Really old boiler...not sure if I can get spares

TheLookingGlass

Hi all,

I've just bought my first home

The boiler is working fine but it is really old, 15-20 years maybe, I really don't know.

It's a "Triancogas 30/40s" and spare parts seem to be almost non-existent. I've seen the ignitor on one website but that's it. I had a plumber come and have a look today and he's never heard of the manufacturer!

Here's my predicament -

Next to the water tank is a pump which is pretty noisy and sometimes resonates into the pipes, making it even noisier around the house.

To replace the pump is about £200, but there's a valve next to it which should probably be changed at the same time, so adds another £120 roughly. And if I add another valve at that point it apparently gives much better control over the hot water. So total for all three would be £440.

But then...if the boiler breaks down and I can't get spares, all those parts are redundant and would go in the bin! And then I'd have to spend around £2000 on a combi boiler install.

What do you think I should do?

A friend suggested I just get the pump changed and forget about the rest. My sister suggested boiler insurance cover but I don't know if they'll cover a boiler this old? And if they do and it breaks down and they can't get spares, what happens?

Thanks for your help,

Jeremy

captainhindsight_2

Just go for the replacement, it is a false economy to keep an old boiler running on its last legs as you could end up spending many time the cost of a replacement on call outs and repairs.

Also, it is best to plan for a big spend like this rather than just get it forced upon you when you can no longer get parts to repair it.

You also don't want the worry of knowing it is on its last legs and not know when its going to break but you know its soon.

With a replacement, you will have a waranty, spare parts off the shelf, lower gas bills etc so its a no brainier.

Get some quotes for a replacement and bear in mind there should be non means tested cashback scheme coming soon which will hopefully knock about £1k off you bill + £500 if you do the work in the first 12 months of buying your home.

espresso

It is never cost effective to replace an old working boiler. Your boiler is not old and it is likely to last twice that age as there is very few parts to go wrong. Replacement parts are generally available for most old boilers, as common parts are used across many different makes.

You talk about replacing the pump and the motorised valve - the pump may simply be noisy due to trapped air in the system and the valve is either working or it is not. A new motor can be fitted for approx £15.

Both items can be easily and cheaply replaced if and when necessary and should not influence your decision to replace a working boiler even if it is old, it should still have many more years life in it yet.

Most boiler fitters would suggest that they fit a new combi boiler for you, even if it not the best option for you - why would they not want to make a profit from you but if you find an honest one, they will tell you not to replace it until it really needs to be replaced.

Please note that the previous poster has zero credibility on the forum, so please ignore "Just go for the replacement, it is a false economy to keep an old boiler running".

Get some honest advice from someone who is not simply wanting to make money by fitting a new boiler and don't believe the hype about new modern boilers cost less to run because the maintenance and expensive replacement parts offsets the possible small gas saving.

A new boiler will not last as long as your current one has, will need regular and costly maintenance and it will be less reliable than an old properly maintained boiler.

captainhindsight_2

espresso wrote: »

It is never cost effective to replace an old working boiler. Your boiler is not old and it is likely to last twice that age as there is very few parts to go wrong. Replacement parts are generally available for most old boilers, as common parts are used across many different makes.

not true

You talk about replacing the pump and the motorised valve - the pump may simply be noisy due to trapped air in the system and the valve is either working or it is not. A new motor can be fitted for approx £15.

Both items can be easily and cheaply replaced if and when necessary and should not influence your decision to replace a working boiler even if it is old, it should still have many more years life in it yet.

yea, and all the other parts will soon need to be replaced, then you relaise you have paid out 2-3 times the cost of a new boiler on parts and repairs

Most boiler fitters would suggest that they fit a new combi boiler for you, even if it not the best option for you - why would they not want to make a profit from you but if you find an honest one, they will tell you not to replace it until it really needs to be replaced.

On going maintenance and call out are more profitable than fitting a new boiler, thus an honest one will tell you to just replace with new rather than spending 2-3 times the cost of a new one on repairs and maintenance.

Please note that the previous poster has zero credibility on the forum, so please ignore "Just go for the replacement, it is a false economy to keep an old boiler running".

again not true, i have no credibility with you and your fellow MSE bigots because you don't know what you are talking about.

Get some honest advice from someone who is not simply wanting to make money by[STRIKE] fitting a new boiler and don't believe the hype about new modern boilers cost less to run because the maintenance and expensive replacement parts offsets the possible small gas saving.[/STRIKE] stringing you along with constant call out and repairs

A new boiler will not last as long as your current one has, will need regular and costly maintenance and it will be [STRIKE]less [/STRIKE] more reliable than an old properly and expensively maintained boiler.

Made some alterations and addressed some of your mistakes.

captainhindsight_2

also, these cashback schemes are not always available so best to plan to replace when you can get £1-£1.5k back rather than just waiting until you need an urgent replacement.

molerat

By your logic based on the age of the op's boiler my now 30 year boiler should have been replaced 20 years ago after the pump needed replacing, the fan replacing around 18 years ago, the control module 15 years ago, cleaning the air pressure switch 4 years ago and replacing the motorized valves and pump gate valves 3 years ago.

I know those in my street who have new boilers - they are the ones with a heating engineer's van outside at the first cold snap.

If it had been replaced 20 years ago I would now be replacing it for a third time using the don't repair old boilers logic, let's replace an old boiler that may need replacing with one that will need replacing in 10 years.

captainhindsight_2

molerat wrote: »

By your logic based on the age of the op's boiler my now 30 year boiler should have been replaced 20 years ago after the pump needed replacing, the fan replacing around 18 years ago, the control module 15 years ago, cleaning the air pressure switch 4 years ago and replacing the motorized valves and pump gate valves 3 years ago.

yes

I know those in my street who have new boilers - they are the ones with a heating engineer's van outside at the first cold snap.

do you know what boiler was fitted, do you know the quality of the install? Plenty of people try and do work on the cheap and buy the cheapest possible boiler and the cheapest possible tradesman and then end up with a rubbish boiler which breaks down and condensation pipes that are not fitted properly and freeze causing the boiler to break down.

The end of the day you get what you pay for, if you have a quality boiler and quality install it will be more reliable. Also having 7-10 years manufactures waranty I know if it breaks down a van from the manufacturer will turn up the same day with spare parts on the day ready to fix it. You do not get this support for old boilers, where you may be without a boiler for days or even weeks. FACT

If it had been replaced 20 years ago I would now be replacing it for a third time using the don't repair old boilers logic, let's replace an old boiler that may need replacing with one that will need replacing in 10 years.

back to above, it comes down to would you rather plan a big outlay like a new boiler and get the possible deal such as getting over £1k cashback or would your prefer to have it thrust upon you with no warning leaving you at the ransom of who ever is available at short notice? In addition to these savings in repairs, spare parts, call outs etc you also save energy!

See above, it comes down to you get what you pay for. Making comparisons with cheap installs is irrelevant in this discussion, but this I know is what will happen. You and others will just quote horror stories where people have done work on the cheap and it is just not a relevant comparison.

Richie-from-the-Boro

TheLookingGlass wrote: »

Hi all,

I've just bought my first home

The boiler is working fine but it is really old, 15-20 years maybe, I really don't know.

It's a "Triancogas 30/40s" and spare parts seem to be almost non-existent. I've seen the ignitor on one website but that's it. I had a plumber come and have a look today and he's never heard of the manufacturer!

Here's my predicament -

Next to the water tank is a pump which is pretty noisy and sometimes resonates into the pipes, making it even noisier around the house.

To replace the pump is about £200, but there's a valve next to it which should probably be changed at the same time, so adds another £120 roughly. And if I add another valve at that point it apparently gives much better control over the hot water. So total for all three would be £440.

But then...if the boiler breaks down and I can't get spares, all those parts are redundant and would go in the bin! And then I'd have to spend around £2000 on a combi boiler install.

What do you think I should do?

A friend suggested I just get the pump changed and forget about the rest. My sister suggested boiler insurance cover but I don't know if they'll cover a boiler this old? And if they do and it breaks down and they can't get spares, what happens?

Thanks for your help,

Jeremy

Spares for your non-condensing model are available from UKP 30-40 years is maybe old - yours is not old, and was built with rock solid cast iron heat exchangers and many many fewer electronics. Don't believe what salesmen and industry 'shills' tell you [and a plumber is a salesman] they all want you to buy a new combi because they break twice a year and make plumbers and sellers of warez a fortune. Combi's last about 10-15 years only because they were designed to empty your pockets again and again every single 10-15 years !

Modern combi-condensing boilers are very very dependant on expensive electronic circuitry, built as it is with a purposely [planned deformation] limited lifespan. Its almost unheard of for a combi-condensing boiler to get a 5th birthday without the plumbers sharp intake of breath and the words :

- oh its the motherboard / daughterboard / PCB / one of the chips / a blown resistor / thermocouple etc

There's a megga industry grown up around the combi-condensing boiler that requires an annual repair as well as an annual service cost. Add to that the advantage for the plumber of less pipework, easier and much faster fitting and he makes a lot more profit from you - and then there's the high value scrap price he gets from disposing of your existing copper hot-water cylinder.

captainhindsight_2

Richie-from-the-Boro wrote: »

Modern combi-condensing boilers are very very dependant on expensive electronic circuitry, built as it is with a purposely [planned deformation] limited lifespan. Its almost unheard of for a combi-condensing boiler to get a 5th birthday without the plumbers sharp intake of breath and the words :

- oh its the motherboard / daughterboard / PCB / one of the chips / a blown resistor / thermocouple etc

There's a megga industry grown up around the combi-condensing boiler that requires an annual repair as well as an annual service cost. Add to that the advantage for the plumber of less pipework, easier and much faster fitting and he makes a lot more profit from you - and then there's the high value scrap price he gets from disposing of your existing copper hot-water cylinder.

Even if that was true which it isn't a decent boiler would still be covered by warranty anyway.

Of course I forgot about the plumbing industry conspiracy to build and install inferior products.... What rubbish! Lol.

adandem

We were in a similar position and could not get insurance for our boiler due to it's age. We went for a replacement and it's made our house a different place.
It's not all about cost saving it's also about comfort and reliability.
Also, as you have just purchased your property you get the most benefit from it, not the next owners, should you sell.

captainhindsight_2

adandem wrote: »

We were in a similar position and could not get insurance for our boiler due to it's age. We went for a replacement and it's made our house a different place.
It's not all about cost saving it's also about comfort and reliability.
Also, as you have just purchased your property you get the most benefit from it, not the next owners, should you sell.

Nicely put, maybe the trolls above will take note.