New Boiler - Now or Later?

Peartree

I've got a Glow-worm Hideaway boiler, floorstanding in a unit in the kitchen. To predated me buying the house but I'm guessing it was fitted aroung 1995 when the previous owners did lot of building work in the kitchen.

I know it is inefficient compared to modern boilers and it would probably save me money to replace it. However, would the gas engineers who are so helpful on this board suggest doing it now or just gets its niggles (see below) fixed for now and leave the replacement until it breaks down.

In its favour:

- It has never, ever, given me a day's trouble - and, believe me, I've had some tempremental boilers in previous houses - despite never having been serviced (yes, I know, I know!).
- There is even heating throughout the house. All the radiators are evenly heated.

Against:

- I end up with far more hot water than I need when the heating is on in winter. The 'central heating only' option doesn't work.
- There is no house thermostat and the lowest boiler setting is still rather hot!

So, what should I do. Get someone along to service this monster and help me out with the settings and a thermostat OR bite the bullet and get a new one.

By the way, I wouldn't want a combi - I'm far too attached to me power shower!

Many thanks.

PS If it does break down it isn't too much of an emergency as I'll still have not water and have a couple of gas fires.

gas4you

I would keep it until it starts leaking. The only time I recommend changing a boiler un-necessarily is if you were to have a new fitted kitchen. Then design the new boiler into the new kitchen.

ziggyman99

Another alternative is to free up your kitchen space and put it in the loft. To update your controls - thermostat, TRV's, motorised valves, etc - wouldn't be too expensive and would give better comfort levels plus save on gas. As gas4you said, only change your boiler if you need to. Also, a combi can give you a good shower. It does depend on flow rate and pressure of your cold water supply and the boiler you choose.

bobinbognor

Keep it! But, and I know it goes against the grain,...get it serviced. Upgrade the controls with a room stat and tank stat and insulate the hot water storage tank. These and a new controller will give you amazing savings of up to 20%. You will find some brilliant prices on line.

Peartree

ziggyman99 wrote: »

Another alternative is to free up your kitchen space and put it in the loft. To update your controls - thermostat, TRV's, motorised valves, etc - wouldn't be too expensive and would give better comfort levels plus save on gas. As gas4you said, only change your boiler if you need to. Also, a combi can give you a good shower. It does depend on flow rate and pressure of your cold water supply and the boiler you choose.

When I think about the drama involved in freeing up the kitchen space, ie, probably needing to remove and replace the worktop above the boiler, which has a sink in it, I think I can live with out the one extra cupboard! I appreciate what you're saying about the shower but I don't want a 'good' shower, I want my fantastic power shower!

Also, in two previous houses I had boilers which frequently needed the pilot relighting. For that reason alone there is no way on earth I'd put the boiler in the loft. I appreciate this may not be the case with modern boilers but I've got a complete blank spot on that one!

Peartree

bobinbognor wrote: »

Keep it! But, and I know it goes against the grain,...get it serviced. Upgrade the controls with a room stat and tank stat and insulate the hot water storage tank. These and a new controller will give you amazing savings of up to 20%. You will find some brilliant prices on line.

Doesn't go against the grain at all - I get the gas fires serviced when the chimneys are swept every year. I guess I've always had at the back of my mind that the boiler needed changing so I've had a blank spot about getting it serviced. The hot water tank is very well insulated - the guys who looked at the loft insulation looked at it when they did a survey and were impressed. Earlier today, I spoke to three contractors I had recommended to me and asked them to come and quote on two options. One, exactly as you Bobinbognar recommend re servicing and new controls and. the other. on a new system.

My instincts had been to 'tart up' the system I've got and wait until the boiler claps out to upgrade the system. Who knows what new incentives and technology will come into play in the next few years? And I never mentioned my large, unobstructed, south facing roof.............

Can I stress how much I appreciate the advice of all of you because it did make me feel I wasn't insane in wanting to keep my reliable old gas-guzzler just a little bit longer!