Boiler is condemned - talk to me about replacements.....
Discussion
Hello,
After getting slightly worried about our boiler we called in a local company to have a look at it. He said the boiler is around 15-20 years old, is very inefficient, is ¡§kettling¡¨ ¡V making a lot of noise, is spilling and the CO levels are too high. In other words, it¡¦s dangerous and has been condemned. ƒ¼
So, talk to me about boilers. What do I need to know? I¡¦m pretty good when it comes to plumbing but I don¡¦t know a great deal about boilers. The current one is an old Potterton Flamingo 50S (nice name) and looks very ugly on the wall in the kitchen. The flue goes straight out the wall behind it. It¡¦s massive and is rather unattractive so I¡¦d like something that looks a bit smaller and better in it¡¦s place.
My main concern is how efficient a new one would be. The landlord (who is family) has said he wants to replace it fairly cheaply as it¡¦s only a cheap property so that¡¦s fair enough, but I don¡¦t want a junk boiler! I¡¦m not too worried about reliability as we won¡¦t be in the house forever and if it goes wrong, it¡¦s not my problem. What is my problem is how much it costs to run. Are they all much the same these days or do they differ greatly in efficiency? I read somewhere on the internet that my boiler is rated as 65% efficient, although after 20 years I doubt it¡¦s that efficient now! Can I expect most modern boilers to be around 85% say?
We¡¦ve just had a lovely new bathroom fitted with a pumped Mira digital shower, so I¡¦m reluctant to have a combi boiler fitted as it would mean having to change the shower controller and pump for an unpumped version. As much as I would love a combi boiler, the landlord won¡¦t pay to have the hot water tank removed and all the piping changed.
So, any tips or advice for me? What should I be looking out for? Any boilers you recommend we go for or avoid? Also an idea on pricing would be good. It¡¦s a little two bed house, gas fired central heating with radiators in each room, hot water tank in the airing cupboard, boiler in the kitchen so all standard stuff. Just rip the old boiler and fit the new one in it¡¦s place.
Thanks a lot.
Dan
After getting slightly worried about our boiler we called in a local company to have a look at it. He said the boiler is around 15-20 years old, is very inefficient, is ¡§kettling¡¨ ¡V making a lot of noise, is spilling and the CO levels are too high. In other words, it¡¦s dangerous and has been condemned. ƒ¼
So, talk to me about boilers. What do I need to know? I¡¦m pretty good when it comes to plumbing but I don¡¦t know a great deal about boilers. The current one is an old Potterton Flamingo 50S (nice name) and looks very ugly on the wall in the kitchen. The flue goes straight out the wall behind it. It¡¦s massive and is rather unattractive so I¡¦d like something that looks a bit smaller and better in it¡¦s place.
My main concern is how efficient a new one would be. The landlord (who is family) has said he wants to replace it fairly cheaply as it¡¦s only a cheap property so that¡¦s fair enough, but I don¡¦t want a junk boiler! I¡¦m not too worried about reliability as we won¡¦t be in the house forever and if it goes wrong, it¡¦s not my problem. What is my problem is how much it costs to run. Are they all much the same these days or do they differ greatly in efficiency? I read somewhere on the internet that my boiler is rated as 65% efficient, although after 20 years I doubt it¡¦s that efficient now! Can I expect most modern boilers to be around 85% say?
We¡¦ve just had a lovely new bathroom fitted with a pumped Mira digital shower, so I¡¦m reluctant to have a combi boiler fitted as it would mean having to change the shower controller and pump for an unpumped version. As much as I would love a combi boiler, the landlord won¡¦t pay to have the hot water tank removed and all the piping changed.
So, any tips or advice for me? What should I be looking out for? Any boilers you recommend we go for or avoid? Also an idea on pricing would be good. It¡¦s a little two bed house, gas fired central heating with radiators in each room, hot water tank in the airing cupboard, boiler in the kitchen so all standard stuff. Just rip the old boiler and fit the new one in it¡¦s place.
Thanks a lot.
Dan
I hope you don't mind me lurking on your thread, but I am interest to hear the replies. Our boiler isn't condemned (yet), but it is also a Potterton and is 24yrs old! It is apparently running at 65% efficiency, does not conform to current standards (due to flue position), and you cannot get any replacement parts for it anymore, so we are screwed if anything goes wrong. It is quite important to us to a have a functioning boiler as I don't think we would survive our 2nd winter in Scotland without heat, as we are still getting used to the cold!!
danyeates said:
After getting slightly worried about our boiler we called in a local company to have a look at it. He said the boiler is around 15-20 years old, is very inefficient, is ¡§kettling¡¨ ¡V making a lot of noise, is spilling and the CO levels are too high. In other words, it¡¦s dangerous and has been condemned.
My boiler is 22 years, has been kettling for years and is no doubt inefficient compared to the latest models. I have no plans to change it; the cynic in me thinks your chap is trying to sell you a new boiler.Of course if it's ACTUALLY dangerous that's another matter.
Edited by Simpo Two on Thursday 30th September 09:54
Well, he was VERY highly regarded on Check a Trade, hence why we chose him. Looks a reputable company. We told him that the property was rented and he asked if we wanted him to quote to replace it as most of the time landlords have their own contacts for this kind of work, so he certainly wasn't pushy about quoting for the job.
There was black marks around the top of the boiler which every company we spoke to said this would mean the boiler would be condemned instantly. He checked it and said it failed on a few other things as well.
There was black marks around the top of the boiler which every company we spoke to said this would mean the boiler would be condemned instantly. He checked it and said it failed on a few other things as well.
He didn't "condemn" it (by switching it off and saying "It's unsafe, don't use it") ? To me, that's the bottom line. At an old house the engineer checked the boiler and said "it's old, the flue isn't legal for new installations, it's very inefficient .... but these models will last forever ... " lasted for 12 more years of service after that!
john_p said:
He didn't "condemn" it (by switching it off and saying "It's unsafe, don't use it") ? To me, that's the bottom line. At an old house the engineer checked the boiler and said "it's old, the flue isn't legal for new installations, it's very inefficient .... but these models will last forever ... " lasted for 12 more years of service after that!
It's condemned. Been capped and switched off with a nice hanging tag saying "THIS APPLIANCE IS DANGEROUS!" danyeates said:
It's condemned. Been capped and switched off with a nice hanging tag saying "THIS APPLIANCE IS DANGEROUS!"
The meter-reader did that to my boiler when he noticed there was some Virginia creeper climbing through the vent outside. I cut the creeper away and then, because I had removed the problem, started the boiler again. Obviously a little plight pruning (30 seconds) wasn't in his remit.Part of it is no doubt essential but I think there's a lot of back-covering going on too. After all if they get it wrong, there could be a big hoo-hah.
I'm sure there is. I'd quite like a new boiler though! It's very noisy and clearly inefficient, as it's a G rated one.
What's the difference between new boilers then? I'm looking at condensing boilers and they're ranging from £600 to £2,000 to buy off the shelf. What's going to be a good one to go for?
What's the difference between new boilers then? I'm looking at condensing boilers and they're ranging from £600 to £2,000 to buy off the shelf. What's going to be a good one to go for?
I recently went through this particular issue and after much hunting around and geting quotes the best was an independent who quoted 2500K for a Boiler install (had to change the flue, pipes and pump) the boiler that was installed was a Worcester Greenstar 15i, Highly recommended, Goes without saying make sure whoever installs it is Gas Safe registered.
Good Luck with it all
Good Luck with it all
Apart from a design flaw in our Vaillant installed at our previous place, we found it to be quiet and efficient. Very reasonably priced aswell.
Current place had a vintage (read 20yr old and rusty) Ideal floor standing boiler when we were looking round prior to purchase. We made comment of replacing it should we be successful. Lo and behold it gets replaced with a Vokera boiler that our plumber took one look at and said was $hite. Under warranty I don't care, I'll run it for a couple of years and then probably replace it with an unveted cylinder and boiler from Vaillant (big house and need enough hot water from more than one tap at a time).
Dr Rick
Current place had a vintage (read 20yr old and rusty) Ideal floor standing boiler when we were looking round prior to purchase. We made comment of replacing it should we be successful. Lo and behold it gets replaced with a Vokera boiler that our plumber took one look at and said was $hite. Under warranty I don't care, I'll run it for a couple of years and then probably replace it with an unveted cylinder and boiler from Vaillant (big house and need enough hot water from more than one tap at a time).
Dr Rick
MonkeyHanger said:
Not an Isar or Icos by any chance is it? The bloody things love eating PCBs. I really enjoy backheeling them to our Gas fitters 
Funny you should say that, but I have an Icos in my own house. I scrounged it from Ideal. It's still got the original black primary controls box, and......no internal leaks!!!!
Anyway, if I was going to recommend a boiler it would be the Remeha Avanta.
Ferg said:
Funny you should say that, but I have an Icos in my own house. I scrounged it from Ideal. It's still got the original black primary controls box, and......
no internal leaks!!!!
.
There has to be 1 good one out there no internal leaks!!!!
.
I got called to another one this afternoon. Hateful devices but it keeps the Gas chaps busy
Ferg said:
MonkeyHanger said:
Not an Isar or Icos by any chance is it? The bloody things love eating PCBs. I really enjoy backheeling them to our Gas fitters
Funny you should say that, but I have an Icos in my own house. I scrounged it from Ideal. It's still got the original black primary controls box, and......no internal leaks!!!!
Anyway, if I was going to recommend a boiler it would be the Remeha Avanta.
It was surprise surprise a leak that killed the PCB.
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