Gas Boilers

I have a new combination boiler a Worcester, so far it is brilliant!!!!! Cost with installation was in the region of £2,500, I got mine from SWALEC.

Val

 

Well I think the general consensus of opinion is that I'm better keeping what I have.
Its the balanced flue type which just goes through the wall, so I dont think the flue change would be that great.
I think the council fitted condensing boilers to their houses a few years ago, but not seen any pipes to take away any acid.
My main concern was how often I see the vans,of the service company that they use, parked outside peoples houses, they appear to go wrong at least once a year, but it could be other problems with the heating I guess.

I have the indirect tank system along with radiators, it was installed back in the early 80, by myself and my brother in law, he worked for SEGAS at the time.

Its worked well since then, with one boiler change, mostly due to me moving it upstairs in order to get the flue out of the way so I could build the conservatory about 13yrs ago.

Fingers crossed it carries on going.
Its just when you read some stuff you start to wonder how far you are behind the times.

 

The boiler/airing cupboard is in the corner of my bedroom and I can't sleep with any noise, but the Worcester is so quiet I don't even know it is there!! I don't think you are better keeping what you have, it is 12 years old, what if it breaks down when we have had heavy snow?? If you can afford it then get a new one, then you can just forget about it apart from standing back and admiring it!! they are kinda smart now!!

Val

 

Quote: Not only necessary but a legal requirement.

Jack........I couldn't see anywhere in the Wiki text where it mentions the above about a sink hole. My boiler is in it's own room attached to the back of my house and doesn't need a flue liner as the flue on the top of the boiler goes directly out through the wall. The pipe that takes away the acid water goes directly into a soak away drain outside, it also serves a rainwater downpipe.

Eight years ago my Vaillant boiler cost £800 and £250 to fit.

Pete, I think you'd be best doing your own research on the cost of fitting a combi boiler but not via the gas board. Any decent plumber should be able to tell you what's best, what fitting requirements it would need and also an estimate of cost. Every individual household fitting has different requirements.

 

My boiler is in my bedroom, and has been since I moved it, it warms the bedroom, so rarely use the radiator in that room.
I built a nice oak unit to hide it, which fits in with the room.

What happens if your new one breaks down during heavy snow Val?

 

I have had my old Gloworm boiler over 25 years, I clean it out every other year, there is just nothing much to go wrong.
I have considered the alternative, but taking all things into consideration........it's a no brainer.
These new fangled condenser boilers seem always to have pressure problems and are not made to last.
It would take me a long time to recoup £3000.

 

Well obviously that could happen but much less likely to as it is new. Mine isn't a condensing one.

Val

 

I thought all new boilers were condensing ones these days.
Obviously I was under a miss apprehension.

 

@JWK Pete said this not me!!

 

My parents boiler is an Ideal Mexico and was there when they moved in so its now at least 25 years old and going strong.

I used to work in boiler breakdown call centre a couple of years ago, oh the stories I could tell you about condensing boilers!

nFrost top tip: If your condensing boiler packs in in the winter it may be because the condensation that runs down the condensate pipe has frozen, the solution is to poor WARM not HOT water on it to free up the ice. Problem solved.

 

It looks like I could be eating my words!

My boiler is sick, expensive sick! Typical now the cold weather's here! It's not been functioning properly for a few weeks now and my 'boiler man' was here working on it yesterday. He replaced all the major parts except one (the main heat exchanger) just to test it and hopefully find the fault.....to no avail. He doesn't carry this heat exchanger because of the cost of buying it in and it looks like it's that - that's the problem. He also tried replacing other various parts, again, no change in it's function. So, the upshot is, he'll be contacting Vaillant's technical team on Monday to see if there's anything else he may have missed but it's unlikely.

Part prices have rocketed over the last few years and a new heat exchanger is around £700 without the price of labour. With the strong possibility that the news is bad tomorrow and the boiler being nearly ten years old, other half and I have decided it's not worth repairing and we will replace the boiler, gulp! There goes a large chunk of the cash put aside to replace our car. I hasten to add we will be sticking with Vaillant, this is our second one. I/we still rate them highly, we have just been unlucky with this particular boiler.