10 year old potterton boiler issues - repair or replace?

NDJ4

Hi All,

I am looking for some advice on a problem with my 10 year old potterton gas boiler. It has recently failed (pump warning light on intermittently) and will now only heat the water when the valve to the rads is switched off as the pump can't service the rads. The pressure is also low when off and very high when the boiler is running.

We had a gas service engineer out last week to look at the problem so he advised that the expansion tank has failed and need to be replaced. He said he could add one in the hot press. He also said the unit needs to be flushed out as the problems are probably due to sludge accumulation. We live in Navan and our water is hard, and no inhibitor was ever added to system. The boiler is slightly noisy when running which he explained may be that the heat exchanger is failing so may also need to be replaced.

He advised the following:

Service boiler: €90
Power flush: €190
Chemicals for flush: €100
Replace heat exchanger: €550
New Expansion vessel: €150

When all of this was added up he then advised that we consider replacing the boiler as a newer model would be 30% more efficient thus saving money in the long run.

The boiler is a Potterton "System" boiler and has been serviced probably 4/5 times over the last 10 years.

I'm just looking for advice on this, does all of the above pricing look OK or is it OTT? I would rather not have to fork out for a new boiler if I could get a few more years out of this one, but would be reluctant pay over €1000 to fix an ailing boiler! He also diagnosed all of the above without actually opening the boiler, but I guess this is a regular type of fault that is easy to diagnose?

Thanks for any advice!

Egass13

Most definatly get a second opinion . 290 for a chemical flush sounds a bit cheap to me , and 550 to replace a heat exchanger sounds a bit steep. How he came to that conclusion without taking the cover off the boiler is ridiculous. The pump light coming on intermittently could be a few different things , diaphragm/microswitch/pcb etc. get it looked at by a competent RGI . There might be one if the lads on here in your area.

High pressure would indicate a problem with the expansion vessel but again did he check to see if it could be recharged before having to replace it? I doubt he did .

timmy4u2

If it is going to cost that much get a new one and get a SEAI grant of €550 odd for the boiler and controls and you will get a €50 ber grant also.

esox28

The grant is only 50 euro for boiler upgrade and only in conjuction with heating controls upgrade @€;250, no grant for ber.

Run that guy giving over the top quotes without looking at fecken holier, I fixed two pot systems today with major faults, great boiler imo just needs the right rgi to nurse it along.

timmy4u2

esox28 wrote: »

The grant is only 50 euro for boiler upgrade and only in conjuction with heating controls upgrade @€;250, no grant for ber.

Run that guy giving over the top quotes without looking at fecken holier, I fixed two pot systems today with major faults, great boiler imo just needs the right rgi to nurse it along.

I just filled out forms today for €550 or was it €560 for boiler of 90% efficiency and controls. The controls on their own have a grant of €400. And the ber grant is €50. Unless it was changed tonight.
It was not for myself a neighbour asked me to complete the form so I did not look closely at it.
http://www.seai.ie/Grants/Better_energy_homes/homeowner/Step_1_Decide_on_work_to_be_done/Decide_on_work_to_be_done_and_grant_to_be_applied_for.html

shane0007

esox28 wrote: »

The grant is only 50 euro for boiler upgrade and only in conjuction with heating controls upgrade @€;250, no grant for ber.

Run that guy giving over the top quotes without looking at fecken holier, I fixed two pot systems today with major faults, great boiler imo just needs the right rgi to nurse it along.

Where are you getting those figures?
SEAI grant is €400 for heating controls only upgrade. High efficiency gas or oil boiler replacement along with heating controls upgrade is €560. BER survey following works is €50, giving a total grant of €610.

doctorchopper

you'll have to flush and treat the system as well if you upgrade the boiler so factor that into the price of a new boiler

NDJ4

Thanks for the replies. I definitely would rather not replace the boiler if possible. The boiler is on now and heating the rads, and not making any noise today so hopefully the heat exchanger is ok.

In fairness to the guy who called out to look at it we contacted him a week or so before looking for a service, but then rang him a couple of days before this and advised him about the problems that had just started. So he didn't actually do the service, just advised us of the potential issues outlined above. Perhaps if he had serviced it he would have had a better idea of the actual faults.

Can anyone on here recommend a good RGI in Navan?

Thanks.

JohnnieK

The expansion vessel probably just needs to be re-pressurised (probably never done on a service) and your heating system along with the boiler can be powerflushed and spick and span and ready for the winter. The Potterton/Baxi System boiler is robust enough and flushes very well.

It might be a good idea to replace the pump motor after the flush as this is probably worn out from pushing the crap around the system over the last number of years.

esox28

Apologies guys for incorrect info on seai grant.

timmy4u2

esox28 wrote: »

appolligies guy for incorrect info on seai grant.

We all make mistakes from time to time for various reasons and often for no reason at all but not many have the gumption to readdress it. Cheers

esox28

That's the figures I've been telling my coustomers im sure they got a welcome surprise from 300 to 560 welcome.

I gave up reading grant forms seai have changed the goal posts so many times since it was formed 3/4 years ago.



Could be worse.