Domestic Boilers

[Mups]

I have got a Vaillant boiler,  which has always been excellent and trouble-free.
Alas now it is 17 years old,  and I think it may be getting tired,  but what to do about it is worrying me.

I  have spent hours today reading up on such things,  but it seems the government is trying to push more people into having either a Biomass boiler,  or a Heat Pump.

I didn't even know what a Biomass boiler was,  never heard of it,  but it seems it is a bit like a glorified wood burner?
Apart from I haven't got anywhere I could store loads of wood,  I don't think I fancy the job of lugging loads of wood  about in all weathers either.

As for Heat Pumps,  a friend of mine has a nearby neighbour with one,  and everyone else is thoroughly fed up with the noise it makes day and night.  Many complaints have been made to various authorities.

So both things considered,  I don't think either type would do for me really. 

So what sort of boiler have others here got,  and how old is it?   Would you buy the same sort again?
Any advice appreciated.

 

[Ashy]

Gas. I don't care what the government thinks, they're potty.

[Raven]

We also have a Vaillant boiler. Been great, around ten years old now.

[JBR]

Our boiler is also a Vaillant.
There is absolutely no way that I would ever have a heat pump.
1.  They have been shown against all doubt to be inefficient and expensive.
2.  Labour is pushing them.

[klondike]

I considered a heat pump as our Lords and Masters are offering a £7,500 grant if I had one which from the Octopus quote that would have given me on plus any required radiator upgrades for just north of £3,000. As it turned out my house isn't suitable for one.

I would have retained my old Worcester Bosch boiler but it had a definite problem (needed a new imternal pressure vessel) and then the wireless thermostat broke. The one fitted is discontinued and replacements are silly money. I tried a used one but it failed to pair so had to be returned. Although I could have limped along with the boiler as the issue with the thermostat was the timing not temperature control or I could have had it fixed but pouring cash into a boiler where parts had been discontinued didn't seem overly sensible,

I looked around. Lots of places will install boilers but it seemed they all rely on manufacturer warranty along with third party maintenance. I've past experience of third party maintenance deals. First year £12 a month. Next year it goes up to £20+. Then I checked BOXT who sponsor the weather on GBNews. They will do the straight install at good prices but I was more attracted to their 10 year deals. It may cost more over time as there is an element of finance involved but does offer a worry free fixed price next day callout 10 year deal and that's what I chose. You get a choice of boilers (at different prices) and the install was a couple of days after I ordered. £38 a month seemed reasonable to me as a service contract is likely going to be £20 or more.

[Scrumpy]

I have an oldish gas boiler..
I have it serviced every year and I always pay cover should it break down..
The service engineer called a couple of weeks back.. 
He said that it was absolutely fine..

If it ain't broken don't fix it..

[Ashy]

A ten year deal is no good to me, my life expectancy is 11 years.

[klondike]

Mines 20 so I'll get another one when this one runs out.

[Alex]

Mine is a BAXI boiler, about 12 years old now.

[Diasi]

I have got a Vaillant boiler,  which has always been excellent and trouble-free.
Alas now it is 17 years old,  and I think it may be getting tired,  but what to do about it is worrying me.

It matters not how old it is, what matters is whether or not it's still trouble-free & doing it's job.

Without knowing that I can't offer any advice apart from "if it ain't broke, don't try & fix it".

[Diasi]

Mine is a BAXI boiler, about 12 years old now.

Ours is a 10-year-old Baxi Neta-tek which has never had annual services but has had a new circuit board, which I think was caused by a mains surge when I switched on the mains without isolating the boiler.

Apart from that it's had a new plate heat exchanger as we live in a 22.8 degrees Clark very hard water area, & we had a £25 new diverter valve fitted just because the boiler was already stripped down.

It still runs like new & it won't be changed until it's absolutely necessary cost-wise.

[Mups]

It matters not how old it is, what matters is whether or not it's still trouble-free & doing it's job.

Without knowing that I can't offer any advice apart from "if it ain't broke, don't try & fix it".

The reason I've been thinking about replacement is because there seems to be something wrong with the hot water this last week or two.

When I turn the kitchen hot tap on,  it runs cold for longer than usual.  Then when it does get hot,  it is suddenly  scalding hot,  you couldn't  put your hands under it.  Then about half a minute later, it goes back to cold again.
Then it changes yet again, and is little more than lukewarm.

So something isn't right,  and I haven't altered any settings either.
I'm wasting a lot of water keep running the tap to just get some normal hot water.

[Alex]

I used to get boiling hot water Mups so the fella who fitted the boiler put a little thermostat on the actual tank in the airing cupboard.  There's a wire coming through the wall with a plug on the end, so I have to have a timer plugged in, this switches off the hot water when it gets to a certain temperature so I can still run the heating..

The trouble is he's retired now 

I know it's a big outlay to have a new boiler fitted, but I have no idea what it would cost nowadays.

[klondike]

I know it's a big outlay to have a new boiler fitted, but I have no idea what it would cost nowadays.

Then I checked BOXT who sponsor the weather on GBNews. They will do the straight install at good prices but I was more attracted to their 10 year deals. It may cost more over time as there is an element of finance involved but does offer a worry free fixed price next day callout 10 year deal and that's what I chose. You get a choice of boilers (at different prices) and the install was a couple of days after I ordered. £38 a month seemed reasonable to me as a service contract is likely going to be £20 or more.

Straight boiler install would be £2k or so depending on boiler chosen. Some can be done on interest free credit. I was more interested in the 10 year all covered deal which overall will cost more but is worry free.

https://www.boxt.co.uk/boilers/guides/how-much-does-a-new-boiler-cost

[Mups]

Straight boiler install would be £2k or so depending on boiler chosen. Some can be done on interest free credit. I was more interested in the 10 year all covered deal which overall will cost more but is worry free.

https://www.boxt.co.uk/boilers/guides/how-much-does-a-new-boiler-cost

My gas man said a new Vaillant would be in the region of £2.500 +VAT.

As you say,  I suppose it also depends on which boiler I chose,  and also whether any pipework needs replacing.

My radiators are also very old,  I inherited them with the house,  but as long as they still work I am leaving well alone.