New boiler advice

SnowMan

I've got a 23 year old boiler (Ideal W2000).

It has never broken down and never needed any new parts. So I take the view (with fingers crossed) that it will continue to work without problems. I don't think a new boiler would be any more reliable. Don't worry too much about the 'parts' thing that is just to cover them if something did go that couldn't be replaced perhaps on some old boilers the seal that attaches the boiler to the wall leaking. For parts British Gas have a worse category than for your boiler to the effect that parts are not available at all.

A neighbour (with the same boiler as me) had a new condenser boiler fitted and the pipe on the outside froze over because British Gas hadn't insulated it. He wishes he had stuck with the old boiler.

I think my boiler is rated F or G on energy efficiency (they didn't used to measure it when the boiler was available so that is their best guess). However the saving by getting a new more efficient boiler is unlikely to be justified by the capital cost of a new boiler. You can do the sums if you wish by comparing the energy efficiency rating of your boiler with a new boiler.

To state the obvious make sure you take into account that if you get a new boiler now rather than in 5 years time that new boiler will need replacing 5 years earlier than if you held out for 5 years.

Or put another way divide the cost of the new boiler by it's likely lifetime and add on a bit for the fact that you are paying a capital sum now rather than getting a saving gradually in future years (if you are having to borrow to fund the cost of a new boiler add on a big bit). So the capital cost of getting a new boiler now rather than delaying, may well be equivalent to an annual cost in the region of £200 or more.

Should say I am no expert on this, but that's my take on it

C_Mababejive

Surfing_spaniel wrote: »

Its a Glow worm Economy F. I dread to think how old it is

So its a Glow worm Fuelsaver..white box with brown tray on bottom....i wouldnt worry about it if it still works. It isnt that old..

Surfing_spaniel

Thanks everyone :beer: I rang BG & they said the £10 price for Homecare 200 is for new customers, I asked if I closed the account how long before I'm a new customer again, she said 3 months. Well my contract ends in November so I'll end it then but think I'll just save it for an annual call out. If it aint broke dont fix it seems to be best advice so I dont think I'll change it

jalexa

Surfing_spaniel wrote: »

Thanks everyone :beer: I rang BG & they said the £10 price for Homecare 200 is for new customers

See item #8 in Martin's newsletter.

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/latesttip/#tip_email

ollski

Glowworm fuelsavers are one of the worst boilers to suffer for lack of servicing. They have an aluminium low water content heat exchanger which blocks up the fins very easily. If it's not cleaned fairly regularly the co levels go through the roof. I very often do a first co test on this model and get levels in the 1000's of ppm co. That said the only parts which regularly fail are thermocouples, overheat thermostats, gas valves and pump overrun thermostats. I guess bg cover your rads, valves, pumps, cylinder, tanks and pipes too so that needs a bit of factoring in.

muddybloke

Hi,

My boiler is on the way out and I need to get a new one. Has anyone got any recommendations of who to use to get a decent quote? - Doesnt seem very easy to actually find a company that installs them by searching the web? - Npower have stopped doing them it seems and British Gas seem to over charge?

Any advice appriciated!

ollski

muddybloke wrote: »

Hi,

Npower have stopped doing them it seems and British Gas seem to over charge?

Any advice appriciated!

muddybloke my best advice would be to create your own experience. Bg may give you a high or a low price, who knows without trying?.
Also friends and family recommendations and then a couple of numbers off vans in your area who seem to be out and about alot.

muddybloke

ollski wrote: »

muddybloke my best advice would be to create your own experience. Bg may give you a high or a low price, who knows without trying?.
Also friends and family recommendations and then a couple of numbers off vans in your area who seem to be out and about alot.

Well british gas came aound and quoted me for just a combi boiler, £4200, there was a £400 discount for the boiler - so is now £3800, but still, thats way too expensive and most places do the £400 discount. So yeah they do sound expensive. Ive heard it should roughly be about £2500.

I finally found this webite to get some local traders...

Which-Compare.co.uk

and they contacted me with a couple of new appointment with some good looking companies, so ill see how they compare.

jalexa

muddybloke wrote: »

so is now £3800, but still, thats way too expensive

At the end of the day you have to pay the price of the quote you eventually accept and you get [only] the workscope described in the quote.

As far as finding installers, mainstream boiler manufacturers e.g. Worcester Bosch, Vaillant or (to make up 3) Vokera, have a "Find an Installer" link on their websites.

espresso

muddybloke wrote: »

Hi,

My boiler is on the way out and I need to get a new one. Has anyone got any recommendations of who to use to get a decent quote? - Doesnt seem very easy to actually find a company that installs them by searching the web? - Npower have stopped doing them it seems and British Gas seem to over charge?

Any advice appriciated!

Avoid companies like nPower and BG. It is easy to get several quotes from local registered gas installers - see here

ollski wrote: »

Bg may give you a high or a low price, who knows without trying?.

Only you apparently!

I have known BG quote four times the price of a local RGI for exactly the same work.