Floor mounted boiler needs replacing. **UPDATED WITH QUOTES**

Brallaqueen

Hello everyone. I'm afraid that I am in need of some advice when it comes to quotes and repairs, as I've not had to deal with it before and it makes me very anxious

Basically, my gloworm hideaway 40b boiler has had a part go ping. Though it still works, it will not pass any safety tests. This part is no longer manufactured so the whole thing will need replacing and I have been saving up for this over the winter.

I live in a 2 bed 1 bath old 60s built ex LA flat. Radiators are modernish (flat, not round). Location is east mids.

1) Will I need to get another floor mounted boiler, or can a new one be installed higher up on the wall like 'normal' boilers?

2) if it can be installed on the wall, what will happen to the spot where the boiler is? I'm guessing there will be a hole in the wall left from pipes etc, not sure if this is something I will have to sort?

3) I'm in a first floor flat - will this impact on getting a new boiler fitted? Will scaffolding be needed?

4) What will happen to the big water tank in my bathroom cupboard? Will this be taken out too? what about holes etc?

5) the chappie who tried to repair the boiler mentioned that it will struggle with a combi as the flats are quite old (60s) and the system will need flushing a few times. Should I worry about this?

6) What kind of boiler, and price, should I be expecting to be quoted? I know this is a difficult one to answer, the chappie mentioned vaillant, i have also heard about worcester?

I'm sorry for all the questions, but I don't want to rely on my brothers to fix this as I nortmally do, I'm 30 I should be able to do this (but my anxiety doesn't help)

UPDATED - Quotes are in, please can you advise? See post #20

Canucklehead

Basically, my gloworm hideaway 40b boiler has had a part go ping. Though it still works, it will not pass any safety tests. This part is no longer manufactured so the whole thing will need replacing and I have been saving up for this over the winter.

I trust you are not using the boiler if it won't pass any safety tests? What went 'ping'?

1) Will I need to get another floor mounted boiler, or can a new one be installed higher up on the wall like 'normal' boilers?

A new boiler will usually wall mounted.

2) if it can be installed on the wall, what will happen to the spot where the boiler is? I'm guessing there will be a hole in the wall left from pipes etc, not sure if this is something I will have to sort?

The installer should make good (or arrange to) as part of the deal.

3) I'm in a first floor flat - will this impact on getting a new boiler fitted? Will scaffolding be needed?

Health and Safety would require scaffolding of some sort.

4) What will happen to the big water tank in my bathroom cupboard? Will this be taken out too? what about holes etc?

If you convert to a combi then it will all come out. Any holes from pipework would be yours to fill I suspect.

5) the chappie who tried to repair the boiler mentioned that it will struggle with a combi as the flats are quite old (60s) and the system will need flushing a few times. Should I worry about this?

Yes he should know if the water supply will support the flow and pressure required to run a combi.
If you have old existing pipework in floor screed or under a suspended wood floor it may not hold up under the pressure that a new sealed system works at.

6) What kind of boiler, and price, should I be expecting to be quoted? I know this is a difficult one to answer, the chappie mentioned vaillant, i have also heard about worcester?

Given the choice I would have a Vaillant.

Your 'chappie' should have explained a lot of this.

Brallaqueen

Thank you very much for your response Canucklehead. Much appreciated!

The boiler works but is burning too much fuel - I have been assured that it is safe to use but won't pass any safety tests due to this. The bit that allows you to adjust the amount of fuel being burnt (valve?) is the bit that has gone ping and is not being made any more.

The chappie thought he could find a second hand spare online but unfortunately he has not been able to, so we didn't go over much of this while he was here as we thought it was a solvable problem.

I now need to get some quotes on for a replacement, and I feel better equipped now so thank you again!

southcoastrgi

if it is burning too much gas & it wouldn't pass any safety tests then it ISN'T SAFE, you need to get another RGI to look at it ASAP.

if it is indeed the gas valve that needs replacing then this is available here

macman

You may or may not need a new boiler. You most definitely need a new RGI. As above, it's either 'safe' (in which case it will pass safety checks) or it isn't. If it isn't, then it was his duty to disconnect it there and then. Is this 'chappie' GSR?

Brallaqueen

Hi everyone, I'm getting quotes to replace the boiler this week. Had one this morning who seemed a viable option - local, est. since the 80s, said straight up he would not be the cheapest quote but would provide a good after-service .


just to add that the chap who said it was safe to use is a british gas man so is registered gas safe. He said that the boiler works and does not leak any CO (I have a detector too) it is just burning more fuel than the guidelines recommend. If I hadn't needed the certificate there would be no problem.

Thank you for the link to the spares but that part doesn't fit - already tried. My boiler needs a valve with the connectors on the bottom which is the discontinued version.

macman

This still makes no sense. No 'certificate' is needed in respect of the fuel efficiency, and an inefficient boiler can still be a perfectly safe one. This sounds like a BG GSR talking you into getting a quote for a new boiler-you are aware that they receive a commission for this?
BG typically charge 40% more than a local independent for an install.
Have you asked the independent for his opinion on the condition of the boiler and whether he can source the parts? BG often fail to find the parts that others can easily reach...

Brallaqueen

thanks macman - I rent a room out and need the gas safe certificate, both bg and independent were unable to give me one on this boiler. The BG guy was the one who said it was fine to use domestically but wouldn't pass a LL safety test.

the independent was a local trading standards approved gas man - he was gloworm approved and was unable to source the correct part as it was made obsolete. He also stuck an at risk sticker on it.

I would love it if I didn't have to get a new boiler but it seems I have to!

macman

I repeat, it's either safe or it's not! How can it be safe for you if it's not safe for your tenants?
There is no such thing as a 'trading standards-approved gas man'. The only qualification that matters for RGI's is GSR.
On what basis did the independent declare it at risk?

southcoastrgi

Brallaqueen wrote: »

The BG guy was the one who said it was fine to use domestically but wouldn't pass a LL safety test

complete crap, there is no difference whether you are a landlord or not, as mm said it's either safe or it's not, did this BG guy do the test as part of BG or on the side ? if he works as an employee for BG (ie not a sub-contractor) then doesn't have his own GS reg as BG employee's aren't allowed to have their own GS reg so anything he did was illegal

Leif

macman wrote: »

I repeat, it's either safe or it's not! How can it be safe for you if it's not safe for your tenants?
There is no such thing as a 'trading standards-approved gas man'. The only qualification that matters for RGI's is GSR.
On what basis did the independent declare it at risk?

The OP probably means that the gas engineer is on a list of approved installers maintained by Trading Standards.

Do note that if you buy a boiler from someone who is approved by the manufacturer, you sometimes get an extended warranty. With Worcester Bosch you get 5 years instead of 2. Mind you, from conversations I've had with those in the trade, being approved is sometimes/always no more than a money making scheme, presumably the installer pays the manufacturer to be on the scheme.