When to replace boiler

pope

Should a boiler be replaced after 16 years even though it's running OK but has a water leak?

MikeJXE

I'm sure it would be cheaper to fix the leak then ask the plumber on the condition of the boiler 

grumbler

pope said:

Should a boiler be replaced after 16 years even though it's running OK

Generally, no

but has a water leak?

This depends on whether the leak is beyond economical repair.

pope

grumbler said:

pope said:

Should a boiler be replaced after 16 years even though it's running OK

Generally, no

but has a water leak?

This depends on whether the leak is beyond economical repair.

The leak is from the filling loop and then the pressure drops. Engineer says its repairable but as the boiler is 16 years old I'm going to get problems. 2 years ago I spent £400 for new pub.

housebuyer143

You could fix that leak and the boiler work fine without issues for many more years, or it might not.

 My boiler is 23 years old and it is perfectly fine. 
I had an old boiler in my rental and the plumber changed the PCB and told me it was on its way out and I should think of replacing. I had that rental 8 more years, the boiler never had another problem 🤷‍♂️ 
If it's economical to repair, I say it's probably best to repair a 16 year old boiler. 

pope

housebuyer143 said:

You could fix that leak and the boiler work fine without issues for many more years, or it might not.

 My boiler is 23 years old and it is perfectly fine. 
I had an old boiler in my rental and the plumber changed the PCB and told me it was on its way out and I should think of replacing. I had that rental 8 more years, the boiler never had another problem 🤷‍♂️ 
If it's economical to repair, I say it's probably best to repair a 16 year old boiler. 

What brand is your boiler? Mine is a ideal ISAR HE24

pseudodox

I replaced an 18 year old boiler this year.  It ran fine with annual servicing & only the occasional minor problem/repair.  But it seemed to be getting more gas hungry & whilst I had no thought of recovering the capital cost in lowered gas bills decided to bite the bullet.  I now have a 12 year warranty, peace of mind & am definitely using less gas.  I have no plans to move house so it was an investment but had I had plans to up sticks in 2 or 3 years I would not have changed.

housebuyer143

pope said:

housebuyer143 said:

You could fix that leak and the boiler work fine without issues for many more years, or it might not.

 My boiler is 23 years old and it is perfectly fine. 
I had an old boiler in my rental and the plumber changed the PCB and told me it was on its way out and I should think of replacing. I had that rental 8 more years, the boiler never had another problem 🤷‍♂️ 
If it's economical to repair, I say it's probably best to repair a 16 year old boiler. 

What brand is your boiler? Mine is a ideal ISAR HE24

My current boiler is glowworm but the one in the rental was ideal. You can never really know though, it's like a car - when do you replace the car, at what point do you feel the repair costs are not worth it anymore.

ThisIsWeird

pope said:

The leak is from the filling loop and then the pressure drops. Engineer says its repairable but as the boiler is 16 years old I'm going to get problems. 2 years ago I spent £400 for new pub.

The leak is from the filling loop? One that's outside the boiler? Surely just about the simplest and cheapest repair that could possibly be carried out?

If so, get it done. Your boiler may last less than a year, or could go on for a few - you simply cannot tell. But the most cost-effective option is to keep a boiler running for as long as it can, provided it doesn't suffer a prohibitively costly repair.

FreeBear

Ideal ISAR HE24 is (according to the database) is a modulating condensing boiler with a winter efficiency of 88.1%. Unless you are using huge amounts of gas, there isn't going to be much in the way of savings on your gas bill by installing a new boiler. Fitting a programmable thermostat could achieve up to 10% saving, so perhaps worth fitting one. Nurse it along for now as long as repair costs are not excessive, and look at heat pumps as a long term replacement.

markin

Is that £400 for a pump? Is that a BG price? Or Xmas day price?

The heat exchanger is usually the most expensive part but if every other part is fine its still probably worth it.