New Boiler or repair old one?

Aiadi

Hi I have a small 2 bedroom flat which is needing some attention to the boiler. It is an Apollo Myson wall hung boiler, which must be about 20 years old now. Previous tenants have said that the hot water cuts out after a few minutes. I had a plumber install a new bathroom suite and check the boiler. I'm wondering whether I'm being fooled into replacing the boiler when it could be repaired.

The plumber said that the boiler is leaking carbon monoxide (he pointed to the black marks on the wall above the boiler) and that when he switched it on it leaked water onto the counter. He dismissed the idea it could be fixed and said we'd have to replace it with a condensing boiler or combi boiler. We decided to get another condensing boiler if we do have to change it, but I have some questions if anyone could help.

1. Does it sound like the old boiler can't be fixed? I would prefer to fix it if it wouldn't cost so much because I am thinking about selling the flat in a year's time. I'm not sure if Apollo Myson parts can be found as I've tried looking online but not found it yet. Anyone know if these boilers parts are still sold? I'm not sure what part it is that I would need so therefore a bit difficult to find!
2. Whats the best condensing boiler to replace it with if it needs to be replaced?
3. How much should I be expecting to spend?
4. What are people's feelings about getting a second hand one/from ebay- my main worry would be safety.

Any help would be much appreciated, thanks.

itsakidsworld

Hi,

If the boiler is 20 years old then yes, I would be looking at changing it for many reasons. The main being the safety of the thing and if your plumber has pointed out carbon monoxide leakage, he should have actually condemned it and closed it off until it is sorted.

It will also be a good selling point within a year as you should have a guarantee with the new one.

You have to install condensing boilers now anyway by law so a new standard combi will( or should not) be commissioned off by a qualified plumber. Get quotes from various people but make sure they are corgi registered.

Halstead do a good boiler range at the moment, along with Ideal standard. There are new laws on these products to help you the customer and the environment so why not start by approaching your local council office and ask for building control. They will have leaflets on what you can and cannot do.

Good luck.

Bob63

Whatever you do don't get it installed by British Gas, unless you have lots of money that is. We had a really nice Worcester Bosch combi boiler installed three years ago by a local Corgi registered installer. His price was around half that of British Gas.

I just checked my file and for a Worcester Bosch 35CDI (which is big enough to run a 5 bedroom house) plus fitting 3 extra radiators and 13 TRV's I paid £2200. The boiler supply/install part of that was probably £1900. To give you an idea of how much of that was installation, last year I had a new kitchen installed. This involved relocating the boiler onto a different wall on the other side of the kitchen. To de-install, re-install and re-route all the pipes I paid £600 to the same tradesman. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend him to anyone - but unless you are near Weston-Super-Mare that won't be any help to you.

b.t.w. A nice high capacity combi boiler gives you a great water flow through your shower. No need for a power shower pump.

regards,

Mike

alanobrien

Replace it with a new one. It will come up in the survey as a "problem" anyway and a new one will cost you less to run.

Vaillant or Worcester Bosch are excellent but Alpha are better value for money, they are of similar spec at lower cost.

Some details to compare prices here
http://www.inspiredheating.co.uk/boilers.htm

Manufacturers site
http://www.alpha-boilers.com/

flang

I can highly recommend Worcester Bosch! we had one installed 11 years ago and its never been serviced, never been drained and has never failed!

gavinp

We have a Myson Orion conventional boiler in our house which is about the same age as yours.

We have had it serviced and repaired separately in the last six months (no problems for previous 10 years) and the engineer who came to repair it had the part in their van to fix it although it was just the thermocouple. I believe Myson merged with Potterton a few years ago.

It is of course possible that your boiler really has had it but personally I would get a second opinion just to satisfy any doubt it must be replaced now.

Thanks

Gavin

wigginsmum

Avoid Saunier Duval - we've had nothing but problems with ours.

mikey-mike_2

There should be a gas council number on it…quote that and any plumbing shop should be able to help with spares

But, at 20 years old, it’s probably coming to the end of its life & time for a new one

Bob63

flang wrote:

I can highly recommend Worcester Bosch! we had one installed 11 years ago and its never been serviced

:eek:

That really isn't something to be proud of. There is going to be so much soot build up in there that the boiler won't be running at optimum efficiency and you're running a huge risk of getting carbon monoxide poisoning. A family of five I knew died in my street a few years back because of a leaky boiler that hadn't been serviced.

Mike