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

saveallmymoney

Replace the whole things just because the pump is noisy??

eh?

espresso

adandem wrote: »

We were in a similar position and could not get insurance for our boiler due to it's age.

Insurance is not necessary if you use an honest local RGI to look after your system. An annual boiler check done by the big name companies is almost worthless as far as system maintenance is concerned. It is more of a safety check and can we sell them a new boiler!

We went for a replacement and it's made our house a different place.

So you are not comparing like with like. Your old boiler was badly maintained and probably scaled up with no inhibitor regularly added to the system. Strange how the big companies do not do this when you pay for their insurance plans to maintain your system - vested interest in selling you a new boiler?

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.

Our house could not be more comfortable if a new boiler was installed and it certainly would not be more reliable and that is a fact.

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captainhindsight_2

espresso wrote: »

................

Lol.... The caveats coming out hahaha

Pincher

I used to run old bangers because I was POOR.


I have been buying cars new for the last 8 years, which come with three year warranties, 3 year pre-paid service package, free breakdown cover, no MOT cost. The dealer sells a follow on 2 year service package, which includes breakdown cover. It's GREAT!


Now that you can get five years and more warranties, I have every intention of using an approved installer for the next boiler, and paying for annual service (£80 this year, by Glow worm) to keep the warranty valid.


Everybody knows newer cars are more fuel efficient, but buy second hand because they think it saves money. A condensing boiler will probably save you £150~200 a year, but it costs £2,000+ plus to install. Let me just say that the cost difference over the long term is minor, and the extra money buys you TIME that I'm not wasting on fixing things.

Richie-from-the-Boro

saveallmymoney wrote: »

Replace the whole things just because the pump is noisy??

eh?

Agreed !

- most if not all of that generation of non-condensing boiler had an external easy to get at, easy DIY change pump
- it makes no economic sense to scrap an old boiler that is still functioning
- the problem is that these combi-boilers simply do not last anything like ten years
- whereas the perfectly functional non-condenser will last 3-4 times that long
- that's something the enthusiastic salesmen and 'shills' will not tell you
- they also won't tell you that those touted increases in efficiency are theoretical, often not matched in reality

Look the message is crystal clear, if you have an old boiler, which is working properly, and serviced regularly, you are almost certainly better off keeping it until it is beyond economic repair. Parts will be cheaper, it will be less likely to break down and there is no danger of it stalling on the coldest night of the year.

espresso

Pincher wrote: »

I used to run old bangers because I was POOR.


I have been buying cars new for the last 8 years, which come with three year warranties, 3 year pre-paid service package, free breakdown cover, no MOT cost. The dealer sells a follow on 2 year service package, which includes breakdown cover. It's GREAT!


Now that you can get five years and more warranties, I have every intention of using an approved installer for the next boiler, and paying for annual service (£80 this year, by Glow worm) to keep the warranty valid.


Everybody knows newer cars are more fuel efficient, but buy second hand because they think it saves money. A condensing boiler will probably save you £150~200 a year, but it costs £2,000+ plus to install. Let me just say that the cost difference over the long term is minor, and the extra money buys you TIME that I'm not wasting on fixing things.

Your motoring experience is irrelevant to this thread titled "Really old boiler....not sure if I can get spares".

You can obviously spend your money how you wish but you are kidding yourself as your modern boiler will need more attention and repairs in comparison to an old boiler as stated above, so you will be wasting your time getting it repaired. This thread has nothing to do with your wealth!

[Deleted User]

My boiler is 32 years old, so far it's had two thermocouples, and that's it. You won't catch me getting rid of a boiler that reliable.

Pincher

espresso wrote: »

Your motoring experience is irrelevant to this thread titled "Really old boiler....not sure if I can get spares".

You can obviously spend your money how you wish but you are kidding yourself as your modern boiler will need more attention and repairs in comparison to an old boiler as stated above, so you will be wasting your time getting it repaired. This thread has nothing to do with your wealth!

The current boiler was installed in 2010, and the only thing that went wrong was a short pipe leaking, which the installer exchanged as it's a known fault.


I am currently living alone, so the saving in gas was probably £150 last year, but three years ago, there were more people, so the heating was on 20 degrees 24/7, and the saving was more like £300.


Assuming an average saving of £200 a year on gas, I should save £2,000 over the expected ten year life span of the new boiler.


With the recent falls in energy prices, the pressure for fuel efficiency is less, but those on old Band G 65% efficiency boilers are losing money in comparison year on year. In ten years time, will you really have saved any money at all?


The car thing was just an analogy, but I found it apt.

Binky1976

What make and model of pump is it? The figures you quote sound expensive - have you had more than one quote?

My boiler is over 30 years old. BG service it every year. They used to tell me I should replace it but I did the sums and it's not worth it. Now, even the service engineer says keep it while it's still working. I have had the pump replaced and a valve which splits heating and hot water - neither would need changing if the boiler has to be replaced.

A noisy pump/system can sometimes be cured by putting a generous squirt of washing up liquid into the FE tank. Not if the pump is mechanically knackered though obviously.

Richie-from-the-Boro

captainhindsight wrote: »

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.

It is not covered by the warranty, the loan term and the warranty are at odds. The product is clearly inferior if the lifespan of the product is only a warranted 5 years.

the problem is that these combi-boilers simply do not last anything like ten years

Most GD has a 5 year, but the repayment term is 10+ years...... So if your boiler breaks at year 6 its warranty will be worthless and even though you have to pay for repairs or a replacement boiler yourself you will still be paying for the loan for the non-functioning product each month and will have no protection. Then there's the fact that the MTBF is about 10 years at best so you will need to pay for a whole new boiler yourself at 10 years.

Fake Nigerian scams and the Green deal have a lot in common, entice the stupid victim into paying a relatively small amount of money upfront as an 'arrangement fee' in exchange for the promise of a much bigger [non-existent] payoff later. GOV promise a big lump of [non-existent] money if you pay a non-refundable 'arrangement fee' first. The £100-£150 green deal assessment paid by over 200,000 poor sods is the 'arrangement fee', this has already led to £25 mi££ion being pick-pocketed from the general public, very few [about 5%] have got any return and have lost their £100-£150.