I need new central heating

Macgirl78

Didn't know where else to put this. Sorry.

Here's the thing. We are trying so hard to save to pay off a car loan, but things will keep cropping up. I have had to put some money on credit cards (dun dun dur) and we have nearly paid that off. It was only £200 before i get berated! And we were planning to start saving at the end of this month once it was paid. However, winter has sneaked up on us and our central heating hasn't been great since last winter. We had a quote back then for £3000 and have tried desperately to save but our car broke and we needed a new one.

So my question is this - to all you money savvy people - how do i pay for it? Do my husband, my 3 year old and i freeze till we've saved? Do we get a loan (that can or cannot include the car loan)? Do we put it on a low interest credit card (our capital one is about 7%) or do we put it on the mortgage (not my favourite option what with house prices going down and what not).

Please help. It's not like it's something stupid - i don't just want new central heating i need it.

TiTheRev

What was the quote? To repair or replace? What's wrong with the heating? Maybe you can get away with a temperary fix until you can afford more? Know any plumbers or got a DIY savvie dad/oh? I try to do as much work in the home, on the car etc myself 1st. It helps me learn and save at the same time!

Nile

Hello Macgirl78

I'll move your thread to the 'In my home' board.

Hi, Martin’s asked me to post this in these circumstances: I’ve asked Board Guides to move threads if they’ll receive a better response elsewhere(please see this rule) so this post/thread has been moved to another board, where it should get more replies. If you have any questions about this policy please email [EMAIL="abuse@moneysavingexpert.com"]!!!!!![/EMAIL].

Regards

Nile

rjm2k1

What's wrong with the heating?

TiTheRev

rjm2k1 wrote: »

What's wrong with the heating?

Copy-cat

Macgirl78

I'm sorry for the delay, logging in issues. I hope someone can still help. In reply to the questions above. The pilot light comes on and stays on which means the heating goes off as it is not reigniting. We have had another issue fixed a 18 months or so ago and have been told on a few occasions that the boiler we have is one of the worst in existence (was put in by the bloke before us - cheaper = better to him).

The quote of £3000 is for a whole new system - the current pipes aren't regulation and the position of the new tube that goes outside (flue, is it?) would mean repositioning the boiler. and if we did manage to keep it where it is it needs to be in a cupboard, which is more expense as we'd need to get it from Jewsons so it matched the kitchen, else look a bit rubbish.

I do not know anyone who could do it cheap and even if i did i'd rather have someone who's corgi registered - this is gas after all. Also because the system is so rubbish and providing no heat but probably still using gas it is most likely costing loads to run. so in the long run it'd be cheaper - but that doesn't really make 3 grand available to us now!

Please please please help. Thanks

Airwolf1

Unsure if this would be appropriate, but pay for it all on a credit card, then transfer balance to a 0% balance transfer if it can be paid of in short term, hence avoiding interest.

Mutton_Geoff

Macgirl, with respect, you seem to be talking yourself into spending £3k, justifying to yourself that all you hear is true.

Step back and ring round for some more quotes. You say you'd "rather" have a CORGI registered person in. I'd say you must have a CORGI person in, it's the law (and your safety). Many people fall victims to cowboys when they send out "help me, I'm drowning" messages to tradespeople. Don't do it! Act calm, use Yell.com to find some local people, give 2-3 a call, or use recommendations if you have any. Listen patiently when they come round. Don't offer any information like "told on a few occasions that the boiler we have is one of the worst in existence". If you are told that again, simply say "that's as maybe, I don't have much money, what can we do to get another couple of years out of this system?".

Get your quotes, be patient that the best tradesmen will be booked up for a few weeks and so avoid the temptation for the high priced "do it tomorrow" quote. Whatever you do, avoid the ads in the local paper. In my experience the best people don't need to run expensive ads in the papers to get new business, but most will be listed under the free listings (ie not highlighted) in Yell.com

Many people talk themselves into wasting money on new cars this way too. If funds are tight, spend wisely!

rjm2k1

Macgirl78 wrote: »

I'm sorry for the delay, logging in issues. I hope someone can still help. In reply to the questions above. The pilot light comes on and stays on which means the heating goes off as it is not reigniting.

I'm no heating engineer but for example, on a gas fire, the pilot being on is an essential part of the gas being made available to the main bit of the fire, so quite the opposite to what you say, pilot=good and gas to rest of boiler, no pilot=bad and no gas to rest of boiler.

We have had another issue fixed a 18 months or so ago and have been told on a few occasions that the boiler we have is one of the worst in existence (was put in by the bloke before us - cheaper = better to him).

hmm, they will always tell you your boiler is bad and needs replacing=more money for them. What make/model is it?

The quote of £3000 is for a whole new system - the current pipes aren't regulation and the position of the new tube that goes outside (flue, is it?)

Which pipes? The water pipes or gas pipes? No existing system is likely to be up to regulation but that doesn't mean it wont work or is dangerous. Is it the earth bonding that's not right? If so that should be fairly easy and cheap to fix.

would mean repositioning the boiler. and if we did manage to keep it where it is it needs to be in a cupboard, which is more expense as we'd need to get it from Jewsons so it matched the kitchen, else look a bit rubbish.

Again, not a heating engineer but where is the boiler now? Why is the new flue so different that it can't go where the existing one is? AFAIK the only place you need to box a boiler in is in a bedroom and a bathroom, though I could be wrong. Personally I wouldn't bother boxing on in if it's in the kitchen.

I do not know anyone who could do it cheap and even if i did i'd rather have someone who's corgi registered - this is gas after all. Also because the system is so rubbish and providing no heat but probably still using gas it is most likely costing loads to run. so in the long run it'd be cheaper - but that doesn't really make 3 grand available to us now!

It would be "illegal" and potentially dangerous to use someone who isn't corgi registered, having said that using someone who is is no guarantee either

Please please please help. Thanks

Have you looked at heating cover with someone like BG? Couple hundred quid per year and will sort out any issues FOC. If it's not a particularly old boiler they shouldn't have issues getting parts. If it's not up and running now they may charge a bit more one off or insist you stay with them for a year but it's definatly worth in in my experience. Much less than 3k!! Just don't bother with the electrical and plumbing cover they will try to sell you, just go for the boiler cover.

Macgirl78

I will definitely get a few quotes. Cheers.

rjm2k1. Thank you for so much info, i will officially thank you in a mo.

In reply to you questions. It's the pilot light light that stays on, the one that lights when the pilot light is lighting, if you see what i mean. Sorry, i realise that was a bit muddled before.

The pipes that either take the water into or out the boiler (can't remember which ones) are too narrow, apparently. The flue would be higher, cause it's on the new energy efficient ones it's different (apparently) and needs to be higher? Also the position of the boiler - it's to left of the sink which is apparently a dangerous place for it. The guy wanted to put it in my son's bedroom!! That's not gonna happen.

After reading what i have just put and what you've said, i think i have probably just been a total woman about this and have believed this one person (who i was informed was a decent guy) and perhaps that was wrong.

I will get some more quotes. And perhaps if my husband is in when they come round they will be less inclined to BS. Is that a little unfair. He did seem perfectly nice. It did spiral though - once he saw the pipes etc, it became a bigger and more expensive job.

Cheers guys

rjm2k1

TBH it's difficult to tell if what your engineer is saying is correct or not, but I would definatly contact BG and look into their cover before you even think about replacing the boiler, http://www.britishgas.co.uk/products-and-services/maintenance-and-repair.html?WT.seg_3=i100191 probably the 100 or 200 level is all you need at £13 or £17 per month including a free anual service you really can't go wrong.

I think you mean the ignition is staying on rather than the pilot, an issue that may well be fixed just through a service. If you tell them there is an existing problem with it they will service it and if it's not cured by the service probably fix it and ask you to remain covered for a year at minimum, this is what they did for a friend of mine recently, boiler was fixed no problem.

How old is it and what make/model?