Gas Boilers

Have a look at this before you make your mind up Sheal

http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/domestic/content/air-source-heat-pumps

 

Thanks, it's a good idea but not an option @Zigs. First off the cost of installation. The info states it's not a good idea with mains gas. There's also the fact that it's a case of whipping one boiler out and another one in, pipework and electrics are already there and no need for adjustment to those. You may also remember I'm looking to move house, whenever that may happen, which again goes against the option of spending the large amount of money required. It's bad enough having to replace it and then moving!

 

I notice the saving are based on the "average 4 bed detached property".
Always knew I was living well below average.

 

Fair enough, maybe on the next place then

 

A new hex is always expensive. Could he not try running some fernox through the system to clear the blockage? Maybe mention it.

Has he swapped the pcb out? I assume he has but always worth checking.

 

Commiserations @Sheal they can be a beggar once they start to go wrong and let's face it we are utterly dependent on them. Prices are through the roof on parts as you say, but replacement is a outlandish. Do you qualify for any heating grants from the govt?

Ours is 13ish years old Worcester Bosch. Thinking ahead I asked for an estimate for a replacement boiler - £3800! All the pipework, rads and other gubbins are already there. I checked the boiler price online it was £1k for the boiler suggested. And this from a boiler bloke I know well and trust ... Can't get my head round it

Good luck with it.
GG

 

It's not the central heating nFrost, it's the water. For some reason it's not maintaining temperature, that can only be the heat exchanger or the electronics and my boiler man (reliable as he is) is leaning towards the exchanger. The problem we have in this area is silting up and that in turn wears the parts.

Not at this point, there's no offers on at the moment. Although I'm not keen the local gas board are doing 0% interest on boilers and fitting at the moment and this is what we're thinking about as we can pay it off on our bills. They haven't got a good reputation for fitting though.

 

I'd be tempted to leave it in a bucket of descaler and then pump water through it in reverse. You never know!

 

We have soft water, so it doesn't need descaling nFrost. It's sand that gets into it. It's a big problem in my area and we've had it before, the damage will already be done.

 

Yes I did think that when you said silt but forgot. I wonder if there is something that would clear it out. Either way, good luck!

 

Thanks for your suggestion. We'll see what our boiler man comes up with tomorrow. He's not out to fleece us, we've known him to many years. In fact, he's already said if we need a new boiler then he won't charge us for the work he did yesterday.

 

No love for Hull based Ideal?

I'd rate them highly.

 

Thanks for the info FC. We have a self condensing combi and according to our 'man that does' we have two heat exchangers, it's the main one that's suspect as he's tried swapping just about everything else to narrow it down to that. The only other thing it can be is the electronics and he doesn't think that at the moment. He has worked on Vaillant's for at least twenty years (my own boilers) that I know of so I trust his judgement. Having said that he says we've been unlucky, as he's never had to change this particular heat exchanger on any other boiler he has worked on past or present, as the boiler tends to give out in old age first. He still services the Vaillant in our previous house and that's eighteen years old!

Unfortunately we aren't capable of doing the work ourselves, so cheaper parts are not an option in this respect.