroom rad..weird one…thanks mate much appreciated have a great Christmas 🙌👍

[@darransidney70]

Thanks merry Xmas

[@bluebulldog_uk]

Merry Christmas Pal 🎅👍

[@ryandow3954]

Enjoying the content mate! The 2 dashes on the Worcester display means its in manual mode....press and hold the heating/radiator button for 5 seconds or so and it takes it out of manual mode and gets rid of the dashes....i ended up phoning Worcester about the exact same thing.

[@bluebulldog_uk]

Sound mate nice one 👍 learn something new every day 🙌

[@Fizzy01166]

Great vid

[@bluebulldog_uk]

Thanks mate 👍👍

[@b1h2u3p4]

Like your videos as your keeping it real 💯 and say or do how you would do it.

[@bluebulldog_uk]

Thanks mate much appreciated 👍

[@tomrudd2786]

Merry Christmas mate 🎉

[@bluebulldog_uk]

Thanks mate have a good’un 🙌👍🎅

[@Mattj361]

Great video again. For the potterton. I always thought the little o ring was for the gland on the back of the differential and you just fit the brass gland on the front that already has an o ring in. Thats how i do it anyway.

[@bluebulldog_uk]

Don’t know to be honest I thought there was only one that’s why they give you one in the pack? Not sure but either way we do it seems we both fix it with no leaks 😅 merry Christmas mate have a good’un 👍

[@Mattj361]

@bluebulldog_uk thanks, hope you had a good Christmas as well. Yeah, long as the leak gets sorted that's main thing 👍🏻

[@tonymurff5234]

Brilliant video Mate, That pressure on the Worcester is a mystery, You should of fitted the pressure gauge on the filling loop to see if the boiler pressure gauge is giving trouble, Anyway it will be interesting to see what the problem is 🤔🤔 👍👍🤜

[@bluebulldog_uk]

Proper weird one, just started out low pressure and new filling loop and turned into that 😅 will keep people updated on this one 🙌👍

[@jamesr6365]

more great videos, its like de ja vu for me LOL I have fitted several Worcester combi's over the past few years that have had issues with the RF controllers, had to get Worcester out on warranty call outs when the boiler has been less than 2 years old and the controllers have gone faulty, that pressure issue is definately leaking through the plate. Good luck!

[@bluebulldog_uk]

Them RF stats don’t sound very reliable, once I’ve flushed system I might book Worcester back to have a look but don’t think they will do anything if it’s reconnected now…the other Worcester, looking back it’s got to be plate it’s just the way the job progresses from a simple filling loop change because of low pressure to needing a new plate for high pressure threw me off, was trying to convince myself I was right I think 😅👍

[@YNWA-oq5uf]

Nice Nice Nice 😅 lovely work on the potterton old bean you probably won't remember the lynx 1 and lynx2 90s boilers loved repairing them and the old saunier duval 620 showing my age pal next time you change a diaphragm show the split so new engineers know apart from that good stuff...ps just remove micro switch undo 6 screws and venturi pull off brass front no need to undo grub screws only a thought. Love your channel pal 👍🏼 Happy Christmas everyone. Nice Nice Nice

[@bluebulldog_uk]

I’ve worked on a couple of Lynx boilers and a few saunier duval but few and far between, yeah could of just done it from front but I’ve always just took them out and found easier to have in front of me to do repair. Would of been good to show split diaphragm so will bear that in mind thanks for advice mate, have a great Christmas 👍

[@professorplumb]

Your in my top 2 plumbers ❤❤

[@bluebulldog_uk]

Il take that 😂👊👍

[@kyleconnolly2425]

You can change the repair kit without taking the full thing out, just take the front of it off. Well that’s what I do ha

[@bluebulldog_uk]

I don’t know why but just prefer to take the lot out, find it easier to work on…if I get one in future I might try leaving it in just to see if I find it better 👍

[@mrnsp5013]

Have a good one Mr Bulll Dog Top lad

[@bluebulldog_uk]

Thanks mate and you 👊🙌

[@cadle11]

I fitted in my own house 17 years ago, the performa 24i never had a problem never even serviced it.. British gas used to fit them they would remove the badge and stick there own badge on it and charge the customer rip off money.. Another great video mate.

[@bluebulldog_uk]

Thanks mate, yeah BG had a habit of slapping there badge on front of boilers and charging more 😂👍

[@cadle11]

​@@bluebulldog_ukHave a great Christmas...

[@colinfleming2244]

If doing pump proving washer on baxi /Pott take back two screws out first spring in there to if you takeout last can go ping and yer searching for a screw 😂. when you got it off if water still sitting their the small hole in it is blocked blow down etc to clear. It can cause weird probs. IE boiler not always firing etc

[@bluebulldog_uk]

Thanks mate 👍👍

[@MrVictorvolvo]

For the Honeywell diverters, I'm now using EPH. Direct fit for 3 port and come with a plate for the 2 port. Honeywell reliability hasn't been great the past few years so switched to EPH for head replacements.

[@bluebulldog_uk]

How long you been using EPH? Might be worth giving them a go, I use there programmers all the time

[@hunterb9273]

Used eph for a few years. Zero call backs so far.

[@bluebulldog_uk]

@@hunterb9273 sound will have a look at them 👍👍

[@keithjackman847]

Sorry sent by mistake

[@keithjackman847]

Sorry wanted to ask were in England you are , I'm in Lincolnshire , thanks

[@IvanLubenov]

Hello mate :) In the Worcester 1000 the indication -60- is manual mode, it overwrites the thermostat and keeps the boiler running with constant flow of the example of 60 degrees. The customer just keep a long press on the radiator button, to go to normal operation you have to push for 4-5 sec. the radiator button. In the menu this is L0 Funktion 0-A1. Have a nice holiday!

[@IvanLubenov]

2000 model, sorry. But on every new Worcester from the family 1000, 2000, 4000 this funktion is the same.

[@bluebulldog_uk]

Thanks for the advice mate much appreciated 👍

[@SteveN-pw4dj]

Just a note from me... My neighbour had 3 plumbers out to boiler keep over pressuring. Checked the pipe as you did, repressured the vessel... and the third one charged them for a new expansion vessel... I spoke to them and she said "we let a bit of water out of the radiator and the heating starts working again and we do this every day", i asked if they disconnected the filling loop and they said no, I suggested the filling loop was passing and sure enough it was as logically the water could not be filling from elsewhere unless the heat exchanger had perforated, but the boiler was only 18 months old. So always ask questions... I am a joiner though... But a problem solver too.

[@bluebulldog_uk]

Fair play mate you’ve used your logic there to diagnose that better than the heating engineers! Out of curiosity did they replace the filling valve before they replaced expansion? I hope they did as it’s a bit poor if they didn’t! Hope it’s sorted for them now 👍👍

[@Carl-re6zb]

Great upload Luke.. Occupational hazard with seemingly straightforward breakdowns being more involved than normal.. Is it workload or distance the primary reason for juggling when to get back??? It can only be the dhw hex passing from domestic to primaries.. Have a great Xmas break mate👍🏾

[@bluebulldog_uk]

Workload to be honest, just not enough hours in day at moment. It’s got to be plate but it’s just weird they didn’t have any faults before they let the air out of bathroom rad, weird one…have a good Christmas mate 👍

[@kylemorris681]

Merry Christmas mate great videos

[@bluebulldog_uk]

Thanks mate merry Christmas 🎅 🙌

[@dwizzt7130]

Those dashes mean it operates at set temperature permanently. Seems to happen when it loses connection with the rf 2 stats.

[@bluebulldog_uk]

Will it only come out of that if the RF is reconnected?

[@necropig]

The dash's around the numbers means someone has held the radiator symbol in for longer than 3 seconds and boiler is in a manual mode

[@bluebulldog_uk]

Didn’t know that, can you get it back out by holding it or do you have to do that reset?

[@necropig]

@@bluebulldog_uk yeah just hold it for 3 and it goes back to normal

[@bluebulldog_uk]

@@necropig class mate nice one…this is why I love social media and KZbin, would never of known that if you hadn’t of told me 👊🙌

[@necropig]

@@bluebulldog_uk I had happen to me on Tuesday and it was a Worcester tech who told me what to do lol

[@aloysiushancock548]

Could you turn off the mains water to the boiler over night and check to see if pressure rises, to rule out the plate.

[@bluebulldog_uk]

Yes, because it was filling up so quick that could be a test you can do but how elderly they are and how far away they are it’s hard for me to get over there late at night to turn off and get back to get it back on. I don’t want to leave them without hot water too long but I think I’ve cracked this one, will be posting what I did on future video 👍

[@tomsanders8714]

That hot water cylinder looks old! Those valve heads are terrible. Sunvic ones especially but even Honeywell can fail early. Is 9 years the most we can expect from a boiler these days? Disappointing! My old non condensing one went for 17! Now l have a Vaillant. May be they are good? Never seen you fixing one 😉. Just keep your varied content going. Like the bookending in the van. Merry Christmas, Luke 🎄

[@bluebulldog_uk]

It’s sad that boilers are looking to be replaced after 9 years, I love fixing them and keeping them going as long as possible but with the industry you try and quote to repair and the next man will convince them to replace, I always give them both options but this one I’ve said let’s try and keep it going as I think a good clean, few parts changing it will be fine. Valliant are decent not going to knock them just have water leaks if the water in the system isn’t looked after, apart from that them solid 👍 thanks for the support mate, have a great Christmas 👍

[@nobodydoesithalfasgoodasyou]

I don't know why, but I have unshakeable faith in the Danfoss motorized valve I fitted for my dad

[@TARSoda]

The end switches are notorious for breaking to on. The inner of the valves are susceptible to leaking if the expansion vessel loses charge as well but are easy to replace. All in all better than Eco though 😂

[@nobodydoesithalfasgoodasyou]

@@TARSoda no ☹️ take it back It has a fancy foreign name I believe in it 😔

[@georgepaterson3215]

Could the hose from the expansion vessel be blocked? I've had that on other boilers.

[@bluebulldog_uk]

Did check it mate that was my first thought when I went back, think I’ve cracked it, going to upload the video some point with the repair on 👍

[@Schinney]

How's your hand burn Luke? still looks a bit rough

[@bluebulldog_uk]

It’s getting better but is sore to be honest, keep catching it so glad I’ve finished now so I can give them a rest 👍

[@darransidney70]

Hi who makes the 3 way light?

[@bluebulldog_uk]

Unilite mate. I got it when I did the trade legends podcast along with a few other bits. The neck torch and standing light you see me use I bought on Black Friday and all 3 have been great additions to the toolbox 👍

[@Schinney]

So what's a budget boiler, I got a Heatline Capriz 28c from Wickes after my old Valiant packed up after 20 years, my plumber said the Capriz 28c was made by Valiant?, still going strong after 5 years (touch wood)

[@bluebulldog_uk]

Yeah headline capriz is just a Valliant with a different badge form what I can tell so Not a bad boiler at all mate 👍

[@YNWA-oq5uf]

Not a bad boiler as long as you have a magna clean if not the strainer on the left hand side will become full of magnatite and possibly block and then blow off 😉 the reason I say this is it happened to me the other day...absolutely cakeabooood with crud

[@mikewebber5171]

Nice work there pal. ex bg by any chance ?

[@bluebulldog_uk]

I am mate 👍

[@jacksingh1663]

BG Tools 😂

[@bluebulldog_uk]

Standard…and dust sheets 😂😂👍👍

[@optic1972]

Are you sure the Worcester wasn't showing the flow rate? Maybe the logic doesn't allow for blank digits?

[@bluebulldog_uk]

Don’t know it’s a weird one on that Worcester never seen it before

[@martind12]

Do you have to cover the costs yourself when that valve broke after a few months ?

[@lewisconway6431]

Yeah was thinking that. A new honeywell is 90 quid just for the head. Can you charge again ??

[@bluebulldog_uk]

Full costs covered by myself mate on this one, win some lose some…lesson learnt for me sticking to better brands from now on 👍

[@bluebulldog_uk]

I covered all costs on this one mate, 100% would of lost a customer if I charged for that job so better just to bite the bullet and get it resolved 👍

[@Questionablethings]

Leaking fill valve?

[@bluebulldog_uk]

Brand new and had it disconnected, not passing 👍

[@benjaminclews3968]

How crap the honey well ones have been just lately,you’ll probably be back again soon, not as good as the old made in Canada ones that lasted years ☹️

[@bluebulldog_uk]

Don’t say that 😭😂 have they gone crap Honeywell? Always been top brand I thought for valves

[@SteveN-pw4dj]

Think it was a bit out of order from Worcester... The water was not the problem, and it would have took them a few minutes to fix.... But then could have advised customer they need a system clean.

[@bluebulldog_uk]

Exactly my thoughts to be honest mate, simple fix..elderly as well. One of them asked me how much and I got paid with a cup of tea 😅 be a rich man if it wasn’t for them pensioners 😂 right thing to do thou and I’m going back to clean the system to winner winner 👍👍

[@cynt1111]

Spend some of those millions and get an electric pump🤣

[@bluebulldog_uk]

😂👍