shocking! heater not connected to the gas pipe!

ptn2 · Feb 20, 2008 10:22 pm

Hi Guys,

Just wanted to share a shocking story about my recent development. My house was build early last year; all was well and happy until winter when I couldn't switch the ducted heater on. I called the builder and they came (after 6 freezing week) checked the heater and left. They lodge a call with the ducted heating company... 2 months later, they came and said the unit is fine. But the system still isn't working!..** off, I got a plumber to do an assessment to try and fix it because it was freezing cold in Melbourne! anyway, I found out that the unit never had gas connected!.

WHAT THE!!!...

It's now 11 months (6months after finding out the missing gas pipe) and the builder has been playing games with me. He said he couldn't book a plumber or the plumber is too busy to answer him.

I emailed HIA and got no response.

Anyway, you guys are here to hear good story and not shocking ones. My advice is to check the ducted heater (make sure there is heat not just air vent!) before paying them the final bill.

Hope you had better luck!
Phillip

ben · Feb 20, 2008 10:44 pm

ptn2

I emailed HIA and got no response.

Have you tried lodging a complaint to Building Advice & Conciliation Victoria ?
I am sure builders don't want the trouble of answering to BACV.
You will find more info here http://www.buildingcommission.com.au/www/html/1196-building-advice--conciliation-victoria.asp

ptn2 · Feb 21, 2008 12:09 am

Oh.. Thanks. I wish I knew about that site 9 months ago (during winter). I'll give them a call tomorrow. Hope justice will be served.

Many thanks

Regards
Phillip

Pootle · Feb 23, 2008 6:11 am

We've just had nearly the same thing!! Called them out because the heating wasn't working and they went up to the heater and found the gas wasn't switched on. I also got them to check the cooling as it didn't seem very effective (never had evaporative so didn't know how good it would be). He went up to check the unit and found it wasn't connected to the water supply! They did come back a couple of days later and fixed it though!

Well now that's all sorted we'll be moving in ....

Yak_Chat · Feb 24, 2008 8:50 pm

Pootle re your evap - you should also get a tap to turn off the water supply in winter. Remembering to turn it on helps if you want cool air next summer too :wink:

Steve

ptn2 · Feb 26, 2008 12:37 am

Whacked in the face by BACV.

Sent an email to complain to the BACV. They said this looks like a contractual issue. Seek your solicitor!... what a @$%... :shock:

Sadly, it looks almost a copy and paste job from a standard reply.

Back to square 1

Phillip

ahuang · Feb 28, 2008 11:33 am

I heard that some of the appliances such as Air con, hot water system and garage door opener won't be installed after owner moved in (even after handover), is this correct?

Based on your experience, looks like we need to check all functions for all these appliance carefully then..... E.g. turn on cold and warm air even in extreme cold/warm weather just to make sure the air con is working, ....etc.

Yak_Chat · Feb 28, 2008 11:42 am

Sounds like time to start making some real noise.

Contact Consumer affairs and the likes of the Today Tonight teams and see what they have to say.

It is totally unacceptable that they are telling you to get a solicitor.
Steve

ptn2 · Feb 28, 2008 10:23 pm

ahuang, this is ducted heating, it gets installed at frame stage. We tested the unit as part of hand over; feeling there is air coming thru, then turn it off assuming it works fine. Never did we think that to wait for the heat to come on. That was out bigest mistake.

We check the roller door, alarm, hot water ...etc. everything was good.

So Steve, know any forum where I can shame the guy?

Yak_Chat · Feb 28, 2008 10:29 pm

Quote:

So Steve, know any forum where I can shame the guy?

Nope
Just do some hard yards asking for what you want.
ie ring the above, don't be emotional, and ask them what they suggest.
Steve

ptn2 · Feb 28, 2008 11:03 pm

Steve,

You mean call Today tonight ??? I am sure they won't care too much about us little guy. Beside, I might get assassinated by Lika himself!

I care too much for my 2 young son to cause trouble.

oznow · Feb 29, 2008 12:23 pm

Hi,
At least give them a warning that you are going to pursue this further up.
Are you after some compensation?

Yak_Chat · Feb 29, 2008 1:28 pm

Start with consumer affairs to find out who you should be approaching.

But basically the builder has delivered a project without providing the goods he said he waould - which is breach of the law.

So talk to the people who represent us - which is consumer affaris department and they will point you in the right direction.

If that all starts to fail - then yes TDT and similar do get interested in littel claims - hey they love that sort of stuff.

Steve

Pootle · Feb 29, 2008 2:51 pm

Yak_Chat

Pootle re your evap - you should also get a tap to turn off the water supply in winter. Remembering to turn it on helps if you want cool air next summer too :wink:

Steve

Thanks - where should the tap be located? How would we get to it? Do people really turn off the water supply in the winter? I'm sure they didn't tell us about that!

We have now moved in (so I'm in the library as no internet yet!) Also we are waiting for someone to come and look at the aeriel connections next week as we cannot get any reception on the tv - perhaps something else they've forgotten to connect??

Yak_Chat · Feb 29, 2008 3:10 pm

Mine is a ground level stop **** on the pipe that goes to the unit on the roof.

And yes people do turn them off - especially if you are in a frost prone area. :shock:

I haven't even turned mine on since March last year.

Steve