New boiler or stick with 18 year old one ?

techno12

I'd stick with it until it dies.

I've got an old Potterton that has had various repairs over the years but still going strong, albeit a bit noisy.

Haven't clicked the heating on yet as it's not cold enough.

I looked into getting a new boiler a few years ago but the gas regs have changed and I need a fatter pipe into my flat, ripping up all the floors and walls and costing £1000s.

haz25a

Keep it! That's my advice anyway for what it's worth. I just gave up a 12 year old Worcestor Bosch boiler for a new condensing Potterton one. It didn't cost me a penny as it was installed by British Gas (Don't even go there!) under the Affordable Warmth Scheme.

If I could turn back the clock, I would. I don't like the new condensing boilers. As for BG, I'm surprised their engineers have still got the sheet brass neck with that old one liner about not getting parts. They started to tell me that the minute my old boiler turned 10 years old. I just laugh in their face now when they come away with all their ridiculous sales patter.

If you do decide to get a new one, DO NOT let BG install it!

schrodie

ihatemyhouse wrote: »

true it wont be efficient as a new boiler, but will a new boiler make you saving of 1700 and over how long, if it aint broke don't replace it

glowworm as a big company,

This has always been my argument. We were quoted £3000 for a new boiler system to replace our 20+ year old boiler which still works fine. Even if we saved £200 a year in energy costs it would take 15 years to recoup my investment!!

diywhynot

What is the model of your current Glow-worm? Best bet is to tuck away some cash each month for when the time comes and it always does.;)

ExtraMask

With a lot of experience in the energy industry and dealing with calculations on consumption figures day in day out, I see a vast amount of people saving on energy bills from fitting a new boiler.

The main factor would be your consumption over the year. If you're using a lot of gas you'll benefit from a new boiler, if you're using less than 20,000 kWh you'll not break even on savings over costs for a fair few years.

Road_Hog

Another one for, keep it.


Old boilers work well and last for yonks.


New boilers cost shedloads and last no longer than 10 years. Just get a decent service from an independent gas safe engineer.

Cardew

schrodie wrote: »

This has always been my argument. We were quoted £3000 for a new boiler system to replace our 20+ year old boiler which still works fine. Even if we saved £200 a year in energy costs it would take 15 years to recoup my investment!!

In strictly economic terms it will take a lot longer, as if you spend £3,000 from savings, you will lose the interest that could be obtained in a long term saving account.

If you have to borrow the money, it is even worse.

I_have_spoken

If you have to borrow the money, it is even worse.

It would never pay, the design life of a combi is 10 years. They use "special" steel to ensure this.

Cardew

ExtraMask wrote: »

With a lot of experience in the energy industry and dealing with calculations on consumption figures day in day out, I see a vast amount of people saving on energy bills from fitting a new boiler.

The main factor would be your consumption over the year. If you're using a lot of gas you'll benefit from a new boiler, if you're using less than 20,000 kWh you'll not break even on savings over costs for a fair few years.

Well let us look at some figures.

With a daily standing charge for gas, you only have to consider the cost of a kWh. I have just started a new tariff(fixed to 2015) and pay 3.387p/kWh(including VAT and excluding discounts).

There are still lots of tariffs - fixed until 2015 where gas costs well under 4p/kWh. But to be on the safe side let us use 4p/kWh as the price.

So cost of gas :

16,500kWh = £660 - 16,500kWh is national average.

20,000kWh = £800

30,000kWh = £1,200

40,000kWh = £1,600

We now have to estimate the saving of new condensing boiler over an old boiler.

Even 30 year old non-condensing boilers have a SEDBUK rating 65% efficiency or more. Whilst new condensing boilers can have a theoretical efficiency of 90%, that is only achieved in condensing mode. The consensus of opinion from all reports I have seen is that figure is rather like car manufacturer's MPG figures - rarely achieved in practice.

So let us use a reduction of 20% in gas costs.

So savings will be:

16,500kWh = £132pa

20,000kWh = £160

30,000kWh = £240

40,000kWh = £320

Let us take a figure of £3,000 to replace a boiler. As stated above, even in these days of low interest rates you will still lose at least £60 a year in interest; or pay a lot more if you borrow.

Worth changing? You decide.

schrodie

Cardew wrote: »

In strictly economic terms it will take a lot longer, as if you spend £3,000 from savings, you will lose the interest that could be obtained in a long term saving account.

If you have to borrow the money, it is even worse.

Exactly, so until this faithful old boiler finally gives up the ghost I'll keep the money in my savings account.