Gas/Combi Boilers

[Mups]

After reading Alex's thread about keeping warm,  it reminded me that they are coming to service my combi boiler first week of December.

My poor old Vaillant boiler is around 18 years old now,  and I dread it dying,  as it costs thousands for a new one.     I keep hearing they are going to ban new gas boilers soon.    Anyone know anything about this?   I don't one of those heat pump things.

My boiler service this year will be £102  for the service this year.
Do you think that is reasonable?  What do others pay for their boiler service each year?

[Vlad]

Just done a google Mups...

A combi boiler should be replaced every 10 to 15 years, though this can vary depending on the quality of the model, how well it is maintained, and how heavily it is used. At around 15 years old, boilers often become less efficient and more prone to breakdowns, making a new, more energy-efficient model a potentially more cost-effective choice

Signs you may need a replacement

• Frequent breakdowns: If you are having to pay for frequent repairs, the cumulative cost could be higher than the cost of a new boiler.
  
• Increased energy bills: An older, less efficient boiler can lead to higher energy costs.
  
• Uneven heating: Inconsistent water temperature or cold radiators may indicate the boiler is struggling to keep up.
  
• Unusual noises: Banging, whistling, or gurgling sounds can signal internal issues.
  
• Visible signs of age: Leaks or a yellow flame instead of a blue one are signs that the system may need professional attention or replacement.

Hope this helps

[klondike]

You've reminded me of something I was considering adding - an extra board for affilliate links. So what are they? If you use a service you think is good that gives you a link to share with people you recommend it to. If they use the link to correctly sign up or buy then you both get something out of it. I recently replaced a boiler using a service that suited me. I could have just bought one and they come with guarantee. But to keep the guarantee valid it will have to be serviced annually and if it does go wrong after say 5 years who are you going to call to get it fixed and how long will it take because those are manufacturers guarantees and are sometimes parts only.

I looked around and found what I considered a reasonable deal but there is one snag that I decided to accept. You get a boiler of your choice from their range and it will be fitted fast - well within a week. The boilers mostly have 10 year guarantees. The snag is you can't just pay a fixed price you have to use their HP but then that covers all servicing and repairs for 10 years. I pay £38 a month for that. Obviously the price would vary depending on your boiler choice and I didn't pick a top tier one with fancy controls you can operate away from home on your phone.

If you are in any way interested I'll set up an affiliate links section and dig out the link for that. There are at least a couple of other ones I could add and I encourage anybody else to add some if they have any.

Oh and I think they have backtracked on banning boilers so if yours keeps going you'll be ok, Around £100 is par for the course on servicing. They just stuff in a gas analyser and scratch their balls for an hour while they write down the numbers and give you a bit of paper.

[GrannyMac]

That could be helpful klondike.

We pay over the odds so that anything that may go wrong with heating, plumbing and electrics is covered, and it includes an annual boiler service.  We had a problem with the soil pipe, it turned out to be a large washer that disintegrated causing back up, then we needed a new tap in the bathroom, also the outside waste pipe from the bathroom sink split and was pouring over the path.  All fixed quickly.  Costly at around £60 a month, but peace of mind for us.   British Gas.

[klondike]

OK I've added the section and my affiliate link - If anybody rushes forth don't forget to use TopCashBack too as that's another £100 off. I'll get around to putting up something about that too later and a brief description on how to use it. I've made hundreds from that over the years and it's well worth using - even the few coppers from eBay Aliexpress Temu and many others add up.

Affiliate link in here - https://letschat.club/index.php?topic=6307.msg160646#msg160646

[Mups]

Klondie,  have you altered the layout?   
What's that drop-down section called 'Info Centre'   on the homepage now? 
I can't see who's online anymore,  it always used to show at the bottom of the homepage, but its gone.

[klondike]

That's always been there. You must have clicked it and hidden it. I didn't even know that was possible. Click the little arrow on the right again and you should be back to normal.

[Mups]

That's always been there. You must have clicked it and hidden it. I didn't even know that was possible. Click the little arrow on the right again and you should be back to normal.

Thanks.    There is nothing to click now,  it seems to be gone again, all on its own.   

[klondike]

It'll still be there. A little arrow on the right hand end of the bar saying info centre. It's onlyca list of recent posts and who's been online in the last quarter of an hour so the option is there to just not show it.