Worcester 400 Electronic 18 December 2022 at 7:38PM in In my home (includes DIY) MoneySaving 12 replies 196 views

Keith

Hi, 

I have this really old boiler, which works well and I can't face spending 4k to replace it.

It's got a problem and which I'm going to book in with WB, but I'm feeling it might be time for a new boiler. When I turn on hot water or central heating, nothing happens. The boiler just sits there doing nothing.

If, I turn on hot water and then turn on and off the central heating, I get perfect hot water. If I do the same for the heating, by turning on and off hot water, I get perfect heating. 

I'm sure it's going to be weeks for an engineer, anyone had similar before?! 

Thanks
Keith 

macman

Who quoted you £4K for a new boiler? Oh, probably BG....if so, a local independent GSR RGI will probably be £2.5k.
Why don't you just get an independent WB engineer to look at it?

Keith

macman said:

Who quoted you £4K for a new boiler? Oh, probably BG....if so, a local independent GSR RGI will probably be £2.5k.
Why don't you just get an independent WB engineer to look at it?

Boxt quote above, it's got to be a floor standing boiler due to design of the house, there's no where for a wall mounted one to go - as confirmed by an independent. 

Independent looked at it last time, and sent me straight to WB due to the fixed price repair they do, last time they changed about £800 of parts before finding the fault. 

BUFF

I've got a Highflow 440CDi which has been ultra reliable.
Only thing is that it is now basically a 14 year old design (mine was installed in 2008) so possibly due for replacement?

p.s. if you do get a replacement upgrade your controls at the same time - they will, at the very least,  pay for themselves via energy savings over the boiler's lifetime.

macman

That's one big boiler....
But the retail price is £2,575. I'm guessing an independent WB installer can secure that for maybe around £2k, so is there a lot of other work that justifies a labour charge of £2.3k? A bigger output boiler does not involve any more work to install, except for flushing and bleeding a larger system. 2 days maximum?

ThisIsWeird

Keith said:

Hi, 

I have this really old boiler, which works well and I can't face spending 4k to replace it.

It's got a problem and which I'm going to book in with WB, but I'm feeling it might be time for a new boiler. When I turn on hot water or central heating, nothing happens. The boiler just sits there doing nothing.

If, I turn on hot water and then turn on and off the central heating, I get perfect hot water. If I do the same for the heating, by turning on and off hot water, I get perfect heating. 

I'm sure it's going to be weeks for an engineer, anyone had similar before?! 

Thanks
Keith 

This boiler can give you perfect heating and perfect hot water? Not much wrong with it, then :-)

Is it a combi type like the quoted replacement? So, to turn on the CH, you first 'call' for heat via the timer/programmer/room stat - and then turn a hot tap on and off?! And vivky verka for the DHW? That's weird, but I'd be suspecting the divertor valve inside the boiler.

I'd imagine that inside a boiler of that size, it would be an easy replacement for an engineer, but I don't know. (Or know if it's even the valve...)

What's the exact model of your current boiler? And how old is it?

BUFF

As per the thread title, a Worcester Electronic 400 is a non-condensing combi.

Keith

ThisIsWeird said:

Keith said:

Hi, 

I have this really old boiler, which works well and I can't face spending 4k to replace it.

It's got a problem and which I'm going to book in with WB, but I'm feeling it might be time for a new boiler. When I turn on hot water or central heating, nothing happens. The boiler just sits there doing nothing.

If, I turn on hot water and then turn on and off the central heating, I get perfect hot water. If I do the same for the heating, by turning on and off hot water, I get perfect heating. 

I'm sure it's going to be weeks for an engineer, anyone had similar before?! 

Thanks
Keith 

This boiler can give you perfect heating and perfect hot water? Not much wrong with it, then :-)

Is it a combi type like the quoted replacement? So, to turn on the CH, you first 'call' for heat via the timer/programmer/room stat - and then turn a hot tap on and off?! And vivky verka for the DHW? That's weird, but I'd be suspecting the divertor valve inside the boiler.

I'd imagine that inside a boiler of that size, it would be an easy replacement for an engineer, but I don't know. (Or know if it's even the valve...)

What's the exact model of your current boiler? And how old is it?

No room stat, just the control on the front of the boiler. 

So to get heat, I turn on central heating by pressing the advance button, then press the advance button to turn on hot water, then press advance to turn off hot water. And it works, and vice versa. I have set the timers to do the same so I get heat in the morning and when I get back from work. 

It's a pain to work on, BG and others won't touch it as they have to strip it from the front backwards, no side access. 

I believe it was installed in 2002, https://www.worcester-bosch.co.uk/professional/support/literature/highflow-400-electronic-rsf-installation-instructions - Obviously best option would be to replace it, BUT, I've agreed sale of  the house which is reason a and reason b is to install the new one the kitchen benches need removing and refitting. 
 
Looks like there is a diverter in it, no response from WB today, will call them tomorrow. 

BUFF

According to a friend who is an actual, directly employed by WB engineer:
"Fixed repair is £368 for floor standing boilers. They would check everything and it includes labour and 3 major parts"

Your access issues may change that, though.

ThisIsWeird

BUFF said:

As per the thread title, a Worcester Electronic 400 is a non-condensing combi.

Thanks. I'm confused by Keith's description of his boiler seemingly having 'advance' buttons for both CH and DHW? Or is it just CH, Keith? In which case, how do you 'turn the DHW on and off' in order to get the CH going?

BUFF

It probably has a built in programmer such as https://www.gasboilerparts.co.uk/shop/worcester/7-716-192-007-0-electronic-timer/?v=79cba1185463