90% chance boiler condemned - make recommendations?

NickK

NickK

NickK

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Well following on from the CO alarm yesterday, the guy is going around in 30mins to (most likely according to the call I got earlier) condemn the boiler.

The firm is a decent family run firm, they naturally smell money and will probably give a quote as part of the visit. They serviced it last time and are very clean and tidy too from experience.

They only sell Worcester boilers. Any comments/recomendations. I like Bosch :D given my experiences.. so Bosch Worcester would be an option even with the cost difference.

I'm betting £3-4K in quote with a £1500 boiler and a few additions to go from a Myson Apollo to a modern condenser or equivalent. The system has a seperate pump and set of valves for diverting between the hot water tank and/or the CH. The system has a small heating header tank in the loft.

Although I have seen quotes on the web of 1600 for smaller independents doing it but I think that's likely to be a straight swap with a smaller boiler. I'm guessing that there's probably a few things that would need to be done.. so will update in about an hours or so...

Main thing is - boiler brand recommendations?
 
I paid £1600 to swap out a myson apollo to a modern Worcester condensing boiler with all the adaptions in the airing cupboard, new programmer and thermostat and the exhaust bricked up. 3 bed house with HW tank. However I know the plumber quite well so although undoubtedly he made some money he didn't take the proverbial.
 
Phoenix211 said:
Worcester seem to get good review as do vaillant
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Yup that seems to be the recommendation. Although people comment on the amount of plastic internally the cost vs the efficiency of the old Myson is likely to cover the upgrade cost over time (vs going from a younger boiler).

With companies only providing parts (legal req) for 10 years.. the 7 year warrantee would be decent.

Will see :)
 
maccapacca said:
I paid £1600 to swap out a myson apollo to a modern Worcester condensing boiler with all the adaptions in the airing cupboard, new programmer and thermostat and the exhaust bricked up. 3 bed house with HW tank. However I know the plumber quite well so although undoubtedly he made some money he didn't take the proverbial.
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Yup if a mate's dad was still alive, I could have utilised his trade contacts :/

Thanks - that looks like a good cost.. this place is a 3 bed, and it sounds like all the same changes - although our flue is up and out of the roof rather than a wall mount. Depends if they can reuse that or they have to go out the side wall - we're the end house so we have the end wall we can utilise (although additional costs for routing)..

Told the mrs £4K guess based on the web.. but if it's under 2.. that would be even better.. already managing their expectations due to being unemployed..
 
I have almost exactly the same old boiler setup as you with a smaller Appollo 15/30i which I'm expecting to probably be un-serviceable soon as it's 25 years old. I actually clean it myself and drain flush the central heating occasionally but leave the gas side to a registered engineer.

There are a few parts still available but the prices are pretty high so yeah a complete upgrade is probably inevitable.

My dad has his system swapped by an independent about a year a go which meant ripping out the old water tank & loft header tank. plus the new combi was located downstairs in the utility room. That was ~£1800 for a Valiant based system but I would probably be looking fopr a Bosch Worcester myself.

So it's possible to get it around ~£2K but I would need references or recommendations if I didn't know the installer.
 
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Got a Worcester bosch fitted 3 years ago.

Went from an old system (separate water tank) to a combi boiler. Boiler cost £1650 and the fitting a further £1000.

My advice if your planning on staying in the house for the next 10-15 years is pay the extra now for a decent spec boiler.
 
Personally prefer Vaillant over Worcester.
Internally the layout is much simpler and therefore easier to work on if required.
 
Ok.. so it's doomed.

Also quoting initially around 3K.. considering the change to the end gable.. running a gas main up the side of the house.. the house has a very steep roof and the old flue is not straight up.. so is considered 'illegal' by current regulations (except on existing)..
 
My company doesn't fit anything but Worcester's and I personally would recommend them highly!

If you fit it along with their own brand system filter you can increase the warranty up to 8 years :)
 
It's very difficult to compare prices as every house is different as well as spec and type of system. For example I run a Worcester system boiler with an unvented tank - best you can get pretty much - a good friend installed the lot for 2500, however I know it would have cost 4K at least elsewhere. I would say 3k is around right for a good system boiler setup using a vented tank
 
Please dont get worcester, they'll packed with plastic and they will crack and leak, vailant or baxi..

intergas is worth a good look,.
 
Worcester. I have one and several friends have had their Glowworm and Vaillant boilers pack up so they bought Worcester based on mine. Some of the others had steel pipes and when it got really cold before it come it burst flooding the house.
 
NickK said:
Ok.. so it's doomed.

Also quoting initially around 3K.. considering the change to the end gable.. running a gas main up the side of the house.. the house has a very steep roof and the old flue is not straight up.. so is considered 'illegal' by current regulations (except on existing)..
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I would get a few quotes, that seems really high.

A new boiler fitted with little other work required should be around £1500.
Running a gas pipe aint a lot of work, what else needs done? I have a flue coming out the side of a wall, not sure why yours needs to be straight up!
 
Showboat said:
I would get a few quotes, that seems really high.

A new boiler fitted with little other work required should be around £1500.
Running a gas pipe aint a lot of work, what else needs done? I have a flue coming out the side of a wall, not sure why yours needs to be straight up!
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The boiler is situated in the centre of the house - the original flue exits to the top of the roof apex (like a raised tile).

The boiler re-located, removal of tanks, relaying of gas line. The location will be the attic so the piping is more of an extension. I'll get a couple more quotes.
 
Id also say to keep in mind how far away your kitchen / bathroom are from your boiler!
In my house it takes close to 1minute to get hot water in the kitchen because whatever ****originally plumbed it took it around the house and, its a very big house though!

Old house had it between kitchen and bathroom and had hot water within 10secs in either.. the good old days!

When i had the heating converted from oil to gas it cost £2k and that involved the gas pipe and removal and re-work of the old hot / cold water storage. Deffo worth a couple of quotes!

GL :)
 
Just to throw my 2p in here, you can have a flue that isnt 'straight up' and have it meet regs. Our boiler is in the middle of our house and it goes out of the boiler, into a wall, then a right angle in the wall after 1-2m and then goes straight up through the roof.

In order to comply with regs, i had to install an inspection hatch so you can inspect the entire length of the flue - and you also need to have a flue support fitting every 2m to ensure its supported correctly. These are around £5 a pop, and inspection hatches are around £10-15 depending. I did it all myself and im a novice, and British Gas are more than happy it meets regs.
 
Just dug out the quote I had when I had mine fitted by a local guy.

To Supply & fit Worcester Bosch Greenstar 29 CDI Classic Condensing Combination Gas Boiler in Utility to include flue kit, Worcester primary filter, Digital programable wireless room thermostat, scale reducer, inhibitor and all pipework & electrical alterations to suit new installation.
Fully commission as per manufacturers instructions.


£2,100-00 inc vat
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