Old boiler

sammyjammy

Bella83 said:

Alfrescodave said:

What comment, if any, did you get when you had your annual boiler service? If there was a problem with its position then the service engineer would have mentioned it and probably written it on the service report.

The engineer turned it of even though he tested for co2 and it was safe he said because of where it is he has to turn it of and condemned it. But I just turned it back on when he left. I have now changed energy providers though.

So it was condemned and you just turned it back on?  You've just voided your house insurance so fingers crossed your boiler doesn't blow up!

Aspiration

Very concerning!

macman

So the only issue is the flue being to near the window. As long as you keep that window closed there is no danger to you: however the next owner might not be so lucky. Do you really want to be responsible for that?
It was legal at the time of install, it wouldn't be legal to install it like that now.
A house surveyor would not be remotely qualified to comment on the safety aspects, though he might just note that 'the boiler appears to be old and may require replacement in the next few years'.
This could quite possibly be made safe with the simple addition of a plume management kit to redirect the boiler emissions away from the window.

Jeepers_Creepers

Bella83 said:

Alfrescodave said:

What comment, if any, did you get when you had your annual boiler service? If there was a problem with its position then the service engineer would have mentioned it and probably written it on the service report.

The engineer turned it of even though he tested for co2 and it was safe he said because of where it is he has to turn it of and condemned it. But I just turned it back on when he left. I have now changed energy providers though.

A bit more info, Bella. This is an old boiler and has been in the same location all that time? And that window was also always there? And you've had it serviced/repaired a few times, and no-one else picked up on it being 'wrong'?

Most likely, then, the installation was 'ok' for when it was fitted, and it hasn't suddenly become dangerous now. Regs are not retro, or else GasSafes would be breaking down doors all over the place and condemning 20-year old boilers left, right and centre.

If something has changed about its installation, that's a different matter. But most likely this service fellow was a simple pedant.

Anyhoo, will it come up on a survey? Almost certainly yes. At the very least it'll be noted that it's very old and almost certainly very inefficient, and most likely close to the end of its life. Guess what they'll recommend? Yup - that the buyer allows for its early replacement. Wow, no surprise there.

Quite/very likely the buyer's conveyancer will ask when it was last serviced, and - if this has been in over a year - will suggest it's done (it's a cover-their-bottom way of saying "it was fine at the point of sale - my work here is done...") What do you do? That's up to you - you can get it serviced or you can tell them to get stuffed. One will go down slightly better than the other.

Very likely the buyer will be factoring in the cost of a replacement at some point, so that's probably around £2-3k. It then becomes 'offers' and 'negotiation'. Unless the house is very cheap, this sort of sum doesn't really matter a great deal.

I guess the thing to do would be to have it serviced a month or so before you list the property. If it gets a cert, then that's one issue taken care of. Of course, if its condemned again...

Meanwhile, do you have a CO alarm in your sitting room? I'm guessing this boiler is naturally aspirated and exhausts via the chimney? The concern is, a miscreant bird or a down-draught could fill your room with nasty fumes - almost certainly an outlawed system these days. But, if it works ok, then it works ok.

olbas_oil

Bella83 said:

Alter_ego said:

You don't say where it is

It’s in the kitchen by the back door in a cupboard but because there is a window above it and the flume outside the engineer said it is not allowed to be there anymore.

20 years ago, I had to replace a boiler which was too close to my back door. British Gas insisted on a fan assisted flume- to blow the gas away. Now, whenever I walk down the path I get blasted by hot air, and I think what a waste of energy! If I were you I would leave it to your purchaser to decide whether to replace the boiler- and be prepared to meet them half way on the cost. In the meantime get a CO detector near the window for your own re-assurance.

AdrianC

olbas_oil said:

20 years ago, I had to replace a boiler which was too close to my back door. British Gas insisted on a fan assisted flume- to blow the gas away. Now, whenever I walk down the path I get blasted by hot air, and I think what a waste of energy!

You realise the heat was always being wasted? The only change is the small amount of electricity for the fan...

TBagpuss

Bella83 said:

The engineer turned it of even though he tested for co2 and it was safe he said because of where it is he has to turn it of and condemned it. But I just turned it back on when he left. I have now changed energy providers though.

OK, that changes things.

If you think that they were wrong to condemn it then I suggest you get a different engineer out to inspect it and advise. Either they will pass it and you'll have an up to date inspection and certificate or they will also condemn it in which case for your own safety , retaining insurance and being able to sell you will need to address the issue, which may simply be adding a extension to the vent or having a management kit added.