Replace Old Baxi Bermuda C/H Boiler

harry438

If you are on Pension Credits or benefits of any kind the local council under the Warm Front scheme will replace your boiler free of charge.

gas4you

Unless you really hate the look of it, or cannot stand the air vent in the wall giving draughts, or redesign your room, keep it until it starts leaking or spares are no longer available.

You will take ages to make a new boiler pay for itself in gas savings.

macman

harry438 wrote: »

If you are on Pension Credits or benefits of any kind the local council under the Warm Front scheme will replace your boiler free of charge.

Oh no they won't. The OP already has a working system in this case.
Nor are you eligible if you are on benefits of 'any kind'-there are strict eligibility criteria:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Environmentandgreenerliving/Energyandwatersaving/Energygrants/DG_10018661

BLB53

Think about preventing heat escaping first rather than supplying more of it...

Good point, but I already have double glazing and the loft has recently had a further layer of insulation to make a total 270mm so probably not a great deal more to be done on that score.

If you are on Pension Credits or benefits of any kind...

Like a lot of older people who have been prudent and put money aside for a rainy day, I am not eligible for state hand outs.

Many thanks to all for your valuable advice and contributions - most helpful.
(Maybe return the compliment one day on the Savings & Investment Board!)

ed110220

I am in a similar position. My new house has a Baxi Bermuda SL3 back boiler. I've had a look on the internet and there isn't much about its efficiency, but I did find one figure of 65%. The latest condensing back boiler from Baxi (Bermuda BBU HE) has an efficiency of 90% and I see it advertised online for £7-800 (seems surprisingly cheap).

rustyboy21

ed110220 wrote: »

I am in a similar position. My new house has a Baxi Bermuda SL3 back boiler. I've had a look on the internet and there isn't much about its efficiency, but I did find one figure of 65%. The latest condensing back boiler from Baxi (Bermuda BBU HE) has an efficiency of 90% and I see it advertised online for £7-800 (seems surprisingly cheap).

Ed you will find that is the price purely for the new HEBBU unit. You then have to add on the cost of the following...

SPECIAL PLASTIC FLUE LINER ( REQUIRED.)
ELECTRIC VALOR DIMENSION FIRE( REQUIRED)
NOSE CONE TO GET LINER DOWN FLUE. ( REQUIRED)
RIGHT HANDED PIPE KIT ( IF REQUIRED)
SPACER FOR FIRE ( IF REQUIRED)
COST OF CHANGING FROM GRAVITY FED TO FULLY PUMPED SYSTEM ( IF REQUIRED)
SCAFFOLDING FOR LINER INSTALATION ( AS PER H&S REGS)
You will however, lose the need for air vents as liner takes air in for BBU, you will cut down on gas use, will be in a better position on water pressure.

It is dear, but is a nice bit of kit and you don't have to reroute pipes for a combi somewhere in your house.

ed110220

Hmm, I'll have to find out how much those would cost and whether it would be worthwhile as the old boiler works fine and from what I read they're reliable and long-lived but inefficient... so it would need some maths on whether the savings would be worth it. Would it be any cheaper than a combi boiler or is the advantage convenience of not having to moved it?

I'll see what my dad thinks as he's installed several boilers, but he may be reluctant to put in a back boiler as he's only done combis before. I helped him put in a flue (metal) for a wood burning stove at his house, so we should be able to do the new flue. The present one is cast iron, so I'm thinking it should be easier than putting it down the stone chimney at his place which was full of birds nests, rubble etc!

Why is the electric fire required? I don't think I'd use it. I'd be happy with a blank/open fireplace.

gas4you

rustyboy21 wrote: »

Ed you will find that is the price purely for the new HEBBU unit. You then have to add on the cost of the following...

SPECIAL PLASTIC FLUE LINER ( REQUIRED.)
ELECTRIC VALOR DIMENSION FIRE( REQUIRED)
NOSE CONE TO GET LINER DOWN FLUE. ( REQUIRED)
RIGHT HANDED PIPE KIT ( IF REQUIRED)
SPACER FOR FIRE ( IF REQUIRED)
COST OF CHANGING FROM GRAVITY FED TO FULLY PUMPED SYSTEM ( IF REQUIRED)
SCAFFOLDING FOR LINER INSTALATION ( AS PER H&S REGS)
You will however, lose the need for air vents as liner takes air in for BBU, you will cut down on gas use, will be in a better position on water pressure.

It is dear, but is a nice bit of kit and you don't have to reroute pipes for a combi somewhere in your house.

Also you need to add in the cost of rebuilding the front of your fireplace, as the electric fire is not big enough to cover the opening needed to fit the BBU unit. Then find somewhere for the 10mm condensate pipe to run without making your room look a mess

I'll never willingly fit another. A not very well thought out design for a new condensing boiler :mad:

rustyboy21

gas4you wrote: »

Also you need to add in the cost of rebuilding the front of your fireplace, as the electric fire is not big enough to cover the opening needed to fit the BBU unit. Then find somewhere for the 10mm condensate pipe to run without making your room look a mess

I'll never willingly fit another. A not very well thought out design for a new condensing boiler :mad:

It was a boiler which existed over in the continent for a number of years, which Baxi CEO demaded that designers used and make a BBU system around it, with the minimum of investment and to a deadline. There are over 2 million BBU's in marketplace and a lot have difficulty in finding space for a walll mounted boiler to be sited, so there is a market for it.

It is a nice bit of kit when it is up and running, but a bit of a pain to fit, especially if your engineer is not used to fitting the original one, Younger fitters have not had the experience of installing a gas BBU, even through training, so a lot of engineers pooh pooh them as not much cop, but they are.

gas4you

I've fitted loads of bbu's and you flatter me to think I am one of the younger generation. Still won't fit another.

An idea forced upon BAXI by BG requirements. Tried and tested heat exchanger but in a hopeless situation and BAXI marketing material is economical with the truth.