A New Boiler - or not?

highguyuk

Struggling at the moment on the right decision to make.

Recently bought our new property. Reasonably compact 2 bed 1980s semi, with a Glow-Worn Fuelsaver Mk 2 Boiler powering only 6 radiators (although I'm not sure where I'd install any further rads). The boiler has given us no grief in the 6 months we've been here, although the house is a little cold. I'd estimate the boiler is in the region of 30 years old and is mounted on an external wall in the Kitchen. We also have an immersion.

My plan was always to run the old boiler until it failed, and then invest in another. But, with the new GDHIF and the £500 uplift I'll be eligible for until December, I'm now looking into replacing.

Firstly - would you replace at all?

Secondly - where do I start? I haven't a clue about what new boiler to purchase! Is there anywhere to read up on it all and understand before I start getting local engineers in to quote? I feel like I'm undertaking a big decision (lots of money!!!) without knowing enough.

TIA

cyclonebri1

Probably every installer will give you a different answer too.

It's often said that the cheapest option is to stick with what you have until it fails,
My own boiler was replaced about 6 weeks ago largely because I wanted peace of mind and because I could afford it, not an unreasonable reason for many.

The old boiler was a Glowworm combi that had run faultlessly for 17 years, I replaced it with another GW.

Look very carefully at the green deal thing, it's not what it seems and isn't without draw backs

Procrastinator333

We moved in to a house. It had a 20 year old boiler that was working fine. But, it was 20 years old, not very efficient and we had the cash / were prepared for the mess now. So we replaced it.

If you are going to replace, most will recomend a combi boiler. A combi heats both the heating and the hotw ater as you use it. So you have no tanks in the loft or airing cupboard etc. Advantages are that it is likely more efficient and takes up less space. But, if it breaks, you have no back up and no hot water.

Personally I like Worcester Bosch. Get an accredited installer and you get long parts & labour guarantee's too. Our's is fully covered for 8 years.

Just get a few people in, ask them what they think, get some quotes and see where you are.

highguyuk

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

The old boiler was a Glowworm combi that had run faultlessly for 17 years, I replaced it with another GW.

Look very carefully at the green deal thing, it's not what it seems and isn't without draw backs

I haven't seen or heard anyone recommending Glow Worm Boilers, all seems to be Worcester and Valiant.

Intrigued to your comments regarding Green Deal though, I don't see the drawbacks in GDHIF that there were in GD Cashback.

Procrastinator333 wrote: »

We moved in to a house. It had a 20 year old boiler that was working fine. But, it was 20 years old, not very efficient and we had the cash / were prepared for the mess now. So we replaced it.

If you are going to replace, most will recomend a combi boiler. A combi heats both the heating and the hotw ater as you use it. So you have no tanks in the loft or airing cupboard etc. Advantages are that it is likely more efficient and takes up less space. But, if it breaks, you have no back up and no hot water.

Personally I like Worcester Bosch. Get an accredited installer and you get long parts & labour guarantee's too. Our's is fully covered for 8 years.

Just get a few people in, ask them what they think, get some quotes and see where you are.

Worcester Bosch are recommended everywhere - but unfortunately they are late to the market with a Flue Gas Recovery version which is not yet available (suggested early next year). I'd need this resolving by November to qualify for the additional £500.

Robin9

I replaced mine by a Valliant and cut bills by 25%

At 20 years probably coming towards the end of its life -

southcoastrgi

highguyuk wrote: »

Worcester Bosch are recommended everywhere - but unfortunately they are late to the market with a Flue Gas Recovery version which is not yet available (suggested early next year). I'd need this resolving by November to qualify for the additional £500.

NO WB are marketed everywhere, there is a big difference,
Abit like BG just because you see them every 5 mins on the TV doesn't make their engineers any better than an independant

captainhindsight_2

The GDHIF is a great opportunity to save a load of money, you are basically going to spend an extra £500 for the flue gas heat recovery to get £1500 back.

Or another way to look at it is you are going to get the materials for free then you just have to pay for the fitting.

Of the two boiler you mentioned WB and Vaillant you have to have the Vaillant as WB are the only manufacturer that don't make a flue gas heat recovery.

And yes replace the boiler, if its ancient it is going to be cost effective even with out the GDHIF. Trying to keep an old boiler running on its last legs is just a false economy.

The GDHIF will prob be gone by October/November, there is only £120m allocated to this scheme and its going fast and it would be a shame to miss out.

There are no draw backs with the GDHIF, people get it confused with GD finance which it is not!

And you can use local companies and tradesmen who have become GD certified or are a part of a GD company.

cyclonebri1

highguyuk wrote: »

I haven't seen or heard anyone recommending Glow Worm Boilers, all seems to be Worcester and Valiant.

If you check you will now find Glowworm and Valliant are the same group, so guess they dip in the same parts bin as many now do.

I would never recommend someone what to fit, but given I have supplied a dozen or so boilers to various friends and family over the years, (mate got staff discount from GW), I can only comment and say there hasn't been a major issue with any of them to my knowledge. Others are likely as good maybe better but I only comment from experience not heresay;)


Regarding GD I read ;

11 How does GDHIF work with
Green Deal Finance?
• The GDHIF is designed to work alongside
Green Deal Finance to help to meet the
upfront costs of installing energy saving
improvements. Green Deal Providers can
discuss the options and provide more
information to householders.

as another tie in to a longterm costly financial project

captainhindsight_2

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

If you check you will now find Glowworm and Valliant are the same group, so guess they dip in the same parts bin as many now do.

I would never recommend someone what to fit, but given I have supplied a dozen or so boilers to various friends and family over the years, (mate got staff discount from GW), I can only comment and say there hasn't been a major issue with any of them to my knowledge. Others are likely as good maybe better but I only comment from experience not heresay;)


Regarding GD I read ;

11 How does GDHIF work with
Green Deal Finance?
• The GDHIF is designed to work alongside
Green Deal Finance to help to meet the
upfront costs of installing energy saving
improvements. Green Deal Providers can
discuss the options and provide more
information to householders.

as another tie in to a longterm costly financial project

There is no tie in with the Green Deal home improvement fund.

Say installing a boiler and flue gas heat recovery costs 2500 you pay 2500 and get 1500 back after the work is completed end cost is 1000. It's that simple, no tie in.

If you havnt got that 1000 you can use green deal finance to pay that 1000 which is a loan which can be as short or as long as you like (upto 12 years)

Don't go to a green deal provider go to a green deal installer.

Gloomendoom

Robin9 wrote: »

I replaced mine by a Valliant and cut bills by 25%

At 20 years probably coming towards the end of its life -

Ours is nearly 40 years old.

tired_dad

30y old boiler here. Works flawlessly. Old conventional boilers are reliable. Little electronics, a gas valve, thermostat etc. I'll change it but only when it's broken.

Might be inefficient but the difference is smallive yet to hear if modern boilers will see working lives of 20-40 years