Boiler decisions

babarakas

Hi,

this is my first post, but have read lots of the posts on this site and seem to have found people have been able to contribute useful advice.

Basically, the boiler (Keston Celsius 25) in our house has been playing up this past week - rubbish hot water, etc. (I will ignore the fact I asked the OH to organise a service for the past few months). Anyway yesterday we both thought we smelt a faint smell of gas. So boiler turned off, BG came round to check it out. No Gas leak, but the heat condenser is leaking (fortunately not on the PCB) and they dont really want anything to do with it. They left if as 'at risk' and suggested they could quote on repairing it but it would be expensive. Not the repair I was hoping for, but I wasn't charged. With a 4 week old baby in the house though, this is something I need to sort asap.

I am well aware of Keston's bad reputation and have seen on several forums the list of issues with them. I have since had a plumber round who looked at the boiler and he said the the problem we have is that the boiler has been installed with Keston's flexible flue system and he is unsure what could be used to replace the Keston like for like. I live in a 3-bed terrace in SE London, the boiler is situated in a utility cupboard in what was the original part of the house, but there is now an extended kitchen built around it with one wall running along the boundary line of the property so there is no wall in close proximity that can be used to mount a new boiler without extensive work rerouting all the pipework.

The plumber suggested calling Keston for a fixed price repair (no joy there), I spoke to an engineer they recommended and he said heat exchanger would be around £800 +VAT (inc labour) to replace. He also mentioned that many Keston users are 'over a barrel' because they have normally been installed due to the need for a flexible flue or awkward installation location.

My dilemma is:

- Should I spend a fortune on replacing parts on a boiler that I'm not convinced is reliable, and probably have something else go wrong soon?
- Should I have to replace it with another Keston system (like the Qudos) because of the flexible flue system and at least get a few years warranty?
- Are there any other boilers that can use a similar flue system?
- Or do I have to find another location to site a new boiler?

I would appreciate advice?

Canucklehead

Hi,

I would be looking to relocate a better brand of boiler.

GSR.

Badgerboo

I have the same boiler as you and a similar problem. I've noticed the boiler is corroding due to a faulty heat exchanger. This will need replacing & and I'm going to get some quotes. Keston have given me a number for a local engineer (in Sussex) so Im waiting for them to get back to me. One plumber has already been & said he couldn't fix it but quoted £2300 + Vat to replace it!

I am wondering wether to go with British Gas as it's a one off fee of £198 no matter what the cost of parts, but not sure if i will be covered due it being something that hasn't yet caused my boiler to break down? My boiler works but I have a feeling it wont for much longer.

Have you decided what to do yet? Id be interested to know as it seems we have a similar problem.

babarakas

Hi badger

I tried BG and they basically told me that they wouldn't cover a Keston C25, it might be worth trying with them but I wouldn't hold out much hope.

I have been quoted about the same as you to replace the boiler with another newer model Keston (Qudos), as the current installation location offers no other options. I have had several plumbers visit and they could not find any way to install any other boiler in its current location, also due to the layout of our ground floor terrace there was no where on the ground floor to install. But I dont trust a Keston after the last one only lasted 6 years and new one has 2 years warranty (hardly faith in your own product)

My other option I have been given is a Vaillant, resited up stairs, which I think I might have done. This will cost about £3400 (including replacing/refitting 2 rads). It is a lot of money (particularly as the other half is on maternity leave ). I just need to check this is a reasonable quote, although I live in SE London and this company was one of the only ones to come round and spend a decent amount of time exploring all the options, so at least they seem thorough.

let me know what you decide

macman

babarakas wrote: »

Hi badger

I tried BG and they basically told me that they wouldn't cover a Keston C25, it might be worth trying with them but I wouldn't hold out much hope.

I have been quoted about the same as you to replace the boiler with another newer model Keston (Qudos), as the current installation location offers no other options. I have had several plumbers visit and they could not find any way to install any other boiler in its current location, also due to the layout of our ground floor terrace there was no where on the ground floor to install. But I dont trust a Keston after the last one only lasted 6 years and new one has 2 years warranty (hardly faith in your own product)

My other option I have been given is a Vaillant, resited up stairs, which I think I might have done. This will cost about £3400 (including replacing/refitting 2 rads). It is a lot of money (particularly as the other half is on maternity leave ). I just need to check this is a reasonable quote, although I live in SE London and this company was one of the only ones to come round and spend a decent amount of time exploring all the options, so at least they seem thorough.

let me know what you decide

Was that £3,400 quote from BG? If so, you should be able to get it done for around £2,500 by a local independent RGI.

babarakas

No Macman, it wasn't BG.
To be honest I've really stuggled to find any plumbers or heating engineers around Greenwich who could actually be bothered or available to come round. A lot weren't interested in the fact I had a Keston, even though I mentioned I would happily consider replacing the boiler. Of five plumbers (2 recomended to us) these were the only ones that bothered to look properly and give a considered opinion. I was hoping it would be around the £2500 mark, but am a bit stuck unless someone decent can give me a counter-quote!

babarakas

Would be interested in anyone had any advice or plumbers/heating engineers they could reccomend in the greenwich/blackheath area?

I have contacted a few using the gas safe register, but I would rather take reccomendations then just randomly guessing.

Thanks

Fossil_Fuel_Consumer

I'm reasonably satisfied with service received for a Keston boiler from Gas-Elec (you can google it).