replacement Combi Boiler

partialycloudy

Hi all,

Lived in our flat for nearly five years now and have had a few issues and problems with the Combi boiler, had various people look at it over the years and various parts replaced. I think ultimately though it needs replacing.
However, the plumber I had round yesterday to fix the most recent problem said that new combi boilers need 22mm gas pipes and we only have 15mm gas pipes, the new boiler would also have to be attached to a drain. We are hoping to put the flat on the market this summer and have recently had the place re-decorated from top to bottom.
Is he right in saying we will need to have a new pipe installed (the gas meter is at the front of the property on ground level, our boiler is in the loft 2 stories up) or is there any other way around having new pipes put in and my nicely decorated flat being ripped apart!:mad:

Any help you can offer would be appreciated
Thanks

macman

Higher powered combis may need a larger supply pipe, yes.
All modern boilers are condensing and require connection to a drain or soakaway. If from the loft, then pressumably most of the pipe can be run externally-but must be properly insulated.
Why are you bothering with a new boiler if you are selling the flat though? You won't get your money back. Just make sure that the existing one is functioning.

Canucklehead

partialycloudy wrote: »

Hi all,

Lived in our flat for nearly five years now and have had a few issues and problems with the Combi boiler, had various people look at it over the years and various parts replaced. I think ultimately though it needs replacing.
However, the plumber I had round yesterday to fix the most recent problem said that new combi boilers need 22mm gas pipes and we only have 15mm gas pipes, the new boiler would also have to be attached to a drain. We are hoping to put the flat on the market this summer and have recently had the place re-decorated from top to bottom.
Is he right in saying we will need to have a new pipe installed (the gas meter is at the front of the property on ground level, our boiler is in the loft 2 stories up) or is there any other way around having new pipes put in and my nicely decorated flat being ripped apart!:mad:

Any help you can offer would be appreciated
Thanks

Hi: what model combi do you have now and is the proposed replacement? More on boiler replacement here.

Canucklehead

partialycloudy

The repair job done yesterday at £282 is just a patch up job. We have been told numerous times it needs replacing as apparently it is very old...its a Halstead, wickes brand I think. Its a bit annoying as when we bought the flat they said they boiler was new!
We don't WANT to get a new boiler but guy I had round yesterday replaced a part and warned us it might not last long.....but this is the only choice we had as dont want walls and floors being ripped up for a new gas pipe. If it lasts long enough for us to get out then all is good, but knowing our luck it wont.

HappyMJ

partialycloudy wrote: »

The repair job done yesterday at £282 is just a patch up job. We have been told numerous times it needs replacing as apparently it is very old...its a Halstead, wickes brand I think. Its a bit annoying as when we bought the flat they said they boiler was new!
We don't WANT to get a new boiler but guy I had round yesterday replaced a part and warned us it might not last long.....but this is the only choice we had as dont want walls and floors being ripped up for a new gas pipe. If it lasts long enough for us to get out then all is good, but knowing our luck it wont.

Worry about it then (when it's beyond repair). Don't overwork the boiler too much. Heating season is almost over so it'll only be used for water till later in the year.

Canucklehead

partialycloudy wrote: »

The repair job done yesterday at £282 is just a patch up job. We have been told numerous times it needs replacing as apparently it is very old...its a Halstead, wickes brand I think. Its a bit annoying as when we bought the flat they said they boiler was new!
We don't WANT to get a new boiler but guy I had round yesterday replaced a part and warned us it might not last long.....but this is the only choice we had as dont want walls and floors being ripped up for a new gas pipe. If it lasts long enough for us to get out then all is good, but knowing our luck it wont.

Which specific model of Halstead/Wickes version i.e. model number? A favourite of the DIY installer brigade/cheap property 'developers' and a travesty to the industry....expensive parts and unreliable.

Canucklehead

partialycloudy

Well I just wanted advice for if and when it does happen, the water temp is not that great (goes hot to luke warm) which we can live with but I don't know how long that will last.

Can we get a replacement that wont mean having to change the size of the gas pipe?

macman

As long as the boiler is working at the time of exchange then that's all you are required to do-you're not expected to supply a warranty on it!
New owners will probably want to redecorate anyway, that's the time to install the larger gas supply.

southcoastrgi

just to make you feel even better, halstead are the worst boiler ever made & if you have any work done on the boiler with regard to any gas part then the working pressure should have been taken at the boiler, if this working pressure is anymore than 1mb diff to the working pressure at the meter then the boiler is at risk anyway & should be shut off, if the working pressure is ok on your existing boiler then you should (hopefully & don't take this as gosple) be able to exchange it for a new boiler with the same output.