My old boiler....
Discussion
....a Potterton Netaheat 16-22 is now just over 30years old. Never failed and rumbles away quite happily despite having only had one professional service around 15 years ago (BG man didn't do much apart from vacuum the combustion chamber) Probably not very efficient and is now showing the occasional signs of "kettling" which seems to have improved with a recent dosing of Sentinel x400 and a flush and top up which is something I've done every couple of years.
Considering it's age and probable difficulties with obtaining spares I've asked several installers for a quote to renew the boiler. Both installers have told me I must have a condensing boiler fitted.
Several friends have had condensing boilers Worcester and Valiant and neither have proved to be 100% reliable and I'd prefer to stay with a "conventional" boiler to supply CH&HW.
Do I have to fit a condensing type of boiler? (in Scotland if that's important for regulations etc)I'm suspecting the two installers are just pushing towards condensing types because that's what they're used to supplying/fitting.One installer didn't cover himself in glory when he attempted to put the fear of God in me by describing my particular model of boiler having a reputation as a widow maker!?
I'm quite prepared to sacrifice efficiency to the altar of reliability!
Thoughts and advice much appreciated.
Considering it's age and probable difficulties with obtaining spares I've asked several installers for a quote to renew the boiler. Both installers have told me I must have a condensing boiler fitted.
Several friends have had condensing boilers Worcester and Valiant and neither have proved to be 100% reliable and I'd prefer to stay with a "conventional" boiler to supply CH&HW.
Do I have to fit a condensing type of boiler? (in Scotland if that's important for regulations etc)I'm suspecting the two installers are just pushing towards condensing types because that's what they're used to supplying/fitting.One installer didn't cover himself in glory when he attempted to put the fear of God in me by describing my particular model of boiler having a reputation as a widow maker!?
I'm quite prepared to sacrifice efficiency to the altar of reliability!
Thoughts and advice much appreciated.
Why change it? Unless the heat exchanger fails which is unlikely, the only spares you are likely to need are the occasional basic thermocouple and ...er.. that's it. You'll probably find a generic one will fit. I was in a similar position a few years ago with a huge 1960's boiler in a large old house. The advice from British Gas was to replace as 'spares aren't available' and 'new ones are much more efficient'. Apart from the time taken to recoup the substantial cost of replacement, the 'inefficient' boiler did a good job of keeping the basement nicely warm so the much of the 'waste' heat wasn't. A thermocouple failed later so the boiler wouldn't fire and a local heating bloke changed it with one off the shelf for a few quid. As far as I know it runs to this day.
rovermorris999 said:
Why change it?
No good reason other than I'd have thought the 30+ years it's been doing its job may be pushing it...don't fancy getting caught in the winter!I take your point about something simple'ish failing maybe easy to fix - I'll chance another year(or more) out of it.
I am in exactly the same situation. We have an ancient Potterton Kinfisher (don't make them like they used to!), at a guess it is between 25 and 30 year sold. It chugs away merrily and has done so in the ten years we have been in the house.
We've always been told it doesn't meet safety regs (open flue etc), it is inefficient (doesn't bother me) and that parts may get difficult to obtain (not been a problem so far).
I guess it's living on borrowed time. I also know that had I taken the advice of the experts, ten years ago when we moved into the house, we would have had it changed and now ten years later the replacement would probably be coming to the end of its life.
What say the PH plumbers?
BTW I also run a 12 year old BMW which I have had for ten years. It's pristine and runs faultlessly. (Can you see pattern in the way I spend money?)
PP
We've always been told it doesn't meet safety regs (open flue etc), it is inefficient (doesn't bother me) and that parts may get difficult to obtain (not been a problem so far).
I guess it's living on borrowed time. I also know that had I taken the advice of the experts, ten years ago when we moved into the house, we would have had it changed and now ten years later the replacement would probably be coming to the end of its life.
What say the PH plumbers?
BTW I also run a 12 year old BMW which I have had for ten years. It's pristine and runs faultlessly. (Can you see pattern in the way I spend money?)
PP
I'm in the same position, I have a 35 year old Potterton Kingfisher. I've had to replace the gas control valve about twice at £70 a go and a few thermocouples at £4 each. It's quite inefficient but I reckon the money I would save on having to replace it with a condensing boiler plus the upkeep and short life span more than pays for any extra gas I use.
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