New combination boiler

macman

I very much doubt that the average house buyer even notices where the boiler is. They'll have seen the spec that says that the house has gas CH, and that's good enough for most. Unless the boiler is an ancient floor standing model and is visibly about to expire, it will probably pass muster.
MSE readers are not typical of course...
It always surprises me that the average second-hand car buyer asks more questions (and spends more time checking) than the average house buyer.

jackieblack

macman wrote: »

I very much doubt that the average house buyer even notices where the boiler is. They'll have seen the spec that says that the house has gas CH, and that's good enough for most. Unless the boiler is an ancient floor standing model and is visibly about to expire, it will probably pass muster.
MSE readers are not typical of course...
It always surprises me that the average second-hand car buyer asks more questions (and spends more time checking) than the average house buyer.

It always amazes me too!
I've never bought a house without getting the price reduced accordingly for any work that needs doing.

redboy1

That's all very well aslong as they accept your offer, I know when we bought our house in April we wanted it whether the heating was working or not, it all depends if you want the house.
As it happens the boiler broke 2 weeks ago so had new one fitted, could of got it fixed but seems we have just moved in it made more sence to fit a new one and get our money's worth out of it.
I know I was in OP position I would not be buying new if we were planning on selling soon, just fix it and get it serviced, that would be ample for selling.

jackieblack

I notice that the OP has not come back to clarify whether the boiler is repairable or not yet.
Until we know whether that is an option it is difficult to comment further.

cottonhead

Hi everyone thanks for the input. Had BG come round on Saturday. The guy 'looked' at the boiler from the other side of the room and said it would be around £2500 - £3000 and would send a qoute in the post. I told him we didnt want to spend too much as hope to move soon and he said I might be better off to get a local plumber to do it for around £1800. He then said that it would help to sell the house if the new people know its a BG boiler installation etc etc..... ( I dont think it would bother me that much if I were the buyer). The qoute is not for pipes or repositioning - just the boiler and I guess a flush.
The thing is we will move in the next 6 months or so, but might hold onto this house and rent it out rather than sell. Either way the heating will have to be working. Its been patched up so many times its just throwing good money at bad and even if it was possible to mend I dont think it would last until we move. The plumber was last here only 8 weeks back and that cost £150.
I dont like that prospect of paying BG more than we have to but it might come down to finances. I dont have a spare £1800 so might have to do the dreaded BG finance option....

roddydogs

Thougt Potterton was a reliable make? assuming its not a condensing B, I would have thought it would last longer.

macman

cottonhead wrote: »

Hi everyone thanks for the input. Had BG come round on Saturday. The guy 'looked' at the boiler from the other side of the room and said it would be around £2500 - £3000 and would send a qoute in the post. I told him we didnt want to spend too much as hope to move soon and he said I might be better off to get a local plumber to do it for around £1800. He then said that it would help to sell the house if the new people know its a BG boiler installation etc etc..... ( I dont think it would bother me that much if I were the buyer). The qoute is not for pipes or repositioning - just the boiler and I guess a flush.
The thing is we will move in the next 6 months or so, but might hold onto this house and rent it out rather than sell. Either way the heating will have to be working. Its been patched up so many times its just throwing good money at bad and even if it was possible to mend I dont think it would last until we move. The plumber was last here only 8 weeks back and that cost £150.
I dont like that prospect of paying BG more than we have to but it might come down to finances. I dont have a spare £1800 so might have to do the dreaded BG finance option....

Says it all about BG really...
So you'd be happy to be paying BG interest for years on a boiler that you no longer own?

bengasman

cottonhead wrote: »

.. The guy 'looked' at the boiler from the other side of the room and said it would be around £2500 - £3000

A real quality assessment.

cottonhead wrote: »

... He then said that it would help to sell the house if the new people know its a BG boiler installation ...

There is a word for that: "Liar"

cottonhead wrote: »

The qoute is not for pipes or repositioning - just the boiler and I guess a flush.

£2000 for a day's labour, a real bargain.

cottonhead wrote: »

Its been patched up so many times its just throwing good money at bad and even if it was possible to mend

Which Potterton do you have?

cottonhead wrote: »

I dont like that prospect of paying BG more than we have to but it might come down to finances. I dont have a spare £1800 so might have to do the dreaded BG finance option....

Add the interest to the already excessively expensive price, and you'll end up paying around £3000 for a mediocre boiler and a day's labour. I'm sure you can find a better option if you look around. Baxi offer boiler repairs coupled with a year's warranty iirc.

cottonhead

The Potterton we have is a Puma 80e. Have had so mnay problems with the printed circuit board ( had it changed 3 times in 6 years ) called the manufacturer as there is a known problme but they wont budge - say its a slightly different model to the one with the problem.

Yeah re the BG 'assessment' he didnt even get within 4 feet of the boiler - just looked at it from the other side of the room and asked me how old it was! So really they could have given me an estimate over the phone as I could have told them what boiler we have, how old it is and we want a new one !! I really dont like the thought of paying so much plus the interest and if we are moving. I agree with all of it. Just dont have the money aside to pay for a new boiler and we have no heating or hot water at the moment. New resolution - put money aside for emergencies !!

bengasman

The Puma is an extremely easy boiler to work on, IF you know what to look for; if you don't, it's a nightmare.
I've lost count of the amount of Puma owners that called me telling me they needed a new boiler, and they ALL still work.
Your best option is to find a local chap who knows them inside out. If you can do that, with proper care and maintenance you should get another 5 years out of it.