Good luck and hope it works out for you 
Well he never did, no surprise there though, he has form from a few years ago which is why I only contacted him as a last resort when the, reluctant, 1st choice never appeared.
But, 4 weeks and 2 days after the 1st plumber failed to materialise, and 9 days after the 2nd one failed to respond, I finally was recommended to an English plumber who came yesterday and, within a couple of hours had the old one off the wall and the new one I bought in place on it and working fine. I gave him ā¬60, more than he asked for but I want him to want to come again if necessary. So now for a grand total of ā¬225 we have hot water on demand again. 
4 Likes
Ultimately France has too few artisans. I know the arguments about regulation and requirements for qualifications to protect consumers but if you canāt get anyone to do work for a reasonable sum in a reasonable time frame the policy is not serving the public.
4 Likes
Number of job vacancies is huge right now, across all types of work. But lowering standards and opening up to poor employment practices could just end up as a race to the bottom, so not a solution either.
Agree but the difficulty of getting anyone to do any work is widely recognised and commented upon - indeed almost seen as quintessentially French.
Plus itās probably harder for Brits to engage people because of language difficulties and (dare I say it) subtle racism (as has been mentioned on here a couple of times recently leading to āLe prix anglaisā being somewhat higher than āle prix franƧaisā.
If I were younger Iād give serious consideration to moving to France and training as an electrician (well, pre-Brexit, not sure how feasible it iwould be now).
1 Like
If Brits can manage to build a rapport with their neighboursā¦ or folk they meet regularly for whateverā¦ when something crops up they can ask such folk for their advice.
Oneās local French folk will have normally sussed out the flyboys and will try to be helpful, if asked.
(well, they seem to be like that in my part of France, but obviously I canāt speak for the rest of the country).
And with an insurance claim, in my own experience, the Insurers gave the go ahead once the quote was receivedā¦ and I would have expected them to complain/deal with the Tradesman if the work was over-pricedā¦ since they would be paying the bulk of it.
We have actually found the opposite! Perhaps the gossip about tea and biscuits Ć lāanglaise has got round?
2 Likes
So have I, this bloke was perfectly competent, he came with a personal recommendation from a friend anyway, and asked if I wanted a bill. I said not necessary as the apparatus was bought separately by me and therefore was insured (guaranteed anyway) elsewhere and he asked for ā¬50. I only had 20s and as I thought he was reasonable gave him 60 for a job well done, and on time as promised.
No need for tea and biscuits, he had squeezed me in between other jobs as he knew we had waited so long.
1 Like
Just a small question, this new heater is working pefectly but the steady drip from the groupe de secour is more obvious as the drain pipe no longer reaches all the way down to the sink. Until I get get a longer one, or a flexible piece to extend it, I have put a plastic jar there so the drips donāt splash when they hit the sink surround. It fills at what seems an alarming rate, about a litre every 5 hours. Is this normal and, because it was silent before, was not noticed?
Is the water hotter than it was before, you might need to turn the temp down a bit, hotter water more expansion.
1 Like
No Colin, but then I like it at max as I can always turn the tap to mid position to fill the bowl to perfect temp without wasting water. If you think this is what is happening I might experiment with turning it down a bit but the adjuster, which he showed me, is behind a panel needing a screwdriver.
Iāll give it a try today and see what difference it makes. 
It would be a shame to be wasting water and wasting money as well, simply because the thermostat is turned too high.
But, if the temperature is what you require, then itās not a waste, just an expense to be borne.
I read somewhere that 5 litres a day was not excessiveā¦ but perhaps it might be collected for another use, somehow, so as not to be āmoney down the draināā¦
I will experiment, but it is just that I thought that if the water in the bowl gets to the desired temp quicker there is less wastage of water or electricity.
However you have both managed to re-assure me that this drippage is not abnormal and a cause for worry about the operation and installation of the system.
I know what you meanā¦ swings and roundaboutsā¦ gather the dripping water and find a good use for itā¦ I hate the thought of wasting money.
If you have a pressure regulator on your incoming supply you could turn it down a bit. The incoming pressure + heat expansion could be a little bit more so the GdS is letting by.
1 Like
If I have one I have never noticed it, but for the moment I have dropped the temp by 50% and noted the time and will check again when the jar is full. In the meantime weāll see how that affects the hot water position on the tap and if it can be left like that all the time.
But talking about saving money, I tend to wash up as I go along, plates and bowls etc., under the running hot tap with a long handled brush (too hot for my fingers and only takes about 4 or 5 seconds at a time) and the only time I need washing up liquid is last thing at night when I wash the dayās cutlery in a washing up bowl.
So, now I have cut back the temp, will I have to use liquid all the time, and thus have to fill a bowl more often, and thus, use more hot water? 
As you say @Stella , swings and roundabouts. 
Often located after the water meter on the house leg incase yours are split to supply garden tap etc.
Water is supposed to be suppliedat the tap with a maximum temperature of 41c but the thermostatic mixer valves are seldom fitted.
Washing up liquid also helps kill bacteria that water alone doesnāt
1 Like
Even water that is too hot to touch?
gather the dripping water and find a good use for it
I assume it is ok to drink, I tasted it and it seemed perfectly fine, so I could empty the jar when full into the dogās bowl?
Certainly alright for any animals, plants, rinsing thingsā¦ washing the windows/car/etc
OH reckons itās alright to drink water from the hot tapā¦ I beg to differ, but no idea why, (perhaps the reason was absorbed into my brain in a previous lifeā¦)