Boiler replacement

pecuniam_hominem

Hi All,

Sadly, the PCB circuit on my boiler has gone kaput, and the boiler is to old to source a replacment, so the gas engineer suggested it would probably be best to bite the bullet and get a new boiler.  Sadly, I don't know the history of the boiler. The previous owner (has purchased two years ago), said the boiler was new, but the gas engineer thinks its at least 10 years old.

Anyway, he has quoted me for a 'glow worm' boiler, plus hive installation for £2,200.  I asked which boiler, but he said which ever one is available from his supplier and is in budget. He says he has fitted many of these and they are great, plus they come with 10 year warranty.

I am debating if I should go get some more quotes, but not sure due to further lockdown stuff going on and the weather getting colder quickly.

I feel this weird sense of loyalty as well, not sure why. Should I get more quotes?

Do they generally take the old boiler away with them as well? I don't want to be responsible for getting rid of the old one.

jefaz07

What boiler do you have now? 

Is the new one going in the same place? What size of boiler is it? 

I wouldn’t have a glow-worm given. There are much better boilers. 

Carrot007

Quote sounds ok. Unspecifiic boiler means whatever is cheapest at his supplier so sounds bad.

Just had mine changed paid more but was completely reloated (£2900 which is reasonable around here).

Also hive? ICK. Nest all the way ;-) (TBF they are much the same and even some wifi thermostats you could run a vm to port into your local network if you wanted to (or not a vm, but I would, well if i did that and did not go nest!)).

My boiler was about 20. And he could have got parts, but it was in the wrong place, and noisy, so... Maybe he just wants a change job, of is not good at finding parts (will only use one supplier).

pecuniam_hominem

jefaz07 said:

What boiler do you have now? 

Is the new one going in the same place? What size of boiler is it? 

I wouldn’t have a glow-worm given. There are much better boilers. 

It is an Alpha InTech 24x. The new one is going in the same place, not sure on size (my knowledge of boilers is awful), just a standard combi boiler.

The guy said he has fitted many of them and the warranty is fairly attractive.  Any particular reason you are not keen on glow worms? Totally out of my depth here, no idea if they are any good.

@Carrot007 - I do like Hive, my friend has it and it seems great from what I have seen, he is very happy with his. From what I have read they are very much like Nest.

I might try and negotiate with him. The issue is I don't have a enough knowledge to know what is and isn't a good price. If the boiler is only a cheap nasty one (£500-1000), what am I paying the extra £1.2k for? Very expensive labour.

theoretica

Is this the 'unsourceable' part you need? https://www.dhsspares.co.uk/product/alpha-1.030267-pcb-1258105

I wouldn't be happy with a 'whichever boiler is available' I want the one right for my home and not too big or too small.

I had a new boiler earlier this year from heatable - they will give you a quote completely online which you might find a good comparison.

Carrot007

pecuniam_hominem said:

It is an Alpha InTech 24x. The new one is going in the same place, not sure on size (my knowledge of boilers is awful), just a standard combi boiler.

The guy said he has fitted many of them and the warranty is fairly attractive.  Any particular reason you are not keen on glow worms? Totally out of my depth here, no idea if they are any good.

@Carrot007 - I do like Hive, my friend has it and it seems great from what I have seen, he is very happy with his. From what I have read they are very much like Nest.

I might try and negotiate with him. The issue is I don't have a enough knowledge to know what is and isn't a good price. If the boiler is only a cheap nasty one (£500-1000), what am I paying the extra £1.2k for? Very expensive labour.

More thoughts, in case there are any help!

Poeple get to obsession over make / model (not just boilers on most things!). Most are fine for the price they cost. Which is why with a quote (not an estimate) I would want to know what model, see how much it costs and check reviews. (Which is what I did).

Yes I just jest, I'm sure hive is pretty much the same, just never seen one in action and my activities do come down on the google side, so seemed the one for me!

Well the hive will costs extra so it's not the only part, but it does not sound kinda expensive given the probably boiler and no move (maybe a new condensate pipe if a more modern efficient boiler?).

Like I said for comparison mine was a one guy install. he was here for 12 hours one day and a few the next. However Like I said. Moved from old airing cupboard (silly place, noisy next to bedrooms (yes new boiler is not noisy like a 20 year old but still!)), to the (I have no idea what you call them), internal shed (not really a coal celler, as would normally be lower than rest of floor) thing, which had no water or electric to it. (Just gas as was on the side the meter comes in!). (Initial quote was £200 lower before I wanted all the nest stuff! (nest/stand/nest mini speaker thing I think was it all)).

As for warrenties, 10 year is pretty much on all. There are many requirements and it certainly does not mean instant free repairs including labour! But that is like many warranties these days. Your knife had a 25 year warrenty, it's cheaper to buy a new one than send it back for a repalcement however! Your choice ;-) (I'm saying the warranty does not mean much).

*j*

One of these??

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2334524.m570.l1313&_nkw=Alpha++24x+pcb&_sacat=0&LH_TitleDesc=0&LH_PrefLoc=1&_osacat=0&_odkw=+Alpha+InTech+24x+pcb&rt=nc