Getting plumber in to check boiler

BishBashBosh86

Hi all,

First time buyer. Recently had an offer accepted on a house and I have just started the "next phase".

My solicitor has suggested that I get a plumber in to check the central heating system.

When we viewed the house our initial thoughts were the boiler looked old and would need replacing. Its a "Main Combi 24 HE" which doesnt mean a great deal to me but maybe someone here will know abit about it?

I've asked the estate agent about when the last service was and they sent over the form which stated it was checked last August and everything was fine. I believe the house has been empty for a couple of months now.

There is money in the budget to cover getting a new boiler but I'm torn as to whether to just stick with the one in the house and get it checked or to just get a new one now.

BishBashBosh86

Actually just found a "rating" of the boiler here - http://www.homeheatingguide.co.uk/efficiency-tables.php?model=010444

Doesn't sound too bad at all.

eddddy

Replacing a boiler might cost about £1500 to £2000, so you wouldn't normally do it just to get a more efficient boiler. (It might take many years for the savings on your gas bill to add up to the cost of the new boiler.)

If the boiler can't do what you want it to (e.g. provide enough hot water, heat up the house effectively), that might be a reason to change it - perhaps to a more powerful one.

Otherwise, the main reason to replace a boiler is when it becomes uneconomic to maintain and repair.

A heating engineer (as opposed to a plumber) could look at the system, to confirm that it works ok, and perhaps indicate what might need replacing soon and/or how much economic life is left in the boiler.

davidmcn

BishBashBosh86 wrote: »

Actually just found a "rating" of the boiler here - http://www.homeheatingguide.co.uk/efficiency-tables.php?model=010444

Doesn't sound too bad at all.

So the oldest it could possibly be is 12 years old! Hardly "needs" replacing (assuming it works).

kinger101

Agree entirely with the never replace a working boiler posts. A lot of buyers seem paranoid about boilers, but if parts are still available, it can be fixed if and when it breaks down.

teddysmum

'They don't make them like they used to'. New boilers appear to have a shorter life span than the older ones, so I'd leave it be until it breaks down beyond economic repair.


Ours was 34 years old when it was replaced, though the combi we now have is more convenient for just two people, as we only heat the water we need.

G_M

BishBashBosh86 wrote: »

....... our initial thoughts were the boiler looked old and would need replacing.........
There is money in the budget to cover getting a new boiler.....

So you've budgeted for a new boiler. Then why get it inspected by an engineer (not plumber)?
Move in, see if it does what you need (heat & hot water). If it does, great, if it doesn't, you've got the money for a replcement.

Meantime, check it yourself on your next visit:

Do the radiators get hot? Does hot water come out of the taps? If you turn the thermostat down/up, does the boiler go off/on?

Not really rocket science.

You could even take a portable CO alarm and leave it by the boiler wile you measure up for curtains If it goes off, you know there's a problem, if it doesn't, well at least you know there's no CO risk!

Fishingtime

If the house feels like it is the house for you, worry about the boiler once you have secureed the property