House purchase - thoughts on old boiler

jennifernil

DS_livewire wrote: »

The house has its own water tank - and its a Myson Apollo boiler, so its not a combi. Which would put it in the upper end of cost if it needed replacement I think?

I would not expect a new system boiler to cost any more than a new combi boiler.

With the system we have, with plenty of stored HW, we would be very unlikely to run out of HW.

Better_Days

OP what is the make and model of the boiler and how do you know that parts are impossible to obtain?

We have an oil boiler which is nearly 30 years old. When I had it serviced I was advised to hang on to it as parts are easy to get and it is a reliable model. I recognise it is not as effecient as a new boiler, but it is not worth paying out thousands for a new one when this one is working fine.

Certainly get your boiler serviced before you start using it when you move in. And dont forget to get a carbon monoxide alarm. If it is working ok see how you get on over the winter, now is probably not a good time to be thinking about getting your boiler replaced, you may have to wait a while as heating engineers are likely to busy this time of year.

Better_Days

Oh and winter 2012/13 we lived in a rental house which had a new boiler in the garage. Bloomin' thing. Every night when the temperature dropped to below freezing it wouldn't come on in the morning and I had to go and get it going. The LL paid out over £3,000 while we were there (are some very good LL's!) trying to get the heating system fixed, but I suspect this winter the problem will return.

Crystallady

We bought a buy to let last year with a floor standing 1970's boiler which was in the middle of the kitchen. As we needed the space we decided to change it to a Worcester combi boiler and shift it into the bathroom. The only thing we didn't expect was that the new system was pressurised and the old rads wouldn't take it so had to change all the rads too. Cost us around £3k for the lot.

ibizafan_2

I also have a Potterton Netaheat, which is now 37 years old and serviced annually by British Gas. The engineers always tell me how good these boilers are, and although it isn't very efficient by modern standards, it has only ever needed parts replacing a couple of times, so I'll keep it a while longer!

HUMBUG

Potterton Netaheat is on a list of boilers that contain Asbestos (like my old Glow-worm that's been shut down). I was considering hiring 'Mike the Boilerman' to fix it (he has a website as he fixes old 80's and 90's boilers - doesn't do installs) but he won't touch anything with 'Friable Asbestos' . So I think I have no option but to get a new boiler installed but all these other building regulations are really stressing me out . If you get a new boiler you must then have new standard gas pipe widths from the mains to the boiler, new pre-lagged Hot Water Tank must be installed, TRV's must be installed in the sleeping areas, if any electrics involved they also have to pass new regulated checks or new wiring required. The costs go up and up and up. I thought I'd budget for max £2k but now I'm getting quotes for £4.3k (inc vat) . Makes one almost afraid to have a boiler serviced in case they put one of those stickers on it (like mine) and then you are truly stuffed!!! Further, if you have kitchen units built around one of these old boilers you probably don't have the mandatory clearances to other fixed walls /cabinets sides , etc (and the service engineer will report it to the authorities to ensure you fix the issues). Which then means having to relocate boiler or remove the units (more dosh!) . Quite soon people will be unable to afford a new gas boiler with all these extras that are now mandatory. For example, why must I have to replace a perfectly okay copper hot water tank when I get a new boiler . Seems like madness!!!!

kinger101

You've little chance of getting a reduction IMO. You could see it was an old boiler before you made the offer. Vendors are only likely to negotiate if something costly and unexpected turns up.

I think you're putting yourself in a risky position if you have no rainy day funds after the house purchase.

xylophone

Potterton Netaheat is on a list of boilers that contain Asbestos

My Netaheat has been serviced by the installers ( third generation family firm/ gas safe registered etc) for the past 28 years and no engineer has mentioned this as a problem.

Given how strict health and safety regulations are now, I am rather surprised that the firm is allowing its employees to service appliances considered to be a risk?

ibizafan_2

British Gas has also never mentioned an asbestos problem with my Potterton Netaheat, but as they are coming next week to do the annual service, I shall most certainly be asking them about it.

ess0two

Asbestos only becomes an issue when its disturbed etc.