should I get our boiler repaired or bite the bullet and buy a new one?

babasu

Hi all,

I have been having persistent problems with our boiler (an 8 year old gloworm 24ci) for over a year (fault codes, no hot water). I had a powerflush done recently and was advised by the engineer that a new part was required. He thought that we'd probably be better off with a new boiler though, as that particular model is apparently bobbins and he said it would cost around £1500 (we're in a small flat).

I've tried to get our emergency cover people (homerescue plus from the cooperative - don't ever use, btw, they're hopeless) to come out, assess whether it does require a replacement part and fit it, but because they've faffed me about so much, I think I should just bite the bullet and get a new boiler.

The part which needs replacing is the 'divertor assembly manifold' (??) and would cost a couple of hundred quid.

Any advice? Should I try and get this fixed myself, or should I just get a new boiler? And if the latter, any recommendations on models?

Thanks

Rebecca

C_Mababejive

Rebecca..do you have a contract with Home rescue? Does it cover boiler breakdowns? If the answer is yes to both these questions then get on the phone and insist that they attend.

If its only eight years old,its repairable.It isnt "bobbins".

Have you got your manual yet..?


http://theinitiativegroup.org.uk/fscinitiativedatabase/Glowworm/24ci18si.pdf

Dont go buying a new one just yet..!

babasu

Hiya,

Thanks for replying. I didn't want to rant but I'm building up to it now!

I have emergency cover with HomeRescue Plus which is provided by Cooperative Insurance, not Home Rescue. They've already been out before to try and fix the fault code (F9 - and we do have the manual) back in March of this year. They replaced the heating exchange valve, as that was apparently the source of the fault code. That failed to resolve the problem, but because the engineer had recommended we have a powerflush, they refused to come out again until that had been done.

We finally had the powerflush done, and the engineer who carried that out advised that the diverter manifold assembly had been damaged and needed replacing. I've been trying for the past 2 weeks to get an engineer out via our insurers, but have been led a right merry dance (and simply ringing and demanding they attend doesn't work - I wasted a day's annual leave yesterday waiting for an engineer to turn up and they didn't, and when I rang this morning to complain, I was accused of being a liar. That was the 8th or 9th call to them in as many days).

So, I can't rely on the insurers to resolve - plus the engineer may very well have come out and said 'oh you need a DMA and that's not covered by the insurance' so I'd be back at square one.

The question then is whether I fork out for a new boiler, or try and have the DMA replaced. And I was told by the engineer who did the powerflush AND the engineer who did the service last year that the gloworm model we have is particularly bad, and is not, in actual fact, an actual gloworm make, but part of a job lot of stock they bought from another (now defunct) company, which they've just stuck gloworm labels on to!

So - any suggestions?

Thanks

Rebecca

So -

babasu

thanks Bluemoonmole, but there's no point me forking out for further cover, and BG won't cover an existing breakdown (I have checked all their terms and conditions).

My query is simple: do I pay to have a part replaced (all info above - bear in mind make of boiler, history etc), or should I just get a new boiler? If so, any suggestions for make / model?

C_Mababejive

Can i advise that you shimmy over to here and post your dilemma for some further expert opinion on this particular boiler...


http://www.ukplumbersforums.co.uk/central-heating-forum/

babasu

Thank you C_Mababejive - will check that link out!

ollski

babasu wrote: »

ooh Bluemoonmole, I just noticed that you mention you work for british gas on another post elsewhere, so not very helpful that your response simply touts for more trade...

Could also be that he has first hand experience of a company that can rectify your problem

I thought F9 was low pressure or faulty pressure sensor. The manifold you refer to only needs replacing if it leaks, a service kit is available to refurbish the diverter section.

G_M

Originally Posted by babasu
ooh Bluemoonmole, I just noticed that you mention you work for british gas on another post elsewhere, so not very helpful that your response simply touts for more trade...

ollski wrote: »

Could also be that he has first hand experience of a company that can rectify your problem

It seems the mods agree that BlueMoon was touting on behalf of BG - his repeated posts recommending BG have been removed.

MoneySavingMole

My mistake on the naming my company side of things, guys!

I usually post on another Forum, and it's usually plenty of people saying how badly such and such a body has done etc. etc. so I'm used to saying, just call us!

Anyway, WHO you use aside, it would be best to price up having the fault repaired.

It will cost you a lot less, and installing a new boiler is not always the answer. New boilers break aswell.

Your best bet is to call somebody new in, and have an independant opinion.

MoneySavingMole

G_M wrote: »

It seems the mods agree that BlueMoon was touting on behalf of BG - his repeated posts recommending BG have been removed.

I wasn't touting, thanks very much.

I'm an engineer. I merely have faith in myself and my colleagues.

babasu

Glad to hear you have faith, BMM. I'm just an old cynic, forgive me!

But a second opinion is what I'm seeking on this site in fact, rather than go to the considerable expense (££ and time - this is a money saving forum afterall) of having to find and wait in for yet another engineer to come and give me an opinion. I know the part which needs replacing, I have an understanding of the cost (replacement vs new boiler) and what I want to know is whether I should bother having the part replaced, bearing in mind the cost and the fact that the make and model of our existing boiler is perceived to be poor.

I'm hoping the other forum I was signposted to might be more appropriate for me to get that opinion from. Thanks all anyway!