20 year old boiler problems

martyp

Hi all,
Please can someone advise what to do.
I moved into my shared ownership (50% owned by housing association) house in 2005. The glow-worm hot water express 80 combi boiler has as far as I know been there since the house was built.
Recently it started to not heat the tap water yet the central heating has always worked. I had it covered with a boiler policy but wheb the engineer came out he concluded it was too old to get the part anymore but I needed a flow switch.
He said it was easy to fit, turn off the water and a couple of screws. I managed to find the part cheaply but need it fitted.
Being this is my first house I never thought about getting it serviced either and due to its age it seems I can't get boiler cover. The engineer said it was in a bad way as there was a leak as well.
The housing association advise the work be done by a qualified engineer, gas safe I think. Thing is I know someone that repairs industrial boilers but can't find him on the gas safe register. He's a good trustworthy friend and knows his stuff well. He's offered to fit the part for me really cheaply or free.
This is obviously a much more attractive option than risking being ripped off with expensive rates from a local gas safe engineer who I don't know.
Also I'm worried now the boiler is getting worse as sometimes now it clicks and rumbles when turning the hot tap suggesting the flow switch worked but no hot water.
I have no idea how much an engineer might charge for a service either. I thought about having it done during the summer as they might be less busy and cheaper possibly?

thegasmon

why not get the orignal engineer back to replace the part?

you also do not need to be gas safe registerd to fix a water carrying part on a gas appliance if the work involved does not require "work" on a gas carrying component. So if the outer case does not form part of the combustion chamber then you will be able to fix it yourself.

Check the boilers instruction manual to see whats involved.

its sounds like you have neglected the appliance without having it serviced? this is why your boiler is probably in such a state and why you dont know a good engineer. I would suggest for yourself and your familys future safety to have all you gas appliances maintained correctly.

martyp

Many thanks thegasmon. The engineer that came out was from the major energy provider I had boiler cover with and my cover was cancelled after his visit and assessment. He wasn't a private engineer, although the company does do one off repairs I think. I don't know if they'd do it though if I supplied the part myself.
That's the thing about the neglect side as I didn't know about getting the boiler serviced or gas appliances checked. I had always rented before and was unaware of the need to do that. I'd say it was a bit like the ignorance some might have of buying a used car and not having the cambelt changed or something.
Now I know about it it's difficult. The big companies won't cover a boiler 20 years old and the engineer pointed out it maybe hadn't been serviced by the lady that lived here before either. He did consider it safe enough though and it wasn't condemned at least.
It's full of dust and muck and dead insects etc.
I tried a local groupon offer for a cheap boiler service and when calling the bloke he said he wouldn't do it as it was old. I tried emailing all the gas safe engineers in my area and none replied. I fear them charging me a huge amount due to the neglect.
Really good to know that part can be replaced by anyone though, that's reassuring.
There's also rust on the metal box containing the pcb board from the pipe just above where it's leaking slightly. The water had been accumulating in the bottom of the boiler case and evaporating.