Replacing an old gas boiler......if not now , then when??

Victorthe2nd

Hi all. We have an old gas boiler that we know is not the most efficient gadget in our house! But, it works and, technically, does not need to be replaced. But, we're also trying to develop "greener" habits and recognise that replacing the boiler with a more efficient unit is the right thing to do. We've looked at air heat pumps, but have been advised that our home isn't suitable for such a device.

I wondered if anyone had any knowledge of current or forthcoming incentives (eg Government support) that may encourage us to get a new boiler? Scouring the internet isn't throwing up any ideas or suggestions.

Also, we've heard that new / future gas boilers must be suitable for conversion to hydrogen, and would appreciate any comments that MSE members may have on that aspect as well.

Thank you.

Mike

molerat

The tree huggers seem to have convinced everyone that being green involves switching everything to the latest low consumption device without looking at the overall picture of how much greenhouse gas is produced manufacturing, transporting and installing the wonderful device, disposing of the old one and that produced by the likely more regular maintenance required and replacing it again in 10 years time !

Verdigris

As the current boiler is on borrowed time a change to a condensing boiler would be a good thing although I agree with the general principal of not changing things for just the sake of "fashion". I think there is a sound environmental case for changing the boiler, in this instance, from what we've been told.

Victorthe2nd

molerat said:

The tree huggers seem to have convinced everyone that being green involves switching everything to the latest low consumption device without looking at the overall picture of how much greenhouse gas is produced manufacturing, transporting and installing the wonderful device, disposing of the old one and that produced by the likely more regular maintenance required and replacing it again in 10 years time !

Hmm, that kind of feels like the sort of thing that folk might have said when cars started replacing horses. Perhaps you're right, who knows. 

jimjames

Considering gas boilers are meant to be phased out from around 2025 if the current one is still working then I'd wait until you need to replace it with whatever is available then

Victorthe2nd

Verdigris said:

As the current boiler is on borrowed time a change to a condensing boiler would be a good thing although I agree with the general principal of not changing things for just the sake of "fashion". I think there is a sound environmental case for changing the boiler, in this instance, from what we've been told.

Thanks for that. Sadly, we can't use a condenser boiler as our shower (fairly new) relies on a hot water supply and cannot work with a condenser boiler. I know, that sounds a bit backwards, but it works for us!

Verdigris

Condensing boilers aren't the same thing as combi-boilers, although combies do condense.

Anyway, I doubt you could get a non-condensing boiler. They stopped making those in the last century.

matelodave

Dont confuse condensing with a combi - all boilers nowadays will be condensing whether they are system boilers (ie with an associated hot water tank) or a combi which doesn't use a hot water tank.

You would have to save an awful lot of gas (even at today's inflated prices) to cover the cost of a replaement boiler. TBH you'd be better off keeping the old one going until it's totally beyond repair.

jbuchanangb

How old is your old boiler? I replaced mine in 2016, when it was 24 years old. The main problem was that the condensing boilers (whether system or combi) require an outside wall, and my old boiler used a chimney built into the house. Apart from the fact that the old boiler had a G- energy rating, the question was as to how long spare parts would continue to be available. I also had to put up with a permanent yellow warning sticker on the thing because, while it complied with all regulations in 1992 when it was installed, it no longer complied with some new regulation or other. (I think it was ventilation due to the chimney.) The expected life span of condensing boilers is 8-10 years. Having replaced the boiler in 2016 I sold the house in 2018. I am sure that a 26 year old boiler would have been a negative factor in the buying decision, whereas a 2 year old boiler was a positive factor.

Ectophile

Condensing boilers don't have to be on an outside wall.  Mine is on an internal wall.  The flue goes up through the ceiling and across the loft.  The condensate pipe goes across the room, just above the skirting board.  Not ideal, but that's how it was done.  Ideally, route the condensate pipe to below a kitchen sink or wash basin, and avoid it going outside at all.

Ultrasonic

jimjames said:

Considering gas boilers are meant to be phased out from around 2025...

Well, they're not going to be allowed to be installed in brand new homes from that date. Existing gas boilers will have a much longer future. How long we don't really have a good handle on as far as I know?