Back boiler instead of combi

nicole19922

Hi,

We have just put in an offer on a house for 110,000.

When going round on our second viewing, the EA mentioned that the boiler is not a combi boiler but a 'back boiler' where the actual boiler is behind the fire in the front room.

Has anyone any experience of these boilers? I'm assuming it's an old style boiler but we are just worriednow that it will give up working soon and we would have to replace with a combi.

Just looking for any reassurance?!

Thanks!

marksoton

No one can say.

When purchasing you should always budget on the proviso the boiler needs replacing anyway.

glasgowdan

We got out back boiler removed, hole bricked up, fireplace removed and swapped for a new combi in the kitchen for £2k all in, so it's no biggie

nicole19922

Cheers for the replies

stator

glasgowdan wrote: »

We got out back boiler removed, hole bricked up, fireplace removed and swapped for a new combi in the kitchen for £2k all in, so it's no biggie

That's very cheap, I can hardly believe it. Where was the back boiler?

My back boiler has worked ok so far but it's in a very awkward location. Replacing with a combi boiler would be very expensive because all the pipes will need moving to the new location. A new boiler can't be connected to the chimney like the back boiler is.

Might be worth getting an estimate for replacement from a heating engineer when you have him do the gas safety check before you buy.

Mossfarr

My friend had a back boiler in her house for years without any problem. She always had an annual service plan with British Gas but a couple of years ago they declared it obsolete and would no longer service it.
She now has a combi boiler.
It was quite a big job to remove the old boiler as the pipework went under her solid wood floor which all had to come up.
You need to ask for details of the service history - If there isn't one you may have problems!

dc197

I grew up with a back boiler. Very reliable, my parents' one lasted about 30 years.
I used to love lying on the floor looking up through the gas wall fire at the pilot light.

Person_one

stator wrote: »

That's very cheap, I can hardly believe it. Where was the back boiler?

My back boiler has worked ok so far but it's in a very awkward location. Replacing with a combi boiler would be very expensive because all the pipes will need moving to the new location. A new boiler can't be connected to the chimney like the back boiler is.

Might be worth getting an estimate for replacement from a heating engineer when you have him do the gas safety check before you buy.

I put my new combi where the old water tank had been, so not much needed in the way of extra pipework. New boiler, 8 new radiators, and removal of old gas fire and back boiler was about £3K

Old_Git

When you say back boiler behind a fire .What type of fire have you .Is it gas or open fire (coal /smokeless )

Lazarus_Blackstar

dc197 wrote: »

I grew up with a back boiler. Very reliable, my parents' one lasted about 30 years.
I used to love lying on the floor looking up through the gas wall fire at the pilot light.

I remember doing that at my Grandma's house when I was a nipper! Hers was in the kitchen & I used to think it was magic!!! :)

Nobbie1967

They're pretty reliable as there's not much to go wrong unlike on modern combi boilers. However they are much less efficient. When the heat exchanger started leaking on mine I got it replaced by a combi boiler up in the airing cupboard where the old hot water tank was. Cost about £3200 three years ago and involved lots of extra pipe work.