Time for a new boiler, but needs to go in bathroom

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We have an old Potterton boiler in our bathroom which just runs our central heating, but it's 'wasting gas' it has a pilot light' it was in the house when we moved in 18 years ago, we have it serviced but our gas bills are going up and up and we might for once have the money to replace it. Our hot water comes from a boiler in a cupboard in our kitchen, this is about 10 years old, we turn the tap on and we have as much hot water as we want.

I would like the'new' boiler to go in the bathroom cupboard, is it best to go with a combi?, guess we would need some new pipe work aswell, and alought we have replaced most of the radiators in the house, the lounge ones need replacing, we have 4 bedrooms and 1 bathroom with a shower which runs off the mixer tap.

We are in West Yorkshire, no idea of price. Is British Gas a good place to start? At the moment we don't even have a room thermostat, we have a timer, but most of the time just turn it on and off as we need need it.

Please pint me in the right direction, thanks in advance

Chanes

British Gas could be double the price of the next best quote - it was when asked them to quote for a straight swap of the boiler.

A straight swap by a fitter recommended by the EON service engineer cost 1500 inc VAT 5 years ago for a Vaillant condenser.

We moved and replaced the heating (boiler) and hot water (cylinder and a tank in the loft) for a Vaillant condenser plus changed radiators for new ones (12 total) and rerouting of pipework was 3k inc VAT last year.

Same gas fitter for both and building regs and guarantees supplied.

Ask around for a fitter someone has used and recommends. I would get a quote from BG but it might be a bit heavy but it will give you a rough idea of the top end of quotes.

MX5huggy

What's the make and model of the hot water boiler in the kitchen, strange to have 2 boilers, bet it could do heating and hot water.

Alex1983

I would think it's a multi point water heater

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MX5huggy wrote: »

What's the make and model of the hot water boiler in the kitchen, strange to have 2 boilers, bet it could do heating and hot water.

We just get hot water from it when we turn the tap on, we replaced it about 12 years ago and it cost about £100 so doubt it would heat more than water?

kinger101

British Gas is the worst place to start. They have a reputation for selling expensive boilers. And condemning ones for which parts are still available.

I'll be blunt here. Although it might not be super environmentally friendly, it's extremely rare that you'll be in a situation where it is cost effective to replace a functioning boiler. Exchanging an old system boiler with a combi condenser can easily come in at £3K. It might save you 10-20% on your gas bill. But new boilers are more complex than the old ones, and have a much higher servicing/maintenance cost. If I had a choice between a brand new 1980s model and a brand new 2010 model, without hesitation I'd install the former.

And if I was installing a new boiler, never in a million years would it go in a bathroom. One of the only bonuses of the over-engineered, under-designed models nowadays is that you can fit them in lofts due to the built in frost protection. As for a room thermostat, it probably wouldn't be that expensive to get something that works with what you have got now.

Alex1983

British gas will be the most expensive but they will tell you what's possible and what's not and you don't have to use them to fit it for you, just use them as a guide and for information.
I personally wouldn't put it in the loft. It's out of sight and out of mind but if you need to have a look at the boiler it can be a pain to have to get up into the loft. If the boiler is in the bathroom I'd leave it there, you'll have drainage for condense, hot and cold water supplies and as your heating boiler is there you will have your heating supplies and gas supply but the gas pipe many need increasing. You could always turn it in to a storage cupboard.

FreeBear

Alex1983 wrote: »

I personally wouldn't put it in the loft. It's out of sight and out of mind but if you need to have a look at the boiler it can be a pain to have to get up into the loft.

If the loft is unboarded and with difficult access, many places will refuse to service it. Keeping it in the current location also means less disruption should new pipework be needed to connect it.

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FreeBear wrote: »

If the loft is unboarded and with difficult access, many places will refuse to service it. Keeping it in the current location also means less disruption should new pipework be needed to connect it.

My loft is unboarded, but access is ok, we have a loft ladder?

So should I keep the boiler I have til it dies? And just get some new radiators in my lounge when it's redecorated?

Alex1983

Do you know what model boiler you have, if you do you can find out the efficiency and work out rough energy saving

J_B

applepad wrote: »

And just get some new radiators in my lounge when it's redecorated?

Why do you feel the need to renew the radiators?