Do we need to replace boiler?

mkbadboy

Hi,

We are having a 15 year old boiler and we have BG Homecare 400. Boiler started giving problem recently and called out BG engineer to look at it. He reckons that it is due to sludge and needs to be flushed out. Also, he reckons that it is worth considering to replace a boiler as new boilers are more energy efficient.

BG is quoting
1) £900 just to flush out the sludge or
2) £3000 to replace the boiler, flush out the sludge, and parts and labour.

Now I am in the dilema of whether to replace the boiler or just get the sludge out of the system. Your suggestion is much appreciated.

Thank You

HappyMJ

Just pay to get the sludge out but find a cheaper quote than £900. It is most of a day's work but it should not cost that much.

martinthebandit

HappyMJ wrote: »

Just pay to get the sludge out but find a cheaper quote than £900. It is most of a day's work but it should not cost that much.

Is the right answer.

And get to know a good local plumber, you will find that his charges will be about half that of BG.

DUTR

HappyMJ wrote: »

Just pay to get the sludge out but find a cheaper quote than £900. It is most of a day's work but it should not cost that much.

martinthebandit wrote: »

Is the right answer.

And get to know a good local plumber, you will find that his charges will be about half that of BG.

I agree the cost of a new boiler will never pay for itself, even at half the cost of what BG want to flush the CH system, seems very high, the task can be DIY.

jobbingmusician

OH (ex domestic appliance engineer) agrees with the above - although he says a 15 yr old boiler is likely to be knackered. Shouldn't take more than 4 hours to flush.

Ben84

I'd be hoping for more than 15 years. We just had a boiler from the early 70s replaced. It was running ok, but had an increasing number of issues. Our last house had a similar age boiler that worked fine too. So, they can last a good while.

C_Mababejive

How did the system get sludged in the first place?

ollski

oh dear what appalling advice given on the (lack of) detail. Bg are more expensive for a powerflush as they give a lifetime guarantee as long as some service contract is maintained, they also repipe if required and sounds for that price as if a filter in included. They also don't quote for system size it is fixed. We don't know the type of boiler, type of system, type of property or indeed number of radiators so to give any more advice than this is impossible.

ihateyes

jobbingmusician wrote: »

Shouldn't take more than 4 hours to flush.

generally a proper flush is a days job. 4hrs seems to short.

HappyMJ

ollski wrote: »

oh dear what appalling advice given on the (lack of) detail. Bg are more expensive for a powerflush as they give a lifetime guarantee as long as some service contract is maintained, they also repipe if required and sounds for that price as if a filter in included. They also don't quote for system size it is fixed. We don't know the type of boiler, type of system, type of property or indeed number of radiators so to give any more advice than this is impossible.

Agreed...BG are way more expensive and the lifetime guarantee only applies if a service contract with BG is taken out adding further to the costs. Get quotes with a local supplier and it could be much less than £900 and who cares about the lifetime guarantee. A 15 year old boiler although old and probably inefficient is not worth replacing whilst it is still working. The payback time would exceed the estimated life of the boiler which is 15 years so if this boiler can be coaxed into getting the owner another 5 or so years out of it with little maintenance costs then it is money saved. The boiler should still have annual safety checks and a quick service and whilst there most half decent RGI's will give you an idea if it is still running OK each year.