Replace Bolier or Wait

TheZ

Have a gas boiler in the house which is about ten years old - a Potterton Ultra. Needs a new circuit board and also a new room thermostat is needed. Quote 380 plus 70 to replace the two

Part of me wonders if I would better off biting the bullet and getting a new boiler - was given a ball park of €2,200 for a new boiler - rather than spend 450 on something that may give up the ghost soon anyway

What is lifespan of a boiler?
Am I better off upgrading the boiler now when there is 450 euro worth of repairs to be done and no guarantee it won't pack it in soon anyway

Micky Dolenz

I service boilers that are older then myself so many can last 30 + years. How efficient they are is another matter.

If you have the money, upgrade. Do your homework, get a boiler installed that you want and shop around for prices. You can probably do better then €2200.

JohnnieK

One of my regulars has an old Glow-worm floor standing boiler thats 22 years old. There has never been a part replaced on it. I love working on it. I think it's pot luck with boilers. There are some notorious models out there but the ULTRA is not one of them.

OP, that's the hardest question to answer, if the boiler is relatively tidy and you have no sludge in the heating system then it makes it easier to advise keeping what you have.

TheZ

Thanks - leaning towards replacing the circuit board and keep what I have for now.

TheZ

couple more issues have come up
new radiator may be needed and some other bits and bobs

If I need to get some work done am tempted to bite the bullet and get everything done as its more cost effective

Ball park (and how long would it take) what would price be to

install a new boiler, heating controls and replace 13 radiators

do people recommend TRVs or are they of any real benefit

many thanks

air

Basic TRVs are 10 euro each from heat merchants so certainly go with at least those over manual valves.
I'd repair the boiler if I were you. In my opinion effect of efficiency rating of a boiler is over rated if the boiler itself is inside your house as the losses are primarily inside the house so contribute to heating the house anyway.
Have a look on ebay for the part you need, you might get lucky and cut the repair cost.

dersawazzie

TheZ wrote: »

couple more issues have come up
new radiator may be needed and some other bits and bobs

If I need to get some work done am tempted to bite the bullet and get everything done as its more cost effective

Ball park (and how long would it take) what would price be to

install a new boiler, heating controls and replace 13 radiators

do people recommend TRVs or are they of any real benefit

many thanks

Ball park on time to take is difficult. Is boiler remaining in existing position , what heating controls do you already have , I read you have a RTS , so chances are you have a good amount of control over the system already.

Just a few points to make from a personal view. The boiler you have is RSF boiler so efficiency wise it is not bad , won't match a condensing boiler but its not an old open flued gravity boiler , so no immediate cause for concern efficiency wise.

Controls , if you have a programmer , RTS , cylinder stat , again unless they are shockingly old I wouldn't worry about changing them. Of course if you go ahead with changing appliance I would probably recommend having a look at them but wouldn't change for the sake of it. In addition to this perhaps zoning the heating might be an option should you choose so.

Changing radiators , once again each installation is unique so it really is up to yourself on this , but unless the radiators are leaking or undersized/oversized I see no reason to exchange them. Granted newer radiators are more efficient , but a good system powerflush and treatment will get them working perfectly. On TRV's , I would certainly recommend them.

I suppose it really is a case of your choice and or advice from your installer. Are you willing to spend money on this boiler , and hope for more years trouble free or as you say bite the bullet now. This is where the advice from your engineer comes in , if the boiler is in rag order , change it , if it as many older boilers are still looking good , consider putting in the PCB and possibly get VFM.

I hope that helps you
Good luck.

TheZ

dersawazzie wrote: »

Ball park on time to take is difficult. Is boiler remaining in existing position , what heating controls do you already have , I read you have a RTS , so chances are you have a good amount of control over the system already.

Just a few points to make from a personal view. The boiler you have is RSF boiler so efficiency wise it is not bad , won't match a condensing boiler but its not an old open flued gravity boiler , so no immediate cause for concern efficiency wise.

Controls , if you have a programmer , RTS , cylinder stat , again unless they are shockingly old I wouldn't worry about changing them. Of course if you go ahead with changing appliance I would probably recommend having a look at them but wouldn't change for the sake of it. In addition to this perhaps zoning the heating might be an option should you choose so.

Changing radiators , once again each installation is unique so it really is up to yourself on this , but unless the radiators are leaking or undersized/oversized I see no reason to exchange them. Granted newer radiators are more efficient , but a good system powerflush and treatment will get them working perfectly. On TRV's , I would certainly recommend them.

I suppose it really is a case of your choice and or advice from your installer. Are you willing to spend money on this boiler , and hope for more years trouble free or as you say bite the bullet now. This is where the advice from your engineer comes in , if the boiler is in rag order , change it , if it as many older boilers are still looking good , consider putting in the PCB and possibly get VFM.

I hope that helps you
Good luck.

Thanks for the advice and for taking the time. Helps a lot in making my decision. I suppose it's a question of risk management and as you say there is probably no need to change if it can be repaired