bit of a moan and rant so hang on...
I've always considered myself slightly above average intelligence (and have paperwork to back that up) but I'm no genius. Mechanically I think I'm pretty good but many others are considerably more competent. Professionally I worked my way up to a position of responsibility and accountability but had several senior colleagues to answer to. I guess I'm pretty typical of others here without being exceptional.
Now I had a problem with my central heating and to some extent still have. Where I live there no mains gas to we burn oil to keep warm and at £1000 per fill its not as cheap as it was a few months ago. Heating oil stinks, its basically paraffin and has a heavy, lingering stench that gets on everything. Of course our boiler sprung a leak. Didn't need to be much as just an oil soaked rag would stink the house out for weeks.
So we called in our 'Boiler Technician', he's got all the letters after his name and over 30 years experience. What he doesn't know isn't worth knowing is it? He couldn't find a leak so there wasn't one but the air valve did need adjusting and he fitted a new jet just in case. £60 and he was on his way. The oil smell returned within 6 hours, so he came back and decided further investigation was needed and tried to shut off the oil. The tap on the tank had seized solid and if he forced it all the oil could spill out into the garden and patio. He wouldn't risk that so did no further work and left.
I joined a plumbers forum and asked about freeing off the tap. Answers ranged from 'you can't' though ' I wouldn't touch it' to 'call in the professionals'. So I bought a new tap, studied how it worked, took it apart and put it back together again. My conclusion - it was possible with care.
So I changed the tap, took 3 days on and off but not really a problem.
Boiler still stinks but now I could stop the flow of oil to investigate. Called our boiler man to give him the news about the tap and he took umbrage and made an excuse that he was far too busy to come back this month give him call in the summer.
Decided to have a look myself - opened the boiler burner after shutting off the tap and straight away spotted a drop and damp patch of oil. The pump leaks at the rear flange. Back to the forum, ' need a new pump', 'can't be repaired', 'you need a professional'. So I pulled it apart and discovered and nicked O ring on the rear flange face. Cleaned everything up, applied some DIRKO (if you don't know what it is you need some in your life for certain) and put it all back together.
Currently no leak and no stink. I don't anticipate the fix will be permanent and would like to fit a new pump.
Here's the rub.
I can buy one but I'm not allowed to fit and commission it because I don't have the correct qualifications!
