The so-called 'experts' have no idea, do they?

molerat

penrhyn wrote: »

My boiler is 12 years old, the British Gas engineer came to check it over the other day, his advise was as they could still get parts for it and it is a reliable one and to stick with it.

I would have checked his credentials after that statement. Are you sure he was genuine and not somebody pretending (poorly) to be a BG engineer.

My boiler is 25 years old and still going strong. A new boiler would probably save 20% but will still take 10 - 12 years to break even.

penrhyn

Indeed just goes to show they are not all trying to generate boiler sales.

welda

My boiler been in for 5 year this month, purchased pre condensing boiler era, never been looked at since it went in, it never misses a beat (touching head.....em wood)

I very much doubt condensing boiler would go as long without an engineer having some part or other to tweak?

To confirm Cardew words above, I share an office with to BG trained engineers, who now train and assess GS engineers so they can keep their tickets current. Quoting both guys, rare to reach 90% efficiency.

I've also been reading a few other threads on MSE, appears the condensing waste pipe can be prone to freezing, certainly more prone with our current freezing weather conditions, if a condensing pipes does freeze, according to recent posts, can cause the gas boiler to fault, one other part to go wrong!!

C_Mababejive

Quote...
2. Replace your boiler – old boilers do not run as efficiently as they could. If your boiler is more than 10 years old it is unlikely to be working efficiently. Modern condensing boilers are much more cost efficient than the older conventional boilers.

What utter carp...

rustyboy21

bragging about your boiler is xx years old and no problem is not really something to brag about.

There are reasons to get boilers/gas appliances serviced annually. They tend to soot up, get clogged and start giving off carbon monoxide.

Brag all you want when you are found dead on the floor by neighbours weeks later from a blocked flue !

I dont give a toss whether you argue for or against condensing boilers, as long as you stay safe and get them serviced each year

MillicentBystander

rustyboy21 wrote: »

bragging about your boiler is xx years old and no problem is not really something to brag about.

There are reasons to get boilers/gas appliances serviced annually. They tend to soot up, get clogged and start giving off carbon monoxide.

Brag all you want when you are found dead on the floor by neighbours weeks later from a blocked flue !

I dont give a toss whether you argue for or against condensing boilers, as long as you stay safe and get them serviced each year

I wouldn't call it bragging, TBH, and I personally made it clear I have mine serviced every year. Maybe you are missing the point of the thread? Namely, to replace a working, reliable and safe boiler with a new, condensing one to save maybe £100/yr is a false economy. Would you agree?

Pincher

You guys are an optimistic lot.

I chickened out at 35 years old, even though the old boiler went through the 2009/10 winter flawlesslessly. I grabbed the £400 scrappage on the day it was announced. If you feel lucky, beat my record, but are you going to have £400 for your trouble when you do upgrade?

welda

rustyboy21 wrote: »

bragging about your boiler is xx years old and no problem is not really something to brag about.

There are reasons to get boilers/gas appliances serviced annually. They tend to soot up, get clogged and start giving off carbon monoxide.

Brag all you want when you are found dead on the floor by neighbours weeks later from a blocked flue !

I dont give a toss whether you argue for or against condensing boilers, as long as you stay safe and get them serviced each year

If boiler were inside house instead of well insulated boiler house outside back door, I would have it serviced for the points you raise above.

Or, if sited inside house and I wanted to go the same way, I would buy a Co2 alarm, or better still, do same as an engineer, get the dyson out, sure way to sort the soot, and eleviate clogged up jets.

Its not bragging, it is all about not wasting money on useless boiler contracts. I'm sure there are many on here think the same way, hopefully have a few year problem free, something gives, moneys there to cover repair cost. From what I have saved so far, I could buy a new boiler.

It's handy having two gas trainer/assessors close by for advice!

:beer:

MillicentBystander

Pincher wrote: »

You guys are an optimistic lot.

I chickened out at 35 years old, even though the old boiler went through the 2009/10 winter flawlesslessly. I grabbed the £400 scrappage on the day it was announced. If you feel lucky, beat my record, but are you going to have £400 for your trouble when you do upgrade?

Well, if my boiler lasts another 5 years, I reckon the £400 scrappage you got is in the bag (plus the £2,000+ I've saved by not replacing my perfectly working boiler would have been earning up to £60/yr tax free in an ISA). The worrying point is you have very probably replaced your flawlessly working 35 year old boiler with something that will not last anything like as long. In fact, if I was being mischievous, I may have claimed it might not last as long as the one you've scrapped may have lasted if you'd kept it.

rustyboy21

MillicentBystander wrote: »

I wouldn't call it bragging, TBH, and I personally made it clear I have mine serviced every year. Maybe you are missing the point of the thread? Namely, to replace a working, reliable and safe boiler with a new, condensing one to save maybe £100/yr is a false economy. Would you agree?

Millicent, I wasn't having a pop at you, it was more at welda as they are bragging at not having anyone out to it, even for servicing for 5 years. It is frightening to think that people are chancing their lives with not having a boiler serviced, if anything, it could stop the expensive repair bills when it does break. The same goes for fires. It gets worse if you run appliances on LPG as it is dirtier than nat gas, but people think that because they have used old calor gas fires in the past, the boiler/fire will be the same. They need a bit more tender loving care to look after.

I feel that servicing contracts are a waste of money too, when most people know a qualified gas engineer who has been used by friends/family etc. You find someone good and keep them on for future years.

With regards to changing to condensing boilers/newer boilers, I totally agree with you, why change for the sake of it, You wont recoup your money back for ages.

I didnt have central heating in the house I bought for 3 years, then finally decided to get it fitted 2 years ago. I had a condensing combi fitted and touch wood, has been great so far, I have someone in every 12 months to give it a good clean out and check everything is ok, better safe than sorry and just make sure you lag the condesate pipe outside too. Manufacturers are now giving away free 5 year warranties with boilers now, but you have to have them serviced yearly, it also doesnt have to be by themselves, this will then cover any parts you may need in future.

Boilers years ago were made to last. the amount of back boiler customers who come into see me is amazing, the oldest one |I have heard of is 45 years ! It is still going strong and the fire looks brand new. You would be better saving the servicing contract fee each year and keep it aside, so when your boiler finally goes to the scrapheap in the sky, the expense is partially/fully covered for you

By the way, has anyone looked into the micro CHP units out now? they run your heating , hot water and supply electric for domestic use and you get a kick back from the govt too. Any experiences anyone?

Some people may think I am a moaning minnie on here, but it frightens me that people either dont look after dangerous appliances properly by servicing them, or think that they can repair said products themselves. There are too many deaths/accidents each year with gas appliances not being looked after. Thats why I get wound up at internet selling of gas appliances, I have seen too many horror stories when fitted by end users themselves or unqualified persons, the law needs to change and insurance companies should make it compulsary to show gas certificates, when renewing policies. All to make a safer country for us all. AND before anyone says it, I dont fit gas appliances, only sell them, so no benefit to me for servicing !