Replacement oil boiler - but which one?

Eliza_2

Dear all, to my extreme shock my landlord has agreed to replace the oil boiler in this house. However he's left it with me to ring round for quotes. I know nothing so have been reading up on the net about different types so that I can at least ask some of the right questions when given quotes.

Can anyone give me any clue about the price to remove the old one (pump and all) and replace with a new set up. It will obviously have to be the cheapest option. I've read that all boilers now have to be condensing but beyond that, I'm being blinded by information overload. It's a small, 2 up 2 down + bathroom, detached cold cottage, on hill, wind blowing from all directions.

Help with where to start please? Thanks very much.

Eliza

Davesnave

Grant make decent boilers. They're simple boxes with few frills, but my heating guy always fits them and he's done hundreds in his time.

G_M

Invite 3 OFTEC registered engineers round and get their recommendations.

In case your landlord does not know (he should, but then he should be arranging the installation not leaving it to you......!) a new boiler requires Building Regulations compliance and sign off.

Tis can either be done by the council inspecting/signing off the installation, or, much easier, by using a 'competant person' to do the installation who can then sign it off themseves.

OFTEC registered engineers will be 'competant persons', so don't be tempted to use a cheap guy who is not able to sign off the work.

OFTEC also have some useful guides, and FAQs.

Eliza_2

Well now, this is the 3rd plumber I have stayed in to wait for. As G_M said, I chose 3 from the Oftec list, and then a 4th on personal recommendation. Stayed in all day Sat for a return call and an appointment, then this morning, over 2 hours late so far. Only one has been, had a thorough look and will email me the quote. I am truly livid and am now going to have to start ringing some more on the list. They all have both of my phone numbers so there's no excuse. Even if they come back to me now I'm not going with any of them.

It makes sense for me to arrange this as my landlord wouldn't know when I'm available to show plumbers the set up anyway.

Fuming!!! Do plumbers have so much work they can afford poor manners like this?

Eliza

Davesnave

Eliza wrote: »

Fuming!!! Do plumbers have so much work they can afford poor manners like this?

Eliza

I don't think we should generalise about plumbers any more than we should about dentists, teachers or laboratory technicians, but some of them are known to be err...elusive.

Put it another way, I had to get my electrician to use his ouija board today to make contact, but when he finally got through to the other side, the messages being conveyed were extremely entertaining and amusing.

Unfortunately, this is a family-orientated web-site, so I cannot possibly repeat here what was transmitted.