Combi boilers; very boring subject but need advice...

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moehat

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My ancient central heating system has died [and could have easily taken me with it]. It now has to be replaced which will wipe me out financially, but, if I don't get it done soonish I'll die of hypothermia [even though I haven't taken my hat off for over a week]. No obvious outside wall for the vent, which is going to cause a problem but need to become an expert on boilers so I know what the guys giving me quotes are talking about [and so's I know if they're talking rubbish]. Have heard bad things about Worcester Bosch's although Which seem to rate them highly. Can't make a mistake on this one as it's going to cost so much!
 
For what its worth:

My opinion, experience talking, is that they are pretty unreliable after a few years. Get a good one and expect to take out a maintenace contract e.g. British Gas ($15 a month) after two years.

If you buy a cheap one, like what I did, the engineers seem to find it difficult to iron out problems. But, likewise on my Dad's much more expensive one.

So, don't buy one on the cheap and get a good company to put it in for you.

Mind you, although ours is unreliable, we manage with it - not had it serviced for two years and its dreaking along

MR2
 
It's crazy, really given that my old Glowworm has worked for well over thirty years, but is probably very inefficient now and costing me a fortune in gas bills. Have been told not to expect a new combi to last more than 10 years and, obviously when it breaks down you've got nothing; at least now I can heat water from my immersion and have a gas fire to stop me freezing. Almost tempted to update my old system, but no one seems keen to give me a quote for that [probably because it's no good to them if it works for another 30 years without needing to be replace.Another part of out 'throwaway society?'
 
Our combi is 16 years old and it seems the only reason we have a problem with it is because of something to do with water ingress on rainy/windy days, so the water eventually gets into the fan or the air tubes. I now know how to clear the latter to save a visit from the engineer but the fan packs up every two years or so once enough water has got in and not evaporated.

Our boiler is on 24/7 for the best part of eight months of the year so, apart from the fan, it has been reliable. (It's a SIME.)
 
I think I'm going to try to get another heat only condensor boiler; viessman have been recommended. I know combis are supposed to save money but that gets eaten up by maintenance contracts and the fact the, once you've had one fitted you have to start saving up for the next one. At least the weather has warmed up and I've been able to take my hat off.
 
When you do sort something out, I would recommend the British Gas cover, roughly £15 per month as mentioned before.
It's been worth it's weight in gold on both my properties, being called out every time something is wrong and same or next day.
 
Looks like I'm going to have to go with British Gas anyway, as they say it's too complicated a job for anyone else to do [I think they're right]. As they've got to go through my roof, I need a 10 year guarantee from a company that's still going to be around in 10 years. Even though I said a few years ago that BG would never again get a penny of my money after they overcharged people for so long with their energy prices. And they really push Worcester Bosch's, although I've asked for a quote for a Vaillent also. Said Baxi's are rubbish, but I don't believe that. A bit of hard sell was going on imo; 'this offer is only for a limited period' etc etc. Hmmm
 
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