urgent advice needed

hammersuk

Ok about to purchase (stc) a 19600s 3 bed house.

Only thing is it has a back boiler behind a fireplace.

I have never seen or used one before so really dont know much about them.

I read conflicting stories on the net as to there saftey and efficiency.

Do they heat water and radiators?

Can and should i replace with a new combi boiler and what are the costs involved?

I know nothing about this as i am only used to properties with a normal old kitchin wall type of boiler and don't want to buy a house n then find i need to buy a whole new central heating and water system.

Any advice on these back boiler things?

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hammersuk

Ok about to purchase (stc) a 19600s 3 bed house.

Only thing is it has a back boiler behind a fireplace.

I have never seen or used one before so really dont know much about them.

I read conflicting stories on the net as to there saftey and efficiency.

Do they heat water and radiators?

Can and should i replace with a new combi boiler and what are the costs involved?

I know nothing about this as i am only used to properties with a normal old kitchin wall type of boiler and don't want to buy a house n then find i need to buy a whole new central heating and water system.

Any advice on these back boiler things?

simpywimpy

depends how long its been in as to efficiency. If you are wanting to modernise the house, you will find it difficult and expensive to change the fire at the front and keep the back boiler.

I had this last year with a house I bought and decided to get rid of the fire and boiler and go with a combi boiler. Cost was £2100 incl two new radiators, the new boiler and the fitting costs for the fire and surround I purchased myself.

If however you don't want to go to this expense anytime soon, there is no reason why you cant continue to use the back boiler. You could always get a corgi fitter to take a look at it for you, maybe even before you sign on the dotted line then if it's condemned then you could negotiate with the seller again

hammersuk

k swimpy. Yeah the front fire aint pretty but i know u can get new fronts.

How do the back boilers work in terms of how they heat? is there much of a difference between them n combis?

I thought back boilers were now defunked cos they were so inefficient

Are they more expensive to run also?

Darth_Marty

I had to change ours when we moved in to our place and it cost us £3100 for everything, apart from the new fire surround that is. As far as safety goes as long as its been regularly serviced it will be fine but like most things the older they are the more likely you are to have issues.

Contessa

hammersuk wrote: »

Ok about to purchase (stc) a 19600s 3 bed house.

Only thing is it has a back boiler behind a fireplace.

I have never seen or used one before so really dont know much about them.

I read conflicting stories on the net as to there saftey and efficiency.

Do they heat water and radiators?

Can and should i replace with a new combi boiler and what are the costs involved?

I know nothing about this as i am only used to properties with a normal old kitchin wall type of boiler and don't want to buy a house n then find i need to buy a whole new central heating and water system.

Any advice on these back boiler things?

I can't really give you any advice but I can tell you of my own experience. But, this was 30 years ago! We had a CH system installed into our first house- it was a Baxi Bermuda back boiler. It provided both CH and HW. The fireplace was nice (but perhaps would not seem so now). I really liked the fact that no space was taken up in the kitchen by a boiler-it was all hidden behind the fire. The only downside that I recall is the sound of the boiler starting (just as any other boiler). I would like another one-but, probably a big but, I know nothing about how efficient it was compared to modern boilers.

PasturesNew

My parents still have a working back boiler that runs their full heating system on a 1920s 3-bed semi.

mizchiefo

I'm assuming you have mains gas as you're considering a combi boiler. They're not really that efficient either. A rather annoying point with these is the time delay for the water to reach the taps, (and I live in a small 1 bedroom flat). The boiler is running for 5mins after I've washed my hands (in cold water). Oh, I remember the electric boilers that used to deliver instant scolding water and these are certainly not lke that.

Bear in mind that if you intend to keep the open fire and use it, then you're gaining by keeping the back boiler.

lincroft1710

Due to current regs it is virtually impossible to replace old back boiler with new one. You will have to replace with combi or condensing, both far more efficient, I've now got a condensing boiler on kitchen wall. If you plan on keeping back boiler for a while, advisable to get it serviced.

hammersuk

well if the back boiler works i would keep it for a while until i could afford to upgrade to a newer one. As far as mains gas i know the neighbour has got a combi so i ssume that his house cant be much different to what we're buying next door.

I was assuming that a back boiler would not be efficient as it must be old but if it works then i guess i dont need to be in a rush to replace it.

Would be nice at some point to be able to remove it all and be able to light a real fire in the flum now n then.

ShelleyC_2

My old house had a back boiler - it worked fine until the day it burnt thru some electrical wires and smoke came thru the chimney airflow vent in the bedroom :eek:

Apparently it wasn't the boilers fault it was the dodgy builder who used to own the house and did numerous weird & wacky jobs (Never buy a builders own home :rotfl: )