Combi boiler

von

Have been advised by my heating engineer who has come to fix my central heating that a combi boiler is more efficient and I would save money on gas bills compared to what I have, which is a 1980s Baxi system. He wasn't particularly trying to sell it but just thought I should know.
Is he correct as I don't know whether he's just trying to sell me something I don't need?

The problem with the heating system is that it makes quite loud muffled thumps when it goes off, is generally pretty noisy all round as the boiler is behind the fireplace in the living room and three radiators upstairs come on even when the heating is off (but the water is on).

I cold called the heating engineer from the Gas Safe register website as I could only find one other heating engineer locally who actually turned up and basically wanted one of my arms and legs to fix the system, am I ok in doing this do you think?

Any help/guidance will be helpful.

von

Sorry if this post is in the wrong place, hopefully the mods will move it a more appropriate place if it is. Thanks.

cyclonebri1

Your boiler is now over 20, maybe 25 years old, things have moved on, do you now think he's right????

Or do you still drive a Cortina :D:D

von

My view is if I had a Cortina and it still took me from A to B without breaking down why change it?

Itsgottabedone

My 80s back boiler was working OK and passed as safe by gas engineers, but both warned me that several of the component parts were obsolete. There was a certain amount of noise whilst it was firing up, and I decided to bite the bullet and pay for new combi boiler instead of waiting for the day when the back boiler broke down (which would of course be in the middle of the coldest winter in living memory when all the good gas engineers were run off their feet with work!). Eight months on I am very pleased with the new boiler - lower consumption of gas, no irritating noise, more space in the airing cupboard where hot water cylinder was and masses of hot water at any time. You'll need to consider where you'll site the new boiler (need to vent it through an outside wall), and I would definitely recommend making the change if you can afford to have the job done.

amcluesent

I don't know whether he's just trying to sell me something I don't need?

Of course he is! A combi is 'worth' a call out at least once a year to him when the circuit board 'blows', the plate gets corroded or the condensate pipe freezes up. Just add Fernox F2 boiler noise silencer to your current set-up.

shown73

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Whose to say that the new combi won't break down, as many do, at the same awkward time. It would certainly use less gas, but how many years would it take to recoup the cost of the change? I'm not a luddite, I just wonder sometimes about the true cost of new technology. Some components are now unavailable, that's true, but that also applies to some combi boilers. It's not an easy decision.

alanobrien

The post above is correct things have moved on in 20 years, unfortunately not all for the better. Boilers today are significantly more complex and less reliable than they were back then. If it isn't costing a fortune to run and it isn't broken some boiler noise silencer is your best bet.

cyclonebri1

von wrote: »

My view is if I had a Cortina and it still took me from A to B without breaking down why change it?

Because it would certainly be a rust bucket, a dinosaur in technical terms, and use 3 times more fuel than the best available today.
A bit like the old boiler.

The new boiler/car would be safer and more controlled and more economical.

I'd drive a cortina, but I wouldn't rely on it.;);)

But I have re thought this and the time to replace is when your faced with the big repair or can't get parts, whether that time is now?, I don't know.;)

von

Thanks for your help everyone, especially Itsgottabedone as my gas bills are quite high compared to other peoples.

One of the reasons he mentioned the combi boiler was because he wanted to see the gas meter and when I opened it the numbers were whizzing around and I was amazed at how much gas I was using just by having the hot water on.

I suppose I can afford to have it replaced at the moment and if i don't have it done you can bet your bottom dollar that it will break down in the middle of winter and at a time when I can't afford it.

macman

A combi boiler is not inherently more efficient. A condensing boiler is, which any new domestic install will be, whether combi or conventional. I think you are confusing the two.
Whether you choose a combi or conventional depends on whether you want stored hot water or not.