British Gas advising to replace our boiler.. should we?

martin2345uk

Hi guys

Was after some advice... our boiler is a roughly 15 year old PowerMax Range (installed when the house was built I think).

We have had it serviced twice now under our British Gas cover, the first time they condemned it over the weekend as it was leaking carbon monoxide, they managed to source a part to fix it.

The second time (today) they also need to get a new part though it's still safe to use while they source it.

But the guy said in no uncertain terms that these boilers are terrible, and we should really replace it before winter comes when a breakdown (which they seem to think likely) would affect us the most.

I've read online that these boilers suck too

But the moneysaving side of me finds it hard to spend £2000-3000 to replace a boiler that does still work..!

What do you think..?

:beer:

Furts

I am not a heating engineer or plumber, but I will give you my consumers view. You say the boilers are "terrible"and they "suck". Yet your boiler is still functioning after 15 years. Hence I think your judgement is harsh.

You have needed spare parts, but so would a typical car at 15 years old, although certain makes would have been consigned to the scrap yard long before this. These parts are costing you nothing so what is the problem?

Boilers used to be made to high standards and robustly. My boiler was made in the 1980s, and was replaced a couple of years ago. It still functioned perfectly and had never broke down. A neighbour replaced their 29 year old boiler last week - it was still working perfectly but they wanted a new one. A near neighbour replaced a perfectly functioning 29 year old boiler the previous month. I called in on a retired ex-colleague this week for a coffee. In their kitchen was a boiler 30 years old and still working perfectly ...so you get my drift!

If I were you I would say "up yours" to the commission hungry, and sometimes lazy BG fitters (they do not want the hassle of doing repairs) and keep with what you have.

To say it might break down next winter is ridiculous. Your car might break down so are you going out to buy another one this weekend?

teddysmum

BG has a reputation for recommending that you scrap and buy replacements from them, at inflated prices.

jk0

Tittish Gas tell everyone this. My rental flat has a 18 year old powermax boiler & it's fine.

littlerock

On the other hand I have a nice new Worcester boiler (nothing to do with BG) and there is no doubt my gas bills are much lower than they used to be.....

martin2345uk

Haha fair enough guys, thanks for the responses! The Powermax lives to fight another day

Marktheshark

They are the quickfit of the boiler world, you always need a new boiler, the "engineers" are on commission to sell you a new boiler at overinflated prices.
Then they find the problems and the extra work once you have no heating.

27col

BG suggested that our boiler needed replacement about 3 years ago. It is probably about17 or 18 years old now. It has never missed a beat in all those years, and still seems to run faultlessly. I've got the money for a new one and if and when it gives up the ghost I will replace it. Although not at BG prices.

martin2345uk

I am getting the message that people don't seem to think much of BG boiler insurance...?

Who are you guys with for boiler/heating cover?

Paradigm

littlerock wrote: »

On the other hand I have a nice new Worcester boiler (nothing to do with BG) and there is no doubt my gas bills are much lower than they used to be.....

Nice. How long will it take to recoup the cost of your Worcester boiler due to gas savings?

oldandhappy

We had our old boiler condemned by BG so had a local company install a new boiler....the bills where much less cost and we also found we could run the boiler really on a low setting when needed.Our BG engineers where really good so had kept the contract going until the new boiler was fitted...Moved abroad now so no boiler no worries...log burners and 3 new storage heaters when cold....