Boiler broken do I fix or replace?

aussiewantsaps2

My boiler (Keston 80) has a faulty fan which I can get replaced and fitted for around £400, the boiler is 9 years old and expensive to service. I have the option to have a regular Worcester Bosch boiler fitted for £1200 or a combi option for £2200.

I think fixing the boiler is throwing good money away. So my question is does the extra expense of the Combi payback? We have a 3 bed house with 15 radiators and a washing machine and tumble almost always on the go. Help we have no heating!

Canucklehead

Hi...: How many bathrooms do you have?
I see you've posted and had a response on DIYnot http://www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=832833#832833
Corgi Guy

aussiewantsaps2

one bathroom plus a cloakroom

payless

I assume you don't have a service / repair contract that will repair existing for free.

Have you checked with your bank account or home insurance ... some now come with "home emergency cover" which will pay for a repair ( usually only if you can show regularly serviced)

https://www.britishgas.co.uk/CHI/Fixandrepair/ do a fixed price repair - for around £168 inc parts!

Of course if you have decided on a new one the above don't matter... from my own experience those new prices seem very reasonable

aussiewantsaps2

Amazingly BG will do it for £168! on Friday morning. So thats under £200 with the other engineers diagnosis payment. :j However it does state:
"*The charge for the work includes the labour, parts and call-out for fixing the first fault we identify, and faults directly related to that fault. We may charge you separately for repairs to further unrelated faults. Terms and Conditions apply."

So if i book a call as my bioler isnt working that should be 1 fault. Would they say if the boiler had 2 faults i would have to pay for one?

It also states they only repair systems they have listed so im betting mine wont be on it!

Canucklehead

Hi

A decent output combi will cope well enough with one bath and cloak.(12 /14 litres /min.) If , in the future, another bathroom or shower were fitted it would struggle. (It depends on incoming mains pressure as well)

Would be interested in the BG experience !! Let us know what happens on Friday.

Good luck.

Corgi Guy.

aussiewantsaps2

BG just been and identified a small thermostatic part that they claim when replaced will fix boiler. Given that the other engineer also identified the expensive fan i asked if this didnt fix the fault would further work count as continuation of fault and he claims yes. Just will take a bit of time i guess to get to that as I cant prompt him obviously. First part being replaced monday.

payless

thanks for update

BG aren't my favourite company... but sometimes a bargain is a bargain

aussiewantsaps2

OK BG replaced the part and the boiler is alive again and the house warm. And the fan didnt need replacing after all! Tomorrow they are replacing the switch panel as its flakey inclusive of the one off price! WOW not sure they needed to under the agreement but im not arguing.

However I now have a Warning Notice that my flue piping is UPVC and not MUPVC and the couplier between the Flue pipe and boiler is screwed in but needs to be glued. He reckons £50 parts £200 labour for what is probably 1.5mtrs piping and clamps etc.

I can legally continue to use the boiler but BG are washing their hands if any melting of the pipes occur causing poison gases in the house. Its been installed like this for 9 years so what do I do?

randomsam08

if it hasnt melted in 9 years it probably wont, just leave it til it breaks down again then see about getting a grant to upgrade to a condensing combi

aussiewantsaps2

I will probably get a carbon monoxide alarm anyway but not from BG.