New boiler or service old?
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Discussion

Duke Thrust

Original Poster:

1,680 posts

261 months

Friday 11th December 2009
quotequote all
Chaps,

I have a big old boiler (Ideal Concord CX, must be about 20 years old) which seems to do an admirable job of heating the old pile.

Now, we have to move it at some stage as the boiler room is becoming part of the kitchen and what is currently the boot room will be the boiler room.

A quick scan of the web shows that a modern replacement will be in the region of £2.5-3k (100kw) which I'd rather not spend if I'm being honest.

So, how much more efficient is a modern unit? Or am I better off having the old girl serviced and well looked after and save on the cost of a new unit?



Alex

9,978 posts

306 months

Friday 11th December 2009
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allgonepetetong

1,188 posts

241 months

Friday 11th December 2009
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I know, it's outrageous isn't it.

The boiler will probably cost up to around £1200, the rest is fitting which the shark will do in 2 days. £900 per day!!!!!

Find out how efficient your old boiler is, google is your fiend. I guess around 70%. You need to work out how long it will take to recoup the £3k outlay in saved gas bills. I suggest it would take quite a long time, maybe longer than you perhaps intend to remain in the house.

All this carbon reduction is all horse st anyway so don't worry about them trying to make you feel guitly about having an old boiler when it'll cost you a truckload of cash to change it.

Shelsleyf2

424 posts

254 months

Friday 11th December 2009
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Re Payback the modern high effieciency boilers have super heat exchangers ( alloy?) that do not last like your old cast iron jobs. Expected life of a modern boiler 15 years!!!! I believe so if you do your calcs factor that one in.

Duke Thrust

Original Poster:

1,680 posts

261 months

Friday 11th December 2009
quotequote all
Arse.

Found some more details on the existing boiler, it's 50kw, I had thought it was the 100kw version. Essentially we want to double the radiators in the place, so it's not going to be powerful enough. But at least my calculations stand up on what's required for the new system I suppose.

Any suggestions for a good 100kw boiler?


Pothole

34,367 posts

304 months

Friday 11th December 2009
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I thought this was another Tiger Woods thread.

TimJMS

2,584 posts

273 months

Friday 11th December 2009
quotequote all
Duke Thrust said:
Arse...

Any suggestions for a good 100kw boiler?
Oil or gas?

Duke Thrust

Original Poster:

1,680 posts

261 months

Friday 11th December 2009
quotequote all
TimJMS said:
Duke Thrust said:
Arse...

Any suggestions for a good 100kw boiler?
Oil or gas?
Ah yes, sorry, gas.

Was thinking something along the lines of:

http://www.boilers4you.com/acatalog/Ideal_Commerci...

It's listed as commercial, is there any difference between that and domestic or is it just because it's a high power output?


Ferg

15,242 posts

279 months

Friday 11th December 2009
quotequote all
Shelsleyf2 said:
Re Payback the modern high effieciency boilers have super heat exchangers ( alloy?) that do not last like your old cast iron jobs. Expected life of a modern boiler 15 years!!!! I believe so if you do your calcs factor that one in.
All due respect...
This is bks.
Please don't offer 'advice' if you don't know what you are talking about.

Munter

31,330 posts

263 months

Friday 11th December 2009
quotequote all
Duke Thrust said:
Any suggestions for a good 100kw boiler?
Something by Vaillant or Worcester Bosch.

Not keen on Ideal....it's broken down 3 times and it's 4 years old.....(Ok dodgy installation didn't help but it's tainted them for me)

Simpo Two

90,904 posts

287 months

Friday 11th December 2009
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Munter said:
Not keen on Ideal....it's broken down 3 times and it's 4 years old.....(Ok dodgy installation didn't help but it's tainted them for me)
My 1988 Ideal Elan is still working after 21 years and no services (gasp, horror). I don't know what the efficiency is but it heats the hosue up quickly, I haven't died from anything and my gas bills are low. Maybe I was just lucky, or maybe they make them in China now, not sure!

Trikster

912 posts

224 months

Saturday 12th December 2009
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My folks going through the same thoughts at the moment - but when they had the old boiler (21yrs old) serviced last week the independent who did it recommended they didn't change - old boiler doing fine and the new condensing ones do not seem to have the life span of the older boilers. Now bearing in mind that this is the same person who would have got the work if they did do it I think that says something....

sploosh

822 posts

230 months

Saturday 12th December 2009
quotequote all
Going to depend on the relative efficiency of new boiler vs old / payback period & and whether the old one is up to the job with your extra rads.

I'd also keep your eye on the pay as you save pilot that's just been launched - this will be rolled out everywhere - just a case of when.

Scheme gives you the capital pay for the most efficient installation and is paid back through the money you would have saved if you'd paid for it upfront. Doesn't matter whether you're swayed by the CO2 thing or not, it makes ££ sense.

We've just had our 20 year old oil burner serviced - still 96 - 92% efficient (10 mins - 30 mins).


Simpo Two

90,904 posts

287 months

Saturday 12th December 2009
quotequote all
sploosh said:
Scheme gives you the capital pay for the most efficient installation and is paid back through the money you would have saved if you'd paid for it upfront. Doesn't matter whether you're swayed by the CO2 thing or not, it makes ££ sense.
Sounds like credit to me. No doubt Johnny Taxpayer will be paying the interest...

sploosh

822 posts

230 months

Saturday 12th December 2009
quotequote all
Simpo Two said:
sploosh said:
Scheme gives you the capital pay for the most efficient installation and is paid back through the money you would have saved if you'd paid for it upfront. Doesn't matter whether you're swayed by the CO2 thing or not, it makes ££ sense.
Sounds like credit to me. No doubt Johnny Taxpayer will be paying the interest...
power companies I think