Plumbers of PH........
Discussion
Morning all,
After some plumbing advice.....
We've got a crap old boiler in our house that must be very very ancient.
It used to have an immersion heater inside the hot water tank which has broken so this now means that if we want hot water we have to have the central heating on.
This hasn't been a problem over the winter as we'vehad the heating on anyway.
However as its getting warmer our only option is to turn all the radiators off if we want hot water but not heating. The system obv still heats up which creates unwanted heat and unwated costs.
Our options as i see them:
New boiler and full system. Which will be a good thing but obv expensive. How much roughly woudl this cost?
Replacement of the immersion heater - need the tank opening i guess which might result in a new tank if it breaks.
What i'm after is advice on the likely costs of both of the above options, or any other solutions people mayu have.
Cheers
Dan
After some plumbing advice.....
We've got a crap old boiler in our house that must be very very ancient.
It used to have an immersion heater inside the hot water tank which has broken so this now means that if we want hot water we have to have the central heating on.
This hasn't been a problem over the winter as we'vehad the heating on anyway.
However as its getting warmer our only option is to turn all the radiators off if we want hot water but not heating. The system obv still heats up which creates unwanted heat and unwated costs.
Our options as i see them:
New boiler and full system. Which will be a good thing but obv expensive. How much roughly woudl this cost?
Replacement of the immersion heater - need the tank opening i guess which might result in a new tank if it breaks.
What i'm after is advice on the likely costs of both of the above options, or any other solutions people mayu have.
Cheers
Dan
Edited by dan1981 on Monday 23 February 09:41
dan1981 said:
cjs said:
You may well have a 'Gravity' HW system. The CH works only when the pump is running. Switch off the CH pump and fire up the boiler and see if the HW heats up. If this is the case a simple timer will allow you to control the system.
Where am i likley to find this pump?Cold be next to the boiler, under the sink, in the airing cupboard maybe. May well look similar to this.
http://www.screwfix.com/prods/67637/Plumbing/Centr...
cjs said:
dan1981 said:
cjs said:
You may well have a 'Gravity' HW system. The CH works only when the pump is running. Switch off the CH pump and fire up the boiler and see if the HW heats up. If this is the case a simple timer will allow you to control the system.
Where am i likley to find this pump?Cold be next to the boiler, under the sink, in the airing cupboard maybe. May well look similar to this.
http://www.screwfix.com/prods/67637/Plumbing/Centr...
Now works a treat!
Wings said:
I have the same problem, only being able to run hot water with heating, although my boiler is oil fired.
I am looking to replace with a condenser type boiler, with an estimated cost of up to £2k, although could go higher should I decide on getting the system flushed through.
I have a condenser boiler - Vailant Eco Max Pro - fitted 2 years ago now, cost £1,350 - which included flushing out the heating system & fitting a new TRV on one of the radiators. Used a local plumber. It might be cheaper than you think.I am looking to replace with a condenser type boiler, with an estimated cost of up to £2k, although could go higher should I decide on getting the system flushed through.
If your immersion heater is kaput you need to speak to an electrician.
Immersiom heater elements and stats aren't expensive, you could purchase both for less than £25.
However, getting the heater element out can be time consuming and tricky. The last two I did had to be cut up with a hacksaw blade as the tank didn't look strong enough to withstand the force needed to unscrew them (after being in for 40 years they were rock solid).
It is a job a competant diyer could do, or you could get a sparky in (who I imagine would do it for £100 - £150, depending on where you are in the country and what problems he may encounter).
Immersiom heater elements and stats aren't expensive, you could purchase both for less than £25.
However, getting the heater element out can be time consuming and tricky. The last two I did had to be cut up with a hacksaw blade as the tank didn't look strong enough to withstand the force needed to unscrew them (after being in for 40 years they were rock solid).
It is a job a competant diyer could do, or you could get a sparky in (who I imagine would do it for £100 - £150, depending on where you are in the country and what problems he may encounter).
Edited by PH5121 on Monday 23 February 11:41
Sounds as if you have a pretty basic system which is probably costing a fortune and about as flexible as a scaffold pole. Replacing it with a modern system (boiler, pumped HW and heating circuits, thermostatic valves etc) would cost about £2.5k, varies obviously, but your gas consumption would fall off a cliff. My installer swore by Honeywell controls.
Sadly, modern boilers don't last long though.
Sadly, modern boilers don't last long though.
Dogwatch said:
Sounds as if you have a pretty basic system which is probably costing a fortune and about as flexible as a scaffold pole. Replacing it with a modern system (boiler, pumped HW and heating circuits, thermostatic valves etc) would cost about £2.5k, varies obviously, but your gas consumption would fall off a cliff. My installer swore by Honeywell controls.
Sadly, modern boilers don't last long though.
Yup you're right. Sadly, modern boilers don't last long though.
We have and it is.
Unfortunatly i'm also having trouble locating 2.5k
dan1981 said:
Dogwatch said:
Sounds as if you have a pretty basic system which is probably costing a fortune and about as flexible as a scaffold pole. Replacing it with a modern system (boiler, pumped HW and heating circuits, thermostatic valves etc) would cost about £2.5k, varies obviously, but your gas consumption would fall off a cliff. My installer swore by Honeywell controls.
Sadly, modern boilers don't last long though.
Yup you're right. Sadly, modern boilers don't last long though.
We have and it is.
Unfortunatly i'm also having trouble locating 2.5k
If you don't know what a pump is then this is probably beyond your DIY capabilities, but all you really need to do is to covert the system to one that is fully pumped.
Would need a couple of motorised zones valves (or one 3 port valve but they can be troublesome) a cylinder thermostat and a room thermostat (if there isn't one already) plus a new controller. Plus some pipeworks modifications. Cost of the bits would be under £200.
Of course if it's all a bit old and dodgy and you can't bodge it yourself then you'd be better getting the lot ripped out and starting again.
Would need a couple of motorised zones valves (or one 3 port valve but they can be troublesome) a cylinder thermostat and a room thermostat (if there isn't one already) plus a new controller. Plus some pipeworks modifications. Cost of the bits would be under £200.
Of course if it's all a bit old and dodgy and you can't bodge it yourself then you'd be better getting the lot ripped out and starting again.
Deva Link said:
If you don't know what a pump is then this is probably beyond your DIY capabilities, but all you really need to do is to covert the system to one that is fully pumped.
Would need a couple of motorised zones valves (or one 3 port valve but they can be troublesome) a cylinder thermostat and a room thermostat (if there isn't one already) plus a new controller. Plus some pipeworks modifications. Cost of the bits would be under £200.
Of course if it's all a bit old and dodgy and you can't bodge it yourself then you'd be better getting the lot ripped out and starting again.
Oh yeah its way ahead of my DIY capabilities. You wouldn't trust me with a spanner, let alone gas, hot water and all the rest of it. Would need a couple of motorised zones valves (or one 3 port valve but they can be troublesome) a cylinder thermostat and a room thermostat (if there isn't one already) plus a new controller. Plus some pipeworks modifications. Cost of the bits would be under £200.
Of course if it's all a bit old and dodgy and you can't bodge it yourself then you'd be better getting the lot ripped out and starting again.
Looks like I need to find a friendly plumber!
It could be worse, my parents' immersion heater is a bit temperamental and the chap who serviced the circa 40 year old boiler last month said he was frightened to touch it, and was of the opinion that it was held together by spit and gumption, and was still working by the will of god (who probably isn't keen on having a crap old boiler on his hands when it cops it)
They've been quoted 10 grand by several different places to have it replaced, as a fair bit of attached work would be required
They've been quoted 10 grand by several different places to have it replaced, as a fair bit of attached work would be required
Edited by OJ on Monday 23 February 15:07
dan1981 said:
Dogwatch said:
Sounds as if you have a pretty basic system which is probably costing a fortune and about as flexible as a scaffold pole. Replacing it with a modern system (boiler, pumped HW and heating circuits, thermostatic valves etc) would cost about £2.5k, varies obviously, but your gas consumption would fall off a cliff. My installer swore by Honeywell controls.
Sadly, modern boilers don't last long though.
Yup you're right. Sadly, modern boilers don't last long though.
We have and it is.
Unfortunatly i'm also having trouble locating 2.5k
mybrainhurts said:
dan1981 said:
Dogwatch said:
Sounds as if you have a pretty basic system which is probably costing a fortune and about as flexible as a scaffold pole. Replacing it with a modern system (boiler, pumped HW and heating circuits, thermostatic valves etc) would cost about £2.5k, varies obviously, but your gas consumption would fall off a cliff. My installer swore by Honeywell controls.
Sadly, modern boilers don't last long though.
Yup you're right. Sadly, modern boilers don't last long though.
We have and it is.
Unfortunatly i'm also having trouble locating 2.5k
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