Oil fired Central Heating thermostat may not be working.

Veteransaver

anotherquestion said:

Thanks so much for all the replies, really appreciated.

The service guy has got back to me and his advice is "a new boiler"

Taking into consideration that its an old cast iron boiler installed when house was built in late eighties, rather than putting of the inevitable which probably I have been doing, I will get it replaced with a new Warmflow condensor boiler.

I know a good plumber who has been doing bits and bobs for me, and he works with Warmflow boilers. I do see a lot of ads for oil Grant boilers but will probably go for what the plumber works with.

No grants at the moment here unfortunately where I live so it will be full price around £2200.

Probably I have been putting off getting a new boiler for a long time, who wants to spend that kind of money, but I think it has to be done now.

Many thanks to everyone for their advice.

You'll be doing well to get a new one installed for £2200, they are about that price for the boiler alone.
I wouldn't condemn the boiler just yet, oil boilers are very robust and simple, unless the boiler jacket has gone most things can be fixed on them, it might be a burner issue, or might even be completely unrelated to the boiler and a failed valve or stat somewhere 

Section62

Veteransaver said:

You'll be doing well to get a new one installed for £2200, they are about that price for the boiler alone.
I wouldn't condemn the boiler just yet, oil boilers are very robust and simple, unless the boiler jacket has gone most things can be fixed on them, it might be a burner issue, or might even be completely unrelated to the boiler and a failed valve or stat somewhere 

That was my thought too.  Seems a shame to spend that much money (or more) on a new boiler when it could be something as simple as the failure of a £60 zone valve.  Although with the possibility of oil boilers being phased out, there may be some justification for replacing one before it becomes harder/impossible to do so - but I'm not sure we are quite there yet.

anotherquestion

Thanks guys,

I do see your point about maybe it is a simple thing, the boiler is now probably 36 years old, even the service guy is a bit nervous about  all the wiring and component on top as he feels it looks dodgy enough and easy broken.

I do hate spending the money though on a new oil boiler, but probably have just being putting it off and off from year to year.

At the moment is it firing up ok, but just won't switch off so I have to do it at mains timer so water doesn't get too warm.

Eldi_Dos

anotherquestion said:

The service guy has got back to me and his advice is "a new boiler"

Probably I have been putting off getting a new boiler for a long time, who wants to spend that kind of money, but I think it has to be done now.

When you compare it with other appliances in your house you will have had your monies worth.
How many cars would the average driver have had in that period of time.

Section62

Eldi_Dos said:

anotherquestion said:

The service guy has got back to me and his advice is "a new boiler"

Probably I have been putting off getting a new boiler for a long time, who wants to spend that kind of money, but I think it has to be done now.

When you compare it with other appliances in your house you will have had your monies worth.
How many cars would the average driver have had in that period of time.

But would you buy a new car because one of the tyres had a puncture?

The symptoms the OP describes don't leap out as indicating the boiler being EOL.  If it wasn't starting and getting hot then maybe a replacement should be considered - but if it is working other than making the water too hot then it suggests only a minor fault, which may not be with the boiler itself.

I get the feeling the "service guy" may not be fully familiar with the boiler and system and sees a new install of boiler and controls as an easy (and profitable) way out.

I'd be sceptical of the advice of anyone who condemns a boiler without at least checking the thermostats, zone valves* and pump(s) to exclude the possibility of a trivial fault. (*if applicable)

Eldi_Dos

@Section62
Much as I admire thriftiness there comes a time to call it a day, the boiler has been serviced yearly and the recommendation from someone that knows the system is it is time for a new one.
The relatively mild winters we have had the past few years can lead to a bit of complacency in regard to the importance of having a working boiler when a prolonged Artic spell occurs.So even for peace of mind it is not a bad move.

anotherquestion

Thanks folks, 

Here are a few pics from a few years ago when I has a thread on forum seeking some info on new boilers, though the old one was working fine at that time, but service guy had raised concerns about how long boiler might run ok.

Veteransaver

Eldi_Dos said:

@Section62
Much as I admire thriftiness there comes a time to call it a day, the boiler has been serviced yearly and the recommendation from someone that knows the system is it is time for a new one.
The relatively mild winters we have had the past few years can lead to a bit of complacency in regard to the importance of having a working boiler when a prolonged Artic spell occurs.So even for peace of mind it is not a bad move.

Without the service guy actually defining what is wrong, I'd take any advice from him with a pinch of salt.

Eldi_Dos

Veteransaver said:

Eldi_Dos said:

@Section62
Much as I admire thriftiness there comes a time to call it a day, the boiler has been serviced yearly and the recommendation from someone that knows the system is it is time for a new one.
The relatively mild winters we have had the past few years can lead to a bit of complacency in regard to the importance of having a working boiler when a prolonged Artic spell occurs.So even for peace of mind it is not a bad move.

Without the service guy actually defining what is wrong, I'd take any advice from him with a pinch of salt.

But the mice might have got fed up with the bait and started on the wiring and they are not partial to salt.

anotherquestion

Thanks for all replies, definitely helping me to make a decision, 

From Looking at the actual pictures of the boiler and its actual age of almost 35-36 years, does it come across from pictures that it is past its best, day?

If I definitely decide to get a new boiler I am somehow torn between the Grant and Warmflow brands, Grant ads are never of the tv where I live in N ireland, but Warmflow has a main office here too.

The heating engineer/plumber (not the guy who services old boiler) only does Warmflow, but I hear that a lot of people who prefer Grant and say it is more reliable. 

Here is a google search of Warmflow boiler house prices, further down search page, but the plumber will probably supply new boiler.

buy warmflow agentis boiler - Google Search

We have three double 180cms rads, one 95 or so double rad, three single rads one 180 and one 120,  one 78, one large towel raid 178, one towel rail 115 all approx in cms.

So want to make sure that if we get a new one we will get a boiler that is able to power the above.