Old boiler - what should I do please?

martyp

Hi all,
I have a Glow-worm Hot Water express 80 gas combi boiler which was in the house when I moved in in 2005 and I think has been there since the house was built in 1991.
In the last few winters it has played up a bit and I admit I haven't had it serviced since I moved here (I've not owned my own place before and didn't really know anything about boilers and servicing).
The problem that has got worse is that you turn the hot tap on and there isn't the normal click whirrrr noise when the boiler fires up. The central heating always works fine. I've found the following methods seems to get the hot water working again:
1) Tapping/thumping the boiler at the bottom or side
2) Hot water comes out when the central heating is turned on and then the hot water often works again after the central heating is turned off (you get the click -whirr response to the hot water tap being turned on)
I think it has been suggested it's the flow switch (or micro switch) that's the problem so have looked into getting hold of one of these.
I called up a local boiler engineer who was offering via an e-mail offer for a cheap boiler service. He said the issue could be sludge in the system and fixing one part of an old boiler could just result in another part failing, then another etc. A neighbour who repairs industrial boilers said that servicing an old boiler could lead to other problems but older boilers can be more reliable generally and it's best not to mess with them.
The boiler engineer I called also suggested the central heating might stop working next, the boiler could go completely. At the moment, even when the central heating is on, if the hot tap is on for maybe 30 seconds it starts to run cold.
I've considered getting one of those £15 or so a month cover deals with British Gas or somewhere and getting the servicing and repairs through that. I have 'home emergency' cover with my home insurance but the boiler isn't completely out of action and didn't think they'd do a full fix just a workaround for a short period.
I'm also paranoid about the boiler being condemned...
If anyone could advise and help me at all on what would be the best option I would really appreciate it.

muckybutt

You could look at the warmfront scheme if you are on benefits ? certain benefits and they will install a new efficent boiler free of charge and alter pipework replace rads etc upto £3.5k I think the cut off is.

Both my mother in law and dad have both had their systems replaced as they get pension credits.

Just google warm front to see if you qualify.

martyp

muckybutt wrote: »

You could look at the warmfront scheme if you are on benefits ? certain benefits and they will install a new efficent boiler free of charge and alter pipework replace rads etc upto £3.5k I think the cut off is.

Both my mother in law and dad have both had their systems replaced as they get pension credits.

Just google warm front to see if you qualify.

Thanks muckybutt but I don't think I'd qualify at the moment. I might be losing my job in the new year so if that happens I'll look into it although it seems to suggest I need to have a central heating breakdown though according to the website:
"To qualify, you must be getting certain income-related benefits, live in a property that is poorly insulated and/or not have a working central heating system."
I did see some guys offering a new boiler for free with 2 years guarantee in a local shopping centre. I didn't dare approach them as I didn't want a salesman to start pestering me. It was like some kind of monthly installment/savings scheme or something like that which is quite possibly some kind of expensive option in the long run...

I could potentially get £400 towards a new boiler on this scheme:
http://www.nihe.gov.uk/index/benefits/boiler_replacement_allowance.htm

I think many boiler cover policies give good discounts if replacing an old boiler though which might be more than that...

DUTR

martyp wrote: »

Thanks muckybutt but I don't think I'd qualify at the moment. I might be losing my job in the new year so if that happens I'll look into it although it seems to suggest I need to have a central heating breakdown though according to the website:
"To qualify, you must be getting certain income-related benefits, live in a property that is poorly insulated and/or not have a working central heating system."
I did see some guys offering a new boiler for free with 2 years guarantee in a local shopping centre. I didn't dare approach them as I didn't want a salesman to start pestering me. It was like some kind of monthly installment/savings scheme or something like that which is quite possibly some kind of expensive option in the long run...

I could potentially get £400 towards a new boiler on this scheme:
http://www.nihe.gov.uk/index/benefits/boiler_replacement_allowance.htm

I think many boiler cover policies give good discounts if replacing an old boiler though which might be more than that...

Boiler for free? I don't think so, an you were right to avoid, it is difficult to give a cost effective suggestion on this board, boiler being old ? I have been in this house over 20 years and the boiler was here before I purchased it, I have seen the neighbours go through 3 or 4 boilers in that time (central heating boilers) , don't you know anybody in the trade to help you?

martyp

DUTR wrote: »

Boiler for free? I don't think so, an you were right to avoid, it is difficult to give a cost effective suggestion on this board, boiler being old ? I have been in this house over 20 years and the boiler was here before I purchased it, I have seen the neighbours go through 3 or 4 boilers in that time (central heating boilers) , don't you know anybody in the trade to help you?

Sorry free was probably a bad term, it was something like 'pay nothing now' and you pay over a period of time. It sounded dodgy anyway and I didn't want to look as they jump on you when they see you looking!
I've heard of people having issues with new boilers and saying their old boiler was more reliable etc. Unfortunately I don't really know many people in the area at all as I moved across the country some years ago and only really know people through my workplace (ironically a big utilities company that does have a boiler repairs division but I don't personally know anyone in that area). My next door neighbour repairs industrial boilers, not domestic ones but could take a look I think.

southcoastrgi

if the boiler is over 10 yrs old you prob won't get monthly cover with BG or Corgi

martyp

I've heard on here about BG condemning boilers ruthlessly and overcharging for boiler replacement but that's probably just a few negative cases. I work for a major utilities company that actually does a boiler cover service but I don't get my utilities from me so am enquiring inhouse so to speak... like you say though they might not cover a boiler of that age.

southcoastrgi

martyp wrote: »

I've heard on here about BG condemning boilers ruthlessly and overcharging for boiler replacement but that's probably just a few negative cases

errr no slightly more than a few cases i'm afraid

StinkerPinker

My Ideal Mexico Super 3 is now 14 years old. It's a big floor standing non-high efficiency, non-condensing boiler, but it's so simple internally that it never goes wrong, year in year out. BG come once a year to clean it without comment except the usual stuff about the flu outlet being too near the back door. I reckon it's saved me money despite the low efficiency due to modern boilers needing so much servicing etc.