Gas boiler recommendations please?

Servicing a boiler is cheap when viewed on therms of efficency and long term cost. The problem is getting a qualified plumber.

Apparently switching to heat pumps is about same price as replacing gas boiler after seai grants

A heat pump is a very different animal. In most cases a direct swop won’t be successful without significant building upgrades.

And unlikely to offer any running cost saving.

An undersized gas line would certainly add to the work, but it is worth assessing the position in detail, checking the length and looking at what boiler options will work with the existing pipework. Sometimes an installer will be too quick to rule out the existing when there may be options.

Heat pumps work well with radiators, but your existing radiators are probably too small. To account for the lower flow temperatures, you are looking at more than double the radiator size to get the same heat output.

Your domestic hot water system also needs to change, as the heat pump won’t be compatible with your existing cylinder.

You also have to consider your houses electrical supply, which wasn’t sized for a heat pump as new ones are, and may or may not be suitable - or might severely limit the possibility of a future electric car charger for example.

I wouldn’t rule it out, but there are a lot of variables and in most cases switching from gas to a heat pump is only viable in the context of a major building upgrade. (In which case your heat requirement would be so low that the existing 1/2” gas pipe would probably be loads!)

This and Weissmann as mentioned above are the two to go for.

Many plumbers mention Baxi- why? Because they’re used to servicing these sh1t boilers - had a Baxi before and every year a different part needed replacing. Reviews online are poor compared to the above two- HOWEVER- only get a plumber qualified in the installation of these boilers Bosch/Weissman boilers to install them - otherwise you’ll be left with a sho1te installation and ongoing problems

you guys recommend a good handyman for the job? 😁

Rather than make foolish comments, your point might be better understood if you explained some of the variables that impact on the cost of boiler replacements, and the things to look out for between quotations.

But I can tell you for straightforward gas boiler replacements, there are many firms who will happily undertake work at this price point (and below) Some of it is to a very high standard.