Boiler to replace or not to replace...

FlaatusGoat

That is the question.

It's a Potterton promax combi he plus. As far was I can tell there's no problems with it. Hot water is fine although it's not full blown winter yet so not 100% certain. Either way it's coming up to 15 years old. Can't go the heat pump route as my piping is all 8mm microbore sadly.

Eldi_Dos

Are your controls 15 years old, if so upgrading them might be most cost effective improvement.

womble12345

Is it a condensing boiler? If so then I would keep it as its probably pretty efficient already.

FreeBear

womble12345 said:

Is it a condensing boiler? If so then I would keep it as its probably pretty efficient already.

According to the manual, a condensing boiler with around 89% efficiency. It isn't going to save much gas by installing a newer boiler (perhaps 5% if you are lucky). Replacing the controls with a programmable thermostat has the potential to save 10-15%, so that would be a better avenue to explore (would be a lot cheaper too).

Just put some money away each month so that you have a sinking fund you can draw on when the boiler is eventually deemed to be beyond economical repair. Even with a new boiler, it may be advisable to replace the plumbing with bigger bore pipes.

ThisIsWeird

Hi FG.

As said above, if it works, keep it. And it currently works.

The world of heat-generating alternatives is fast changing, and what I've observed over the past few years is, don't jump too soon.

Change your boiler - already pretty efficient - only when you really have to.

Eldi_Dos

If anyone is setting up a boiler fund N/Wide have recently unveiled a flexible regular savers account for customers who have a current account with them that pays 8%, seems like a suitable vehicle for such a purpose.

grumbler

FlaatusGoat said:

That is the question.

 Either way it's coming up to 15 years old.

My boiler is 30 y.o. and I'm not going to replace it until it breaks down beyond economic repair.

All this higher efficiency of modern boilers gets eaten by huge installation cost, expensive servicing/maintenance (and, most likely, shorter life).