| Archive for Downsizer For an ethical approach to consumption |
| Ageing Hippy |
New Boiler or what?I`ve got a carbon footprint type quandary.We`ve got a 40year old gas boiler that runs the central heating and hot water. It`s quite efficient in that it never breaks down and chunters away in the kitchen by itself. In fact we only use it about six months a year as our house - and us - are well insulated etc. The rest of the time we heat the water with an immersion heater. I know we should change to a combi boiler and change our radiators to controllable ones etc. However, we are in our late sixties, not rich and the change would take most of our 'rainy day' money. What to do ----what to do-----................... |
| Bebo |
My view is if it ain't broke don't fix it. I would have though you should be able to get thermostatic valves on your radiators without having to change your boiler. |
| marigold |
Have you checked to see if you are eligible for a grant under the Warm Front scheme? http://www.warmfront.co.uk/do-i-qualify.htm
If you aren't receiving any means-tested benefits, but are on a low income, you can check on http://www.entitledto.co.uk/default.aspx to see if you can apply for pension credit, council tax benefit etc. |
| Treacodactyl |
If you're happy your old boiler is safe then I'd work out how much a new one would cost, see how much it would save and see if there are any grants to help with the cost. I wouldn't necessarily believe the claimed efficiency of a modern boiler as in the real world I don't think they are that efficient.
Personally I would be wary of modern combi-boilers as I've not found them that reliable and they can be expensive to fix (£400 just for a part sir?). It annoys me a fair bit that the government keeps trying to persuade people to install them and there's loads of efficiency data available but not much info on reliability and many only come with a one year guarantee. |
| Midland Spinner |
We had a similar situation until two years ago - the old boiler had a note sellotaped to it that said 1 Feb 80 which was either the date that the next service was due! or the date of the last one. We didn't change it, service it or anything, just replaced a thermocouple when it needed it.
We then had an extension built and had to change the heating system (more radiators, another shower) so we went to a combi boiler. Since then we seem to have used less gas & electric, but the savings would take ages to pay for the new boiler and I have grave doubts that it will save enough carbon in my lifetime to cover the carbon cost of building, transporting and installing the new one and scrapping the old one. We are happy with the new boiler and like the fact that we only use gas when we genuinely want hot water / heating rather than it heating a tank full every day whether we use it or not. p.s. Our old boiler was in a lean-to at the side of the house so I knew that if it was chucking out carbon-monoxide it wasn't going to be getting into the house. If yours is indoors get it checked and get one of those CO alarms that wakes you up if there's any danger. |
| john of wessex |
Combi's are the Devils own invention.
They are much more complex than a conventional boiler and if they go down, take the whole house with them unless you have alternative hot water & heating arrangements. A new 'conventional' boiler is much cheaper. As far as I understand it, Combi's came from Europe where they have pumped water mains with much higher pressures and work much better with these arrangements. |
| welsh lamb |
Whenever we had our 20+ year old gas boiler serviced the British Gas engineers always said do not change it unless it has a major breakdown which was highly unlikely in any event as the new boilers are not a patch on the older ones for build or reliability. |
| Shane |
We had a combi installed in place of a knackered old convential boiler five years ago - gas bills halved overnight (so it paid for itself some time ago), and we've never had a hint of trouble from it. |
| Ageing Hippy |
Crumbs! Thank you for taking the time to reply with such a variety of advice.
Things are never simple are they? I`m going to look into grants etc but doubt whether we would be able to get anything as our pension is just enough to keep us out of the 'means tested benefits' zone. I suspect that we will just continue to be as frugal as possible. |
| JB |
What is your annual gas bill?
If you have a reasonable water pressure then installing a combi would be practical and would save you money, in which case it should be easy to estimate how long it would take to pay for itself. Less than the boiler lifetime?, then replace it, more? don't bother. Another consideration is that changing to a combi means you can do away with a hot water tank which gives you back some space in the house. |
| vegplot |
Leave as is until you need to replace it. I would buy a carbon monoxide detector though (device or indicator strips) as an old boiler is more likely to be leaky than a new one. Falling asleep and never waking up is not a warning. |
| Mutton |
Warm Front - in general (not particularly for Ageing Hippy since the thread is advising keeping the current boiler!)
If anyone decides to go the Warm Front route, be aware they select the installers from an approved list, and also that they install a basic system. For example, in a two bed flat a friend got a combi boiler, radiators in the hall, lounge and bedrooms, but not the bathroom and all pipes surface mounted with no boxing or insulation. You can be asked to pay for costs in excess of the £2,700 grant. If anyone is eligible for a grant, my recommendation would be to get in other installers for quotes and chat to them about the sort of system, and also which makes of boiler are worth having. Warm Front are responsible for maintaining the system for I think it is the first two years, after that it is over to you. Which Magazine is a good place to check out the reliability of modern boiler makes. |