New boiler advice

scrub

My mother's boiler has completely gone - not unexpected so it needs to be replaced. British Gas, whose service has been brilliant in the last year, have recommended a couple for just over £3k and 4k.

Does that sound reasonable? Are there other decent companies out there? The thing is, we're about to sell the place so really don't want to spend a lot but at the same time, we don't want a bodge job. We just want something that does the job.

Any recommendations?

thanks

alleycat`

What boiler are they recommending?
What type of system have you got?
What work have they actually quoted for?

From my limited exposure to BG, their prices are usually massively inflated over a good, local Gas safe engineer (assuming you can find one recommended).

jess1974

I would never use British Gas for the same reasons as above, local company are nearly always better and cheaper......

macman

What has actually 'gone'?
BG engineers get referral fees, so are known for saying that boilers should be replaced when they are actually repairable. Get a second opinion from a local independent GSR RGI.
And if you do find you need a new boiler, BG are typically about 40% more expensive. However it's impossible to know if their quote is inflated without knowing the details of what is to be done and what is to be installed.
Since you'll not get back any of the expenditure, explore the repair option first.

scrub

The boiler system is 20 years old and has been breaking down regularly for quite a few years so it doesn't come as a surprise at all. Repairs are all covered by service contract but it genuinely looks like it's gone now although not sure of what specifically.
For the cheaper option they'd need to just change the bolier. For the combi bolier, they would also need to change the water tanks and possibly pipework.

The main problem now would be convincing an elderly person to go with anyone but an established name! Still, I've got a potential contact from a neighbour who we can contact.

macman

Then you need to establish exactly what part has failed/failing before you pay out a fortune for a possibly unnecessary replacement. If the BG engineer did not give you the proper info then I would be even more suspicious.
Many boilers can last for more than 20 years and parts are still available-what model is it?
If you took your car for an MOT and they just said it had 'gone' and you needed a new one, would you accept that? Get a second opinion, it will cost you nothing.

scrub

The latest update is that my mother is going for a new system although she got another supplier in who can do it alot cheaper. However, they are saying that the combi boiler can go in the old watertank cupboard. The gas board have said that the boilers have to go an external wall and that is what I'd been told previously. I have a flat with no gas as apparently I haven't got a suitable external wall.

So, I'm concerned about whether you can have a combi boiler in a cupboard. They were recommended by a relative and are coming on Monday so it's all moved very quickly!

macman

Yes you can have a combi hung on an internal wall, in a cupboard. the flue still has to be run to an external wall though, and the condensate drain too (or to join an internal sink waste).

scrub

Great. Thanks for that! I knew an external wall came into it and given the position of the cupboard, I now have to go and find out just how they are going to get the flue to an external wall!

Pincher

My Gas Safe engineer says there are some landlords frantically converting internal flue run installations, because they are considered unsafe from 2012, and they won't be able to get Gas Safety certificates.

If the flue goes straight up, into a ventilated (to the outside) loft area, that's OK.

As a non-landlord, you may find some engineers refusing to maintain and service such an installation, as if it leaks, they can be blamed and lose their accreditation. My guy says he's got plenty of work, so he wouldn't risk it.

So, do you feel lucky, and believe that you won't die from leaking fumes. You can still do it, it's 2011.

macman

scrub wrote: »

Great. Thanks for that! I knew an external wall came into it and given the position of the cupboard, I now have to go and find out just how they are going to get the flue to an external wall!

It will follow the shortest path in a horizontal run after exiting the boiler-so presumably the install will be on a wall adjacent to the external one.