Possible gas boiler replacement

sniper66

Hi everyone, this is my fist post here

Last night our (admittedly old!) gas boiler appeared to give up the ghost. We have been in the house a year, have not had it serviced, and last night it appeared dead, then a little later fired up with an accompanying 'knocking' noise. The signs are not good!

I will be getting 'the loca Gas Safe man to have a look later today. BUT, if a new boiler IS needed does anyone know the best (i.e., economical) way to go about getting one. I/we know nothing about the technical side of boilers and could easily stray into rip-off territory (Happened to us a few years ago with block paving!).

Any and all advice very grateful received at this stage.

Thank you

S

ziggyman99

Why do you suspect it needs a new boiler? If it's old then it's probably a fairly simple beast and possibly repairable. If it's a conventional heat only boiler then the brief symptoms you describe indicate a possible pump failure. A quick and easy fix.

sniper66

Thank you for this. Let's hope so, fingers crossed

My reason for thinking a replacement might be needed is that it is eleven years old and very basic. To be honest we might want to upgrade at some point anyway to become more 'energy efficient', but would prefer to do it in the summer.

Anyway, he (the gas man) is arriving 'about 11.

Thank you again.

S

penrhyn

Prescott boilers are not as efficient as the advertising suggests, they are also complex beasts with much to go wrong, frozen condensate pipes being one problem.
Is it a open vent boiler ( with hot water tank )or a combi?

Could just be the fan?

sniper66

Hi,

The boiler isn't a combi, both hot water and the heating run through the upstaits airing cupboard tank. There is a flu on the outside wall.

Doesn't time tick slowly sometimes



S

Cardew

There are many posts on this subject, which you can find if you do a search in this section of MSE.

This is but one example: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2930080

The almost unanimous opinion is that you don’t replace a non-condensing boiler until it really has given up the ghost completely.

There is very little to go wrong with the older style boilers, not so the condensing boilers which are stuffed full of electronics. A gas fitter has little option but to change electronic modules that can cost £150 or more – again a search will reveal some horror stories.

macman

sniper66 wrote: »

Thank you for this. Let's hope so, fingers crossed

My reason for thinking a replacement might be needed is that it is eleven years old and very basic. To be honest we might want to upgrade at some point anyway to become more 'energy efficient', but would prefer to do it in the summer.

Anyway, he (the gas man) is arriving 'about 11.

Thank you again.

S

Could you expand on that please? If it's just the controls that are basic, you could just fit a modern programer for less than £80.

sniper66

Thank you for these answers. The boiler is eleven years old and when you are outside next to the flu it does emit a 'gassy' smell. We have just gathered the impression is is old and on its last legs. From mreading these posts and threads I am becoming more optimistic all the time.

See what my guy says at 11.

Thanks again for all the useful and fast responses.

S

Pincher

If you are lucky, it's just clogging up with rust and scale (naughty not servicing )

Bleed the radiators to see what comes out.
If it's not clear, let it settle in a glass and see if you have black/brown sediments. Drain and refill a few times will help. Remember the inhibitor on the last refill !

http://www.plumbnation.co.uk/site/fernox-tf1-filter---f1---f3-500ml-pack/

For the long term, get a filter like the TF1 fitted, on the return pipe to the boiler, and check it regularly.
I would run the system with the F3 cleaner for a few days, during which you must clean the filter a lot, to clear away all the lose stuff the F3 is dislodging. Drain and refill a couple of times to flush the F3 out of the system, then refill with the F1 inhibitor.

sniper66

Well the man said he was more of an installer, and I should call British Gas. I was quoted £79 as a call out charge covering 30 minutes of diagnosis. That could rise to £199 for the work, inc parts and labout (up to 90 mins!).

My man says they should do it in that time he says, as the next band, over 90 mins rises to 400-odd.

Gulp.

Thanks for all the help. see how this pans out.

S

penrhyn

Rather than British Gas, you could try to see if the boiler manufacturer has a service team, or have a look on your LA website to see if they have a trusted trader scheme. Or ask around locally for a recommended Gas Safe heating eng.